Tag: nature

Santos, Paola (Edmonton, AB)

Bilingual picture book author (Spanish-English). Member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Canadian Children’s Book Centre, and Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP). Rates are $120 plus GST for a 30-minute Storytime and Q&A, $200 for a single 60-minute session, $325 for two, and $450 for three. Please note that a travel fee also applies.

Virtual visits rates: $100 plus GST for a 30-minute Storytime and Q&A, $150 plus GST for a single 60-minute session, $300 for two, and $400 for three.

Paola Santos is a Venezuelan-born children’s book author. After moving to Canada, she found the courage to share the words and stories that had long been enclosed in her imagination. Her stories are now woven with her culture, experience in a new country, hope, happiness, and diversity. Paola holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Literature and Children’s Literature and Reading Promotion. With her playful energy, she would engage young students (K-6) through storytimes, workshops, and activities.

Paola’s sessions:

Storytime & Movement Break. Topics: Latine culture, nature, family, intergenerational relationships, and the five senses. Suitable for grades K–2. What if a story could take you somewhere warm and full of flavor? Paola will begin this engaging session by sharing a bit of her childhood in Venezuela and will invite children to experience a taste of her culture. Then, she will bring How to Eat a Mango or Cómo se come un mango to life in a lively, interactive read-aloud. A playful movement activity will follow, helping students connect the story with their bodies and imaginations. Paola’s naturally playful approach will turn storytime into a mini celebration of language, joy, and curiosity. (30-minute session)

Storytime & Writing with the Senses. Topics: Latine culture, nature, family, intergenerational relationships, the five senses, and creative writing. Suitable for grades 3–4. Paola will open this session by sharing her own story, growing up in Venezuela, and becoming an author in a second language. This personal introduction will connect naturally to the read-aloud of How to Eat a Mango or Cómo se come un mango, inviting students to experience the story with open minds and curiosity. Before concluding with a brief Q&A, students will dive into a writing activity using their five senses to spark original ideas. Paola will help children see writing as an adventure, where even a sound, scent, or texture can inspire a whole new story. (Up to 60-minute session)

A Book Blooms / Un libro Florece. Topics: Latine culture, creative process, creative writing, and book journey. Suitable for grades 5–6. Paola will take students on a lively, behind-the-scenes journey through the creation of How to Eat a Mango. From initial sparks to discarded drafts and surprising turns, students will discover the creative process in all its playful, unpredictable stages. Paola will share how her cultural background, love of language, and childhood in Venezuela shaped the story. Through an interactive “HOW TO” brainstorming activity, students will experiment with turning their ideas into books that could bloom next. (Up to 60-minute session)

Explore, Sense, Write! / ¡Explora, siente, escribe! Topics: Latine culture, nature, the five senses, creative process, and creative writing. Suitable for grades 5–6. In this hands-on workshop, Paola will help students unlock the magic of their senses through guided activities that turn everyday moments into stories. She will share how her memories of smells, tastes, and sounds from Venezuela have shaped her writing, and will invite students to explore their sensory memories in playful ways. With an interactive approach that blends observation, imagination, and fun, Paola will show students how even the smallest details can spark big ideas. (Up to 60-minute session)

Required equipment for virtual visits: Screen, good internet connection

Required equipment for in-person visits: Digital projector, whiteboard, or screen; table for laying out books and/or props at the front of the room

Required materials: Pencils, paper.

Book Paola for a visit:

    Rae, Rowena (Victoria, BC)

    Non-fiction science books for ages 9+, and decodable fiction books for striving readers ages 6–9. Member of the Writers’ Union of Canada, CWILL BC, and SCBWI. Winner of the Nature Generation Green Earth Book Award for YA Non-Fiction (for Salmon: Swimming for Survival). Winner of a Moonbeam Award in the Reading Skills/Literacy category (for Meg and Greg: A Duck in a Sock). Included on the CBC/NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books List for Students K–12 (2023). Nominated for a Red Cedar Book Award (2023). Included as a starred selection several times in CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens.

    Rates for in-person presentations about my non-fiction books for grades 4–8 (45–60 minutes): $300 plus GST for one session, $450 for two, $600 for three, $750 for four. Plus travel fees if outside lower Vancouver Island (Mill Bay south).

    Rates for in-person workshops about non-fiction for grades 4–8 (1.5–2 hours with a mid-point break): $450 plus GST for one session, $750 for two. Plus travel fees if outside lower Vancouver Island (Mill Bay south).

    Rates for in-person visits about my fiction books for grades 1–3 (30–40 minutes): $150 plus GST for one session, $250 for two, $350 for three, $450 for four. Plus travel fees if outside lower Vancouver Island (Mill Bay south).

    Rates for virtual visits (non-fiction only, 45–60 minutes): $200 plus GST for one session; $150 for each additional session on the same day.

    Rowena writes both non-fiction and fiction books for young people. Her non-fiction science books are for ages 9 and up. She draws on her science education and experience as a field biologist to write about biology, ecology, the environment, and human health. As well as being a science enthusiast, Rowena loves history, so all of her science books also have a dose of history and stories from the past in them. Her fiction books are the Meg and Greg series of decodable fiction stories (co-authored with her sister, Elspeth Rae) for kids who are learning to read and striving to improve their newfound reading skills. Rowena is an experienced speaker who loves sharing her enthusiasm for science, nature, reading, and writing with young people in engaging, interactive presentations.

    Non-fiction presentations

    Group size up to 60. In all of my presentations, I talk briefly about how I got into my writing career before focusing on the topic selected. I use slides with photos, bring props with me, and encourage participants to interact through questions and whole-group activities. Every session ends with Q&A. Below are short descriptions of several presentations; I’m also happy to tailor a presentation to your class interests and needs.

    Rachel Carson Changed Your Life and Mine. But How?: In this presentation, I introduce scientist and science writer Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, the book that many credit with launching the environmental movement. I use information about Carson’s life and writing to lead a discussion with participants about people’s relationships with nature, ecosystems, and the environments we live in. For grades 4–8.

    We’re All Connected: In this presentation, I use several of my books to introduce connections in nature and in our lives, and I then facilitate an interactive session for participants to think about what these and other connections mean to their own lives. For grades 4–8.

    Something’s Fishy!: In this presentation, I talk about some of the amazing facts I learned about salmon when I researched this book, from their migrations, to their life cycle, to the obstacles they face during their lives. I then lead participants through a discussion of ways they can make a difference for salmon—or any fish—living in a stream, lake, or bay nearby. For grades 4–8.

    A Brief History of Vaccines: In this presentation, I tell some of the fascinating stories about the people who played a role in vaccine discovery and development over the past 250 years. I then lead participants in a discussion to imagine vaccines and human health of the future. The Q&A at the end of this presentation includes the option to submit anonymous questions about vaccines ahead of time. For grades 6–8.

    Non-fiction workshops

    Group size up to 20. In my workshops, I talk briefly about how I got into my writing career before focusing on the topic selected. I use slides with photos, bring props with me, and lead participants in small-group and individual hands-on activities. Every session ends with Q&A. Below are short descriptions of several workshops; I’m also happy to tailor a workshop to your class interests and needs.

    Reading and Writing Nonfiction for Fun!: In this workshop, I lead activities with participants to explore ways to find writing ideas, narrow down a topic, gather information and facts, plan a writing project, do the actual writing, and then revise and polish the piece writing. For grades 4–8.

    Write, then Revise…and Revise Some More!: In this workshop, I show examples of my own writing projects and how they evolved with revision, and I then take participants on a journey into the art of revising their own writing or a classmate’s writing. For grades 6–8.

    All About the Facts: In this workshop, I introduce the concepts of misinformation and disinformation and lead students through a discussion of how they can find and evaluate information to use in their nonfiction writing projects. We talk about and do activities on different types of sources, the 5 Ws, and lateral reading. For grades 6–8.

    Fiction presentation (for grades 1–3)

    Group size up to 40.

    Meet Meg and Greg!: In this presentation, I introduce participants to the Meg and Greg stories’ main characters: Meg, Greg, and Rocket the dog. I talk briefly about how I, my co-author, and the illustrator work together to write and illustrate the stories, and then I lead a mini-lesson on a spelling concept from one of the stories (teacher’s choice). After the mini-lesson, I read a part of the story that uses that spelling concept and show slides of the book pages so participants can follow along and clearly see the illustrations. The session ends with Q&A.

    Equipment needed

    For in-person visits: Projector (that operates with a MacBook) and screen, whiteboard or blackboard and markers/chalk, a table to spread out my props, a microphone for larger groups or if room acoustics are questionable. For workshops, participants will need pencil and paper and a hard surface to lean on (desk, book, etc.).

    For virtual visits: I use my own Zoom account or your preferred online platform. I will need a support person to moderate the chat and help with technical aspects. If participants are in a single room watching on a big screen, I will need a room moderator to help with group discussion and Q&A.

    Contact Rowena to book a visit: