Category: 2022/2023 Blue Spruce

Syed, Anoosha (Milton, ON)

Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award Nominee, APALA Honor for Bilal Cooks Daal, Society of Illustrators Original Art Show, Royal Society’s Young People’s Book Prize Shortlist, featured in Netflix series ‘Bookmarks’, featured in Eric Carle museum, Otter Award nominee

Anoosha Syed is a Pakistani-Canadian character designer and the illustrator of over twenty books, including I Am Perfectly Designed by Karamo Brown, APALA honor book, Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed and her author/illustrator debut, That’s Not My Name!

Book topics: Empathy, First Day of School, Self-empowerment, Food and Culture. Family, South Asian

RATES:

  • $350 – Two 30min sessions of storytime reading, drawing demo, and Q+A (best suited for JK-Gr 1)
  • $350 – 1hr presentation session
  • $550 – 2 sessions
  • $800 – 3 sessions
  • $1000 – Full day visit: Here, you can squeeze in AS MANY sessions as you are able to. You have me for the whole day!

+ HST fees + Travel fees of $0.50/km (From Milton) (Visits are a minimum of 1hr)

I usually work with children ages JK-Gr 5. But older kids/teens can also benefit from learning about the life of an author/illustrator, and a love for writing and drawing!

PRESENTATION FORMAT

My session is a 1hr presentation and Q&A that covers my career, how I wrote and illustrated the book That’s Not My Name!, and the importance of diversity/inclusivity in books and ends with a live drawing demonstration.

I can also offer a workshop component! In this segment, we learn the importance of good character design, and we would draw ourselves as characters in my book.

I don’t have a limit on how many students can be in a presentation. However, if you are looking to add the drawing workshop, then I would ask that the audience be limited to 23 children or as many as can be comfortably seated on tables/the floor to follow along the exercise with simple drawing materials and my worksheet.

This is a guideline of what I offer, but I am happy to be flexible and work around your school needs; if you’d like me to focus on any particular topics, books or activities we can definitely discuss!

Other notes
A projector is required for in-person visits, and microphone + podium for larger groups.
For drawing activities, an easel with paper as well as paper, markers, crayons for the children to draw along with.
In-person presentations for JK-2 max 30 per group, teacher/facilitator MUST be present.

Contact Anoosha to book a visit:

    Smith, Sadé (Mississauga, ON)

    Blue Spruce Award nominee for the Forest of Reading 2023 for her debut children’s picture book Granny’s Kitchen illustrated by Ken Daley.

    Rates: $250 plus HST for one session, $450 for two, $675 for three, $900 for a full day (four sessions). Plus a travel fee of $0.68/km if outside Toronto or Peel.

    Virtual visits: $150 plus HST for one session (60 minutes), $100 for each additional session on the same day to a maximum of four sessions.

    Sadé Smith is a Canadian children’s book author of Jamaican descent. Her books often involve food with colorful illustrations to capture the vibrancy and beauty of the Caribbean islands. In addition to writing, Sadé is also a design technologist and she is very passionate about literature. She writes books of representation for young readers. She provides games, activities, book readings and writing workshops for young students aged 3-8 (grades Kindergarten to grade 3).

    This collaborative school/library presentation includes:

    • Author introduction and background / biography
    • Introduction on writing / inspiration for the book
    • Showing of the Shelly-Ann or Julie doll. May be passed around (depending on age and size of group)
    • Social media handles and website / contact information. Information on where and how to purchase the book. Information about upcoming books and projects.
    • Information about the “Kidz Korner” tab on the Sadé Smith website where students may find fun activities and download reading and writing templates for their own use.

    Julie and the Mango Tree Presentation includes: Topics about Jamaican fruits, culture and mangoes!

    Fun activities involving the many varieties of mangoes around the world and Caribbean fruits. (Guess the name of the Jamaican fruit). Play a Jamaican trivia game called How Much Do You Know About Jamaica?

    A live reading of JULIE AND THE MANGO TREE followed by a Question and Comment period.

    Granny’s Kitchen Presentation includes: Topics about family, Jamaican food, culture, language and fun facts that are located on the back page of the Granny’s Kitchen book.

    A fun activity involving live props (and/or a digital presentation) of cooking utensils, equipment, Caribbean foods and fruits. (Guess the name of the food/fruit/kitchen items). This is a fun and educational way for the readers/listeners to learn about new things and foods that they may not know about.

    A live reading of GRANNY’S KITCHEN followed by a Question and Comment period.

    Writing Workshops include: Introduction on writing a book. Ideas to find inspiration for writing a book. An in-depth step-by-step tutorial on writing a children’s picture book using the Writing Templates format from the “Kidz Korner”.

    Let’s write a story! The students will write a short story together by using the Writing Templates and what they learned from the step-by-step tutorial. Students/classes may continue illustrating the book(s) and putting it together on their own time as a class assignment after the workshop.

    Note: Workshops are 60 minutes in length and split into two parts to accommodate for a younger audience.

    To encourage interaction during in-person presentations, Sadé would prefer to meet with smaller groups at a time with a maximum of 4 groups per day.

    Equipment Required:

    • One table for presentation items and materials
    • Separate table and chair to accommodate for book sales and signings (if requested)
    • Computer with projector or television screen for displaying PowerPoint presentation from a USB drive or laptop
    • Blank paper and crayons (if children would like to draw their own flag).

    Note: Author will bring all required decorations and props needed for presentation.

    Contact Sadé to book a visit:

      Collins, Peggy (Eastern Ontario)

      Peggy Collins is an Eastern Ontario based author and illustrator and college professor. She is a member of the Writers Union of Canada, the Society of Children’s book Authors and Illustrators (SCBWI), Canadian Association of Children’s Authors Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) and the CCBC.

      Peggy creates every presentation to suit the age/grade and book (or books) for the presentation, and all presentations will be done in English. As a college professor and presenter for all ages there is a presentation for every age group available.

      At this time, virtual visits are preferred but eastern Ontario in-person visits will be considered. Rates: $250 for one session, $450 for two, $675 for three, $900 for a full day (four sessions). Plus a travel fee of $0.50/km if outside the Kingston/Belleville/piston area. Virtual visit fees range from $100 – $200

      Peggy Collins has written and/or illustrated a wide variety of books that reflect social awareness, STEAM content and foster an understanding of the greater world around us.

      Rooted in a sense of wonder and play, Peggy brings this curiousity into each classroom she visits, engaging children in the creation of their own stories and artwork. She is a firm believer that every story matters and works to make sure that children feel that after her workshops. Workshops can include story generation, illustration demos (with kids drawing along), process and editing – with examples from actual projects, readings, q and a and more.

      Peggy prefers to work with individual classes for workshops (15-35 students) in-person. Virtually, depending on the wishes of the class/school she can facilitate 2 or more at a time – however would prefer no more than two to allow time for the students to interact directly with her.

      For virtual presentations the classroom must have access to a camera and teams, Peggy will provide a link prior to session. Students must be ready to draw! For in-person visits, schools should have a smart board or presentation screen, a flip pad of paper and markers, and materials for the children to draw with. Peripheral teaching materials will be emailed to teachers prior to class as well. A teacher must be present at all times during and between the presentations.

      Contact Peggy to book a visit: