Tag: nonfiction

Lukidis, Lydia (Montreal, Quebec)

Award winning author Lydia Lukidis, shortlisted for a Silver Birch Express (Forest of Reading) Award and nominated for a Cybils Award. CANSCAIP, SCBWI, and 12×12 member.

Rates:

For in-person workshops (Montreal and surrounding areas)- $300 for one sixty-minute session, $450 for two, $600 for three, $750 for four, plus a travel fee of $0.50/km.

For virtual workshops- $200 for a session of up to sixty minutes, $100 for each additional session on the same day, up to four sessions in one day. Flexible and able to accommodate schedules in a range of time zones.

Lydia Lukidis is the author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was shortlisted for the Silver Birch Express (Forest of Reading) Award, and THE BROKEN BEES’ NEST(Kane Press, 2019) which was nominated for a Cybils Award. A science enthusiast from a young age, Lydia now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books. She also enjoys writing books with social emotional learning (SEL) themes such as friendship, empathy, and gratitude.

Workshops:

Lydia has 15 years experience working with children in elementary schools. She’s passionate about spreading the love for literacy and her presentations are dynamic and lively. The goal is to entertain and educate in a way that illuminates the magic of the written word.

Lydia offers writing workshops that tie in with educational curriculum for students from kindergarten to grade six. Each workshop begins with an initial presentation where she discusses her writing process giving particular attention to the art of editing. This will include some fun literacy games. Lydia will then help students brainstorm and start their own writing process. These workshops are an excellent opportunity for students to develop good writing and cognitive skills, improve literacy, and tap into creative self-expression. Study guides and follow up activities will be provided.

The workshops are tailored for each grade, here are the various options:

  • Story Making 101 (1-6)
  • Character Development (K-6)
  • Fairy Tale Magic (1-4)
  • The Power of Mythology (4-6)
  • Persuasive Writing (2-6)
  • The Art of Poetry (2-6)
  • Personal Narratives (2-6)
  • Crafting Nonfiction (2-6)
  • Let’s Write a Book (2-6, a special 3-part workshop where students communally write and illustrate a book that Lydia will print)
  • Author Reading with Puppetry Workshop (K-3)
  • Advanced Narrative Building (6)

(35 students maximum for in-person, 100 for virtual)

Presentations:

  • Sparking Interest through STEM: This presentation will show children that STEM is not only all around us, but it’s also fun and exciting! (K-3)
  • Dream Big and Take the Leap: This presentation will highlight the perseverance required to achieve your dreams and how seeming “failures” can help you carve your path to success. The goal is to inspire students to dream big! (3-6)

(100 students maximum)

Suggested Reading:

Grades 2-5:

DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench is a lyrical spare-text STEM picture book that takes readers on a journey to where few humans have ever been. The narrative debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth’s deepest point.

(Themes: STEM, deep sea, biodiversity, conservation, oceanography, biology, geology)

Kindergarten-3:

The Broken Bees’ Nest (Makers Make It Work series)

Arun and Keya find the perfect tree for a tree house. Too bad it comes with a battered bees’ nest! These bees need a new home―right away! Tying into the popular Makers Movement, Makers Make It Work is a series of fun easy-to-read stories that focus on problem-solving and hands-on action. This charming story explores the Makers theme of Beekeeping and includes explanatory sidebars and an insect-related activity for young makers to try themselves!

(Themes: STEM, honeybees, beekeeping, beehives, pollination, biology)

For Q&A’s, it’s recommended to read the book in class and prepare questions in advance if possible.

Requirements:

Lydia will require a smart board with functional speakers for a PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation. Students will need pencils, erasers, loose-leaf paper, and sometimes pencil crayons and markers. In order to ensure a successful workshop, it is essential that at least one educator/librarian remain in class for the duration of the workshop. For larger presentations in-person, she will require a table, microphone, and a proper PA system.

Lydia also provides manuscript critiques for fiction and nonfiction.

Contact Lydia to book a visit:

    Polak, Monique (Montreal, Quebec)

    Writers’ Union of Canada, CANSCAIP, Quebec Writers’ Federation, English Language Arts Network

    Monique Polak is three-time winner of the Quebec Writers’ Federation Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, recently renamed the Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Her work has been nominated for several prizes including the Arthur Ellis Award, Best Juvenile or Crime Book and the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People.

    Presentation rates: $250 per hour. Plus travel unless I am in Toronto area for
    other reasons. I come to Toronto several times a year to visit family and friends. I charge HST.

    Monique Polak is the author of 32 books for young people – and she has two
    more books slated for publication! Monique was a long-time teacher at
    Marianopolis College in Montreal, where she taught, amongst other courses,
    Writing for Children and Print Journalism. Monique began her writing career as a reporter and her stories have been published in newspapers across Canada. A
    classic extrovert, Monique loves doing writing workshops with kids (and adults) of all ages. Monique’s mother was a Holocaust survivor who went to school with Anne Frank, and Monique has a special interest in Holocaust stories and the history of the Holocaust.

    Monique has done writing workshops for students in Grade 1 all the way to
    university.

    With her youngest audiences (Grades 1-3), Monique teaches basic story-telling
    skills, such as how to find a beginning, middle and end, and how to ensure that a story has drama. She also reads from her new picture book, The Brass Charm.

    With older audiences (this includes students in Grades 4 and up, high school
    and college students), Monique shares writing tips she wishes someone had
    shared with her when she was an aspiring author. Monique also discusses the
    inspiration behind some of her stories. And of course, expect Monique – who
    love stories – to tell some stories. You can also expect writing exercises.
    Monique is especially interested in personal memory as a source of inspiration.
    One of her exercises is designed to use personal memory to find the story
    participants in her workshops most need to tell!

    Monique can handle groups of any size! No special supplies needed – Monique’s only requirement is that students have paper and pen (or in the case of very young participants, crayons!).

    Contact Monique to book a visit:

      O’Connor, Heather (Peterborough, ON).

      Writers’ Union of Canada member. Presentations and writing workshops in English. Kindergarten to Grade 12.

      Virtual visits (45 minutes): $150+HST. Virtual kindies (Two 20-minute sessions): $150+HST. In-person visits (45-60 minutes): $250+HST for one session, $450+HST for two, $600+HST for three, $800+HST for a full day (4 sessions). Kindies: two 25-minute sessions for $250+HST. Mileage for visits 100+ km from Peterborough.

      Heather M. O’Connor’s new picture book Fast Friends is a 2021 Blue Spruce Award nominee. She writes fiction and nonfiction for kids and teens.

      Heather is an enthusiastic presenter. She uses fun activities and clear, kid-friendly examples to engage with young audiences. “What it’s like to write a book? A lot like doing a school project,” she explains. Heather’s workshops and presentations can be tailored to your classroom. Most come with curriculum connections, follow-up activities and teacher resources.

      Presentations:
      Book talks
      Fast Friends (Blue-Spruce-nominated picture book)
      Suze and Tyson become friends speedy-quick, even though Suze is nonverbal and uses a wheelchair. This story is inspired by Heather’s daughter Suze and her friends growing up. Themes and curriculum connections: body language, mime, inclusion, friendship, welcoming newcomers, working with
      an illustrator.

      Betting Game (high-action sports novel for readers 10+, ideal for reluctant readers)
      Jack is a hotshot soccer player. When a new player joins the team, Jack gets drawn into gambling. Heather plays soccer herself. To research this book, she toured the Toronto FC Training Ground and met TFC head coach Greg Vanney. Themes and curriculum connections: soccer, research techniques, friendship, asking for help, teen gambling.

      A writer’s life

      • So you want to be a writer (Spoiler alert – It’s a lot like being a student)
      • Digging up the facts: Research anecdotes and tips
      • Even authors need an editor: Revising process, tips and hacks, exercises
      • All roads lead to writing: Careers in writing (ideal for Grade 10 Careers)

      Creative writing for young writers

      • “What ifs” and “I wonders” (gathering ideas)
      • Going on a Bear Hunt (conflict and tension)
      • Let’s tell a story (plot)
      • World-building (setting)
      • Story polish (revision)

      Creative writing for older kid and teens and adults

      • Writer’s craft: Hands-on sessions that focus on a single element of story (character, setting, point of view,
      • conflict, plot, theme.) Book four elements, get fifth free.
      • Short story writing
      • Revision

      Nonfiction presentations and hands-on writing workshops
      Heather’s been a freelance writer for almost 20 years. Her favourite news beat is LesPlan Educational Services. Bring her in to work with your students.

      • Ask the right questions: Interview techniques
      • Google doesn’t know everything: Research methods (archives, newspapers, oral histories)
      • Persuade me!: Persuasive writing
      • News or opinion: What’s the difference?
      • Writing the news (interviews, outlines, 5 Ws, inverted triangle writing)

      Books titles and awards:
      Fast Friends, Scholastic Canada, 2020. Picture book. Blue Spruce nominee, 2021 Forest of Reading. Toronto Public Library First and Best, 2020.
      Betting Game, Orca Book Publishers, 2015. Young adult high-low sports novel. Recommended title, Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2015. Highly recommended, CM Magazine.
      Runs with the Stars, Second Story, Spring 2022. Dual language picture book, written with Darcy Whitecrow.

      Audience size and equipment needed:
      Classroom or school library preferred. Will present in gyms or auditoriums if microphone provided. Please supply podium and table, and if possible, a digital projector and screen.

      Contact Heather to book a visit…