A multi-award-winning author of more than 10 books for kids and teens, Megan presents in English to grades 1 through 12. She has written both nonfiction and fiction books with themes and topics that include STEM, the environment, social justice, innovation, inclusion, sustainability, cooperation, friendship, and perseverance. Megan has presented to hundreds of students across British Columbia both in-person and virtually and considers school visits a major highlight of being a children’s book author! She aims to educate and entertain with energetic storytelling, engaging hands-on activities, and she leaves time for questions.
In-person rates: $300 for one one-hour session, $450 for two (max four sessions in one day). Travel fees if outside Metro Vancouver to be discussed. Virtual visit rates: $200 for a one-hour session, $150 for each additional session on the same day. She is flexible and can be available in different time zones for virtual presentations.
Megan Clendenan lives near Vancouver, BC. When she’s not writing or reading, Megan is often running or biking on her local trails, or learning how to grow food in her backyard.
PRESENTATIONS
Megan’s presentations aim to entertain, educate and engage through interactive, hands-on activities and lively storytelling.
Testimonials:
“Author Megan Clendenan shared her amazing picture book Just In Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Seed Vault. Wow, wow, wow! Our students LOVED hearing Megan share her story, share her experience as a writer, and teach us about seed saving and its importance for our future! I think the most powerful thing for our students to see was pictures of the book Megan wrote when she was a young grade 3 student. She then encouraged students to write stories and save them.”Crystal Cahill, Elementary Library Teacher and K-7 Librarian, Lions Gate School, North Vancouver, BC.
“I had the pleasure to tour with author Megan Clendenan during Canadian Children’s Book Week in the BC Interior. I was struck by her natural presentation style, creativity, and ability to nurture curiosity with learners. Her cross-curricular book, Design By Nature, inspires students to slow down, foster their observational skills, and remain reflective about their surroundings. After learning about biomimicry, Megan encouraged students to create a design for their own invention, inspired by nature, which was so engaging and fun to do! Students and staff left her presentation with a renewed sense of hope and were keen to learn more about ways the natural world can sustain and inspire us.” Andrea Wallin, Kamloops-Thompson District Librarian
“I admire how Megan was able to convince the students that creative writing is cool. Confidence is everything, and she certainly gave the writers the belief they needed.” Eddie de Beer, Senior School English and Creative Writing Teacher, Alcuin School, North Vancouver, BC.
Megan is happy to customize a presentation based on a specific book, or educators may choose from one of the following presentations and workshops:
Seeds Buried in the Arctic? (Can be adapted for Grades 1-6)
Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure! Join Megan on a virtual field trip around the world to learn about the importance of seeds. She’ll begin the journey in the Arctic Circle, on the island of Svalbard, where treasure is buried deep inside a mountain. What kind of treasure? Seeds from every country in the world! Through an engaging presentation, students will have the opportunity to explore the glaciers, the Northern Lights, and polar bears of Svalbard before we open the steel doors of the vault to see what’s inside. The presentation will include a read-aloud of Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, and interactive activities that can be tailored to the class, including ‘how a book is made’. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is an inspiring example of international cooperation, and Megan had the chance to interview one of its founders.
- JUST IN CASE won the 2026 Orbis Pictus for Excellence in Non-Fiction, handed out by the National Council of English Teachers, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year.
Planting the Seeds of a Story (Can be adapted for Grades 1-6)
How does a story grow like a seed? How does each seed have a story? We ‘plant the seeds of story’ and then help them thrive and grow through hard work, care, patience and attention – just like how we might grow a seedling into a plant! Megan will use her picture book, JUST IN CASE: SAVING SEEDS IN THE SVALBARD SEED VAULT, as an example of how she ‘grew’ a story, and to show that each seed has its own story. Focusing on themes of perseverance and hard work, as well comparing the life cycle of a seed and the creative process, this presentation will have students eager to ‘grow’ their own stories. Presentation includes an interactive discussion as well as a hands-on activity for students.
Problem-Solve with Nature! (Can be adapted for Grades 3-7)
Did you know that some lamps are powered by glowing bacteria? Or that gloves inspired by gecko feet let people climb walls? Join Megan to explore biomimicry, an exciting field of science focused on innovations, inventions, and designs inspired by nature. Megan will read a short passage from DESIGN LIKE NATURE and then give a lively presentation showing how inventors and scientists use biomimicry to solve real-world problems. For example, termite homes can teach us how to build more energy-efficient buildings, and search and rescue robots can be inspired by cockroaches. After learning about biomimicry, students get the chance to sketch a design for their own biomimicry invention. This is always a popular activity. The session will be a celebration of the power of imagination! Also includes ‘how a book is made’ adapted to various grade levels.
What’s the Vibe? YOU Decide: A creative writing workshop! (Can be adapted for Grades 4-12)
Have you ever wondered how authors make a story feel spooky, silly, or thrilling? Every story has a mood — a vibe created by the writer. In this writing workshop, students learn ways to master mood. Discover how to build word banks, use “hard” and “soft” sounds, and explore ways to paint vivid settings with your sentences. Through writing prompts and handy techniques, have fun crafting your story’s vibe!
Megan will guide students through a series of fun writing activities, including reading short excerpts from a variety of books, including her novel, OFFBEAT.
From Spark to Fire: Developing Story Ideas (Can be adapted for Grades 4-12)
How does a book transform from a kernel of an idea to an entire story? In this workshop, Megan explores topics such as how sparks of ideas are fueled into stories and the creativity behind that process. She uses fun writing prompts that rev up student creativity! She also talks about being an author and saves time for Q&A.
Write, Rewrite, Repeat! (Can be adapted for Grades 4-12)
After you’ve written your first draft, the fun of revising begins! This presentation focuses on techniques for revising and how it can be an essential and enjoyable part of the creative process. Megan will use examples from her own published books, showing students early drafts, the editing process, and then the final product, and showing how she tackled revision.
IMPORTANT INFO:
For on-site visits, hosts must provide an LCD projector and screen for slideshows.
For virtual visits, hosts must provide meeting link and security.
Students will need pencils, and sometimes pencil crayons. For some presentations a handout may need to be photocopied in advance. If this is not possible, students can just have some looseleaf paper. To ensure a successful presentation or workshop, it is essential that at least one educator/librarian remain in the room with the students.
Storytellers of Canada. Gold Mountain Stories. Traditional Asian folklore & Canada’s immigrant history (FDK – 12). Per session, 80-100 students. Three Sessions $625 + travel from Toronto. 
