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 BC Red Cedar Book Award (2023 & 2025). Nominated for the Victoria Children’s Book Prize (2025). Included as a starred selection several times in CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens.
I write both non-fiction science books for upper elementary and middle grade ages and decodable fiction books for lower elementary ages. I’m an experienced speaker who loves sharing my enthusiasm for science, nature, reading, and writing with young people in engaging, interactive presentations.
Non-fiction science books
My non-fiction science books are for ages 9 and up. I draw on my 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, I love history, so all of my science books also have a dose of history and stories from the past in them.
Non-fiction book presentation: I talk briefly about how I started writing books and then discuss what I do to research and write a non-fiction book. I give examples and share stories and passages from one or several of my nonfiction books (teacher’s/librarian’s choice; see list below). I use slides with photos, bring props with me, and encourage participants to interact through questions and, if appropriate, whole-group activities. Every session ends with Q&A.
Grades: 4 to 7
Format: In-person or virtual
Group size: Flexible; prefer up to about 50
Session length: 45 to 60 minutes
Rate: $300 plus GST for one session. Discount for booking additional sessions of the same presentation to be given on the same day. Plus travel fees for in-person sessions outside the Greater Victoria Area.
Non-fiction book list:
Where Land Meets Sea: Rising Oceans, Changing Coastlines
Upstream, Downstream: Exploring Watershed Connections
Salmon: Swimming for Survival
Why We Need Vaccines: How Humans Beat Infectious Diseases
Rachel Carson and Ecology for Kids
Chemical World: Science in Our Daily Lives
Decodable fiction books:
My fiction books are the Meg and Greg series of decodable fiction stories (co-authored with my sister, Elspeth Rae) for kids who are learning to read and striving to improve their new-found reading skills. Each book builds on the previous one and introduces new reading/spelling concepts.
Fiction book presentation:
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/librarian’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.
Grades: 1 to 3
Format: In-person
Group size: Up to 45
Session length: 30 to 40 minutes
Rate: $200 plus GST for one session. Discount for booking additional sessions of the same presentation to be given on the same day. Plus travel fees for in-person sessions outside the Greater Victoria Area.
Meg and Greg series of decodable fiction – book list:
Book 1: A Duck in a Sock, introducing CK, SH, CH, TH
Book 2: Frank and the Skunk, introducing NK, NG, TCH, DGE
Book 3: The Bake Sale, introducing Magic e words
Book 4: Scarlet and the Ring, introducing r-controlled vowels AR, OR, ER, AIR
Book 5: A Handful of Dogs, introducing common prefixes and suffixes
Book 6: Train Day!, introducing long vowel sounds
Book 7: Moose on the Loose, introducing gliding vowel sounds
Book 8: The Unknown Knight, introducing silent consonants, consonant + le, soft c and g
Equipment:
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 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.