Jillian is a member of The Writers Union of Canada (TWUC), the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP), the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the CCBC.
Jillian is the author of GIRL TAKES DRASTIC STEP!: How Molly Lamb Bobak Became Canada’s First Official Woman War Artist with artwork by Genevieve Simms. This is an inspirational story of perseverance through art with the title drawn directly from the first page of Molly Lamb Bobak’s World War II war diary.
In Person Rates: $200 for one session (45 mins) Plus a travel fee of $0.50/km if outside of Greater Toronto Area. Virtual visits (30 mins) $150 (All visits subject to HST).
This book and presentation would support the following subjects and themes:
Canadian History/World War II History/Art History/Art/English/Remembrance Day/International Women’s Day/Women’s History Month
Jillian is an experienced presenter and will engage young readers in the story of hard work and determination of how Molly Lamb Bobak followed her dream and became Canada’s first official woman war artist. Jillian will highlight how author and illustrator work together and the research process for this book including a glimpse of pages of Molly’s war diary.
A live reading of the book followed by an introductory discussion and visual presentation about how women enlisted in the Canadian Women’s Army Corp during WWII and what that experience was like for them based on Molly Lamb Bobak’s headline style journal.
An engaging hands-on activity will encourage students to document, through writing and various mediums of art including sketching, doodling and drawing what goes on in their lives and classrooms in a unique way. Students will work on activity sheets to write their own headlines and then work as reporters to create a shared classroom headline journal.
For older grades there will be a discussion about perseverance and following your dreams based on the story with art prompts for creating a dream journal.
English language presentations for grades K-6 with a maximum per group of 30 with teacher or librarian present. Jillian will gladly collaborate with teachers or librarians to tailor the presentation to the interests and needs of the participants. Personalized and signed books may be ordered in advance and information will be provided to the organizer.
Virtual Presentations:
Reading and interactive online activity of building a classroom headline journal page or guided instruction through activity sheet shared with teacher/librarian in advance. Grades 1-6 – 45 minutes.
Library Visits: (Pre-school to grade 6)
Interactive reading followed by guided multi-media worksheet activity to create a headline journal page.
Technology required: Screen or area to project, table and chair or stool
Writers’ Union Member. Multi-award-winning author of more than 20 books for kids and teens.
Fees for on-site visits: $350 + HST for up to one hour, $600 + HST half day, $900 + HST full day (4 hours). Mileage and other travel expenses may apply. Fees for virtual visits: $300 + HST for up to 1 hour, $250 + HST for each additional presentation on the same day.
Surprising facts, engaging stories, and her willingness to answer just one more question set Lindsey’s nonfiction programs apart. And her workshops make even the most reluctant young writers excited to express themselves. Lindsey also offerspresentations for educatorsandworkshops for adult writers.
Polar won the 2025 Lane Anderson Award and the SWCC Award
The Boreal Forest won the Information Book Award
NONFICTION PROGRAMS FOR KIDS
What Is a Forest For? Introducing the Boreal Forest | Grades 1-3 | Duration: 45 min | Curriculum Connections: biodiversity, photosynthesis, biomes, habitats, the boreal forest, climate change
The boreal forest is the largest, most northern forest in the world… and 29 percent of it is right here in Canada! This introduction to the boreal biome will help kids understand why forests matter. We’ll explore biodiversity with a look at some weird and wonderful animals that call the boreal forest home. During a movement activity, we’ll discuss photosynthesis and how it helps forests prevent climate change. This high-energy program is designed to captivate young learners, and includes plenty of time to answer questions. Inspired by Lindsey’s book The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World’s Largest Land Biome.
(Ant)Arctic Adaptations: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth | Grades 4-6 | Duration: 60 min | Curriculum Connections:biodiversity, biomes, polar regions, adaptations, life cycles, climate change
The polar regions are bitterly cold, freeze-dried wildernesses, where the wind can blow harder than hurricanes. They are also the only places on Earth where day—and night—last up to six months. And yet, many animals not only survive in these extreme environments, they thrive! After a brief introduction to the Arctic and Antarctica, kids will be asked to brainstorm a list of polar species. We’ll discuss the adaptations that help their favourite animals stay warm, find food, and raise their babies, all in two of the harshest habitats on the planet. Then, we’ll explore the surprising adaptations of some less-familiar species… including one that protects itself with projectile vomit! Packed with stunning visuals and surprising facts, this lively presentation features deleted scenes from Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth.
How Women Get Erased From History | Grades 4+ | Duration: 60 min | Curriculum Connections:world history, biography, social justice, art and literature, STEM, climate change, World War II
Have you ever done something amazing… and someone else took credit? In science and engineering, men getting credit for women’s achievements is called the Matilda Effect, but erasure happens to women in the arts, sports, politics, and more. In this program, we’ll explore six mechanisms of erasure using examples from The Matilda Effect: How 25 Women Were Erased From History. Then we’ll take a deeper dive into one mechanism—disinformation—by comparing two depictions of Two Gun Nan: an exclusive deleted scene from The Matilda Effect, and an episode of the 1950s TV series Death Valley Days. Bonus: an action plan for ending the Matilda Effect!
WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS
Eating Their Words: How to Write Found, Erasure, and Blackout Poetry | Grades 4+ | Duration: 60 min
How can poets overcome blank-page paralysis? By starting with a page full of words! In this workshop, we’ll define and explore three types of poems that begin from existing works. First, we’ll play with found poetry, using a handful of words offered by the text to write something new. Next, we’ll experiment with erasure and blackout techniques, writing poems that respond to, challenge, or subvert the meaning of the original text. Erasure poems from The Matilda Effect will be offered as examples; as starting points for their own poems, participants are encouraged to bring printed-out passages from books, websites, or articles that inspire or enrage them.
What’s Your Book About? How to Decide What to Leave Out | Grades 4-6 | Duration: 60 min
Tell people you’re a writer, and they’ll probably ask “What’s your book about?” But before we can tell other people, we have to be able to tell ourselves. Knowing what our book, story, article, or report is really about lets us research efficiently, revise strategically, and avoid time-consuming tangents… producing a final draft that’s concise, cohesive, and effective. In this presentation, I’ll share the coolest animal facts that aren’t in The Boreal Forest, and explain exactly why I cut them. Then, we’ll walk through each draft of the book’s opening scene, exploring the step-by-step-decision-making process of revision. Throughout the program, two-minute writing challenges give participants a chance to apply revision strategies to their own work. Designed to get writers excited about re-writing, this program can be adapted for elementary, middle, high school, or adult audiences.
Writing Down the Feels | Grades 7-12 | Duration: 60 min
Why do we forget some stories, while others stay with us for years? Be they fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, stories with staying power are the ones that make us feel. This workshop explores the connections between language and emotions, teaching writers how to manipulate their reader’s response. Writers will harness the emotional resonance of vivid words and figures of speech, making their readers laugh, cry, and remember their words forever.
IMPORTANT INFO:
For on-site visits, hosts must provide an LCD projector and screen for slideshows. Depending on program and audience size, speakers (for video), whiteboards, and a microphone may also be required. Contact Lindsey for details.
For virtual visits, hosts must provide meeting link and security. Lindsey can accommodate schedules in a range of time zones.
