ACTIVITY BOOK
THE STORY OF FOLD
Once upon a time there was a beautiful Flower City full of people from all different cultures and communities...
The city had beautiful book buildings and the people in the city loved books, but something was missing. In this Flower City, there lived a woman who wrote and read books. She searched far and wide for a place to celebrate all kinds of stories, but nothing quite worked. So she decided to create a celebration of books in the magical Flower City she called home that would draw readers and writers of every kind from far and wide.
But she couldn’t do it alone.
She found one special friend—a writer who was bright and wise, who could help bring this dream to life.
And so they did.
They created wonderful book celebrations and they brought storytellers from far and wide. But when they looked around, they wanted to create even more celebrations. They wanted to create one just for kids.
So they dreamed up a very special book party—a festival for kids and parents and teachers, and they brought someone extra special along to help build a festival of books in this fabulous Flower City for the smallest readers of all.
They searched far and wide, and when they found the perfect person, she built a celebration just for kids when the weather turns orange and red and the wind whispers cool lullabies.
Now, three women work together to create an incredible celebration for kids of all ages in the magical Flower City—a place where writers from around the world come to tell their stories.
And because of that, we all live—and read— happily ever afters.
Jael, Ardo & Lin welcome you to another great year of FOLD Kids Book Fest!
THE MAGICAL LAND OF BOOKS
Talia Di Monte, age 12
You flip a page, then another, now you have entered the land of magical wonder. Where the tales twist and spin, a ghost or a goblin, teenagers or children. They all love tales, good and bad, gnarly and rad, scary and funny. Books can be mad! Witches and knights! Unruly fights! Lightning and courageous might! Or to fly a kite! Books can inspire! It could light your heart on fire! It could make you inquire. Books, stories, poems and more! Fill me with joy and no bore. The story and the meaning! It taunts me and it’s gleaming! You turn more pages, though you try to desist, there is no use. You choose, one last chapter, then you read another after. It’s 12 a.m. now, will you continue your journey, or will it end?
DESIGN YOUR OWN BOOK COVER
Can you imagine a NEW COVER for your favourite book?
Will it have pictures of characters in the story? Or maybe places they travel, or objects that are important to their journey?
Maybe you’d like to design a cover for a book that YOU would like to write!
CONNECT THE DOTS
What does the the fierce and magical creature that protects the kingdom look like?
Connect the dots to find out...
DRACO—THE SAVIOUR
Ruthvika Bharath Kamaraj, age 7
Once upon a time, there was a peaceful land which was protected by a Dragon named Draco. The kingdom was ruled by the King, Peter and the Queen, Blossom. Everybody in the kingdom loved Draco. One day a troll chief and his army tricked the dragon. They reached a village and killed many people. The King was furious when he heard the news. He defeated the trolls, but he never came back.
The days that went by were different. It was silent in the villages and there was no music in the castle. Meanwhile, a wizard called Galen Longbeard tried a new spell. Instead of the expected result, a picture came before him. The King was eating coconuts there. He realized that what he saw was true. He quickly wrote a scroll to the queen.
It read:
“Dear Queen, I have a wonderful news for you. Your husband is alive. He is stranded on an island eating the coconuts there. I will help you get him back.”
—Signed, Galen Longbeard
The Queen was surprised and happy. She quickly wrote a scroll and sent her dove to give it to the wizard. The dove delivered it to Galen Longbeard and flew back to the castle. The wizard read the scroll.
It said:
“Dear W izard, Thank you for this information. Please give me more information.”
—Signed, Blossom
The wizard got right to work. He tried and this time another image popped up. There was a blurred map. There were some islands in the middle of the map. The wizard thought the King was lost somewhere in those islands. He wrote a scroll to the Queen.
It stated:
“Dear Queen, I have a little more information for you. I saw a group of islands which resembled a snake. I think that he is probably in one of those islands.”
—Signed, Galen Longbeard
The Queen travelled and tried to find the King. She finally found the King, but a ferocious beast attacked them. The Queen and the King tried to escape but they couldn’t. Draco thought that the Queen was in danger and quickly flew to the rescue. Draco fought with the beast and knocked it into the water causing it to drown. Then the Dragon took the King and the Queen to the castle, where they lived happily ever after.
CONTENTS
THE WISH THAT COST ME EVERYTHING
Tanishi Jain, age 11
Lucy McGoon never thought a stupid Tik-Tok trend would ruin her life.
She was just another sixteen-year-old, tangled in the usual mess of high school—endless gossip, bad cafeteria food, and that one boy in chemistry class who kept stealing her pens. Then her friend Amy told her about the “Wish Ticket,” some viral thing that supposedly showed you your deepest desire. Lucy rolled her eyes. Another fake trend, like those “what’s your future job?” filters that always spat out nonsense.
But that night, feverish and bored in bed after skipping school sick, she found it again. A shimmering button pulsed on her screen, colors swirling like spilled nail polish. She tapped it—why not? —and fell asleep laughing at how ridiculous it all was.
She woke up to lips brushing her forehead.
A man—a grown man—was leaning over her, his face a blur of freckles and sleep softened smiles. “Morning, love,” he murmured, voice rough with sleep.
Lucy screamed.
He startled back, eyes wide. “Whoa—did I scare you?” She scrambled away, heart hammering. The room was wrong. The bed was wrong. And the walls—framed photos of her and this stranger, grinning in wedding whites. Her hands flew to her face. Her skin felt different. Older.
She bolted to the bathroom and locked the door, gasping at the mirror. A woman in her thirties stared back, dark circles under her eyes, hair mussed from sleep. No. No no no—
A chime sounded. A sleek, translucent screen flickered to life in the air—some kind of futuristic interface. The date glowed back at her: 2050.
Fourteen years. Gone.
The man—Felix, apparently her husband—knocked gently. “Lucy? You, okay?”
She wasn’t. She wasn’t okay at all.
Over a stiff breakfast (why did coffee taste so bitter now?), Felix chatted about their plans, his band’s reunion, how proud he was of her “big promotion.” Lucy nodded numbly. Her phone buzzed—a message from someone named Layla: “Did you check the contract? We’re crushing La Rose today.”
A memory flickered: Layla, her now–”bestie,” clasping matching necklaces, whispering “You’re finally who you were meant to be.”
But at what cost?
A notification blinked in her vision: “22 sec to undo. Watch or stay.”
Her stomach dropped. She had no idea what she’d wished for. No idea what she’d sacrificed. But the girl in the mirror wasn’t her. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
She found the old Tik-Tok, fingers shaking. The button glowed.
She pressed it.
Lucy woke up in her own bed, sixteen and sweaty with fever. Sunlight streamed through her Frozen posters. Her phone lay dark beside her.
She grabbed it, thumb hovering over the app—then hurled it across the room.
Some wishes weren’t worth making.
WRITING PROMPT:
TIME MACHINE
If you discovered a time machine WHEN would you want to travel to, and why?
UNTITLED
Zara Hasan, age 13
they hold me like the ocean shore; a soul beneath a breathing sky.
i laugh because the world is kind, not always loud, but always near. it sings to me when i feel blind, and stays until my thoughts are clear.
may i talk to the painter whose sky is so wide? whose brushstrokes bloom in pink and gray. can i ask if the clouds are tears he hides, and if the rain means he’s not okay?
can i speak to the potter who molded the land, whose fingers curved each hill with care? did he hold me with that same hand, or was i shaped with less to spare?
is there a conductor for birds and the breeze, who tells the robin when to sing? are the thunder and storm his melodies, the beat of his drums, the pull of his string?
he paints, he sculpts, he makes the sound, a masterpiece in every tree. but in all this beauty that i’ve found, i still wonder why he painted me.
if i can write of love and ache, with just a heart and ink-stained page, how much more could the greatest of great make with stars and storms and timeless age?
was i a sketch he meant to toss, a line gone wrong, a shattered frame? my thoughts feel crooked, bent with loss. he’s perfect. i am not the same.
but still i breathe, and still i try, a question wrapped in skin and soul. and maybe he, who shaped the sky, won’t rest until he makes me whole.
MY GRATITUDE LIST
Can you write or draw 3 things that you feel grateful for? 1. 2. 3.
GROW KINDNESS
NOT HATE
What are some things that you have done for others that were kind?
Did you help with a chore, share, or give a gift? Did you stand up for a friend? Draw or list them below.
ALL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
*** You can learn more about standing up for nature and listening to the world around you from many books on this year’s FESTIVAL READING LIST at the end of this activity book ***
Sometimes the world around us is easy to take for granted. There are different ways to help look after the planet and your fellow humans and animals if you open your eyes.
Colour-by-number to discover a hidden picture...
GREEN BLUE ORANGE BROWN RED YELLOW
Connect the dots...
I Spy with my little eye...
Each flower has 5 petals and looks like this
2 0 5
Can you find 20 flowers in total throughout the activity book?
Sort the compost and houshold items by tracing each path to their correct disposal bins...
ROLAS NELAP
DWIN RUTNIBE
CERCLEY
Connect the dots...
Elise Vang, age 9
BRIGHT GREEN BUZZER WRITING PROMPT: CHARACTER STUDY
Once there was a kid named Jaylen that liked to prank people. Everyday he would go down to his pranking base (it’s just his basement) to make water balloons, whoopie cushions, fake objects and other stuff. Jaylen also had a friend named Charlotte who knew he did pranks but she trusted him enough to know he wouldn’t do anything to her. One day they got into an argument that ended their friendship. Jaylen went to a store and bought a bright green buzzer he was going to use it to get back at her by pranking her. Charlotte wasn’t sure he wasn’t going to prank her so she decided to watch for anything Jaylen said or did that was suspicious she was ready. Back at Jaylen’s house Jaylen was making a machine that would make a bucket of salsa dip explode on her head! When he finished he brought it to Charlotte as a sorry gift and he said, “Sorry for yelling at you Charlotte press the buzzer it has my voice in it,” Little did he know Charlotte knows him very well so she stepped back out of the door way and pushed the buzzer. She didn’t get soaked but Jaylen did! She said to him, “ I guess I’m too good for you!”
Stories need characters! A great way to build a character for a story is to imagine specific details about them. What about age/family/culture? What do they love/hate/ fear/dream of? What are their skills/challenges? Are they human? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Try this for two different characters and see what kind of story happens if you put them in a room together...
BANANA IN THE STONE
Keanu Bori, age 8
In the middle of the jungle, there was a peculiar bush. But it wasn’t just a bush—it was a secret entrance. If you crawled through the hole underneath, you’d find a hidden world full of monkeys—Capuchin monkeys. But one monkey was not like the rest. His name was... CHINO.
One day, Chino was walking in the jungle when he found a note stuck to a tree. It said: “Meet at the Sacred Banana Temple at midnight… OR ELSE.” Chino shrugged. “Sounds interesting,” he said. So he went. At midnight, Chino walked through the jungle until he found the glowing Banana Temple. There, a tall figure in a black cloak in a harsh voice said: “An evil group is coming to steal the Banana from the Stone. If they take it, they’ll become unstoppable. You must get it before they do!” “Got it,” said Chino. But as soon as he started walking, the ground beneath him gave way—BOOM! He fell into a deep hole. Inside the hole stood a strange beast: a Chimera. It blocked two doors. “You must choose the right door,” the Chimera said. “One of these leads to disaster.” Chino pointed. “Uh… that one?” “Correct!” said the Chimera. But instead of finding a reward, Chino was launched by a barrel of explosives! He flew around the planet 12 times before landing—SPLASH!— into the ocean. Underwater, Chino met his old friend, King Squid, the ruler of the sea. “Here, take this map,” the King said. “It’s special. Trust it.” Chino followed the glowing map for hours. Finally, he reached the Banana in the Stone, where three other monkeys were already trying to pull it out. None of them could. Chino pulled hard and suddenly, POP!—he got it!
Just then, evil creatures appeared—reapers and necromancers. They wanted the banana. Chino tried to fight them off with it. The banana had a strange power: it made enemies slip and fall again and again. But it wasn’t enough. “It needs magic,” Chino said. So he ran to the top of the tallest mountain, where a powerful forge once stood. But the forge was gone. Suddenly,
the magical map began to glow—it turned into the forge! Chino quickly enchanted the banana with all the powers he could. But the evil army was close. He ran down the mountain just in time. A huge battle started.
It looked like Chino was losing… Until his monkey friends showed up! Together, they started winning. But then, the bad guys brought out their secret weapons—Hexalongs—monsters who create havoc with hexes. Things got tough. But Chino held the enchanted banana and used its final magic—The Super Slip!— and with one giant swing, he knocked the enemies far, far away. The jungle was saved.
Back at the peculiar bush, Chino had a new idea. He invented a new drink called “Cappy Chinos”, made from bananas and jungle coffee. He opened a shop called Capuchin Monkey, and monkeys came from all over to try it and peace fell over the jungle once again.
UNTITLED
Katharina Speckner, age 12
One Day a kitten was laying under a tree. She was waiting for her friend to come down from the tree. The kittens name was Cookie and her friend’s name is Cocoa. She was bored so she went up the tree and found out what was taking Cocoa so long. She saw she was having a tea party without her. Cocoa said ’’I thought you would come up but you didn’t.’’ That made her feel better about the problem. She joined them and had a blast. She was still mad at Cocoa but she forgot about it because she was having too much fun at the tea party. When the tea party was done they went down the tree and went to sleep. They dreamed of the tea party and how fun it would be so much fun to have a friend with them. They woke up and was happy because of their dream and went back up the tree and tried to find a friend to do a tea party with. They looked everywhere but they could not find anyone. They gave up because it was all ready noon. They were so sad because they could not find any animals to have a tea party with. They heard a voice ’’I will have a tea party with you.’’ They heard the voice and said ’’who’s there.’’ Nothing happened for a moment and then a chipmunk came down the tree and said ’’I will have a tea party with you if my friends, brothers and sisters can come to the tea party.’’ They were so happy that someone would come to their tea party they said “YES.’’ The chipmunk called for his friends and family. One hundred chipmunks came running down the tree. It was so cool it looked like a chipmunk pool. They had such a fun time with the chipmunks that they fell down on their backs because how funny the chipmunks were. They now live with the chipmunks. They went to bed.
All the forest animals heard about the wonderful tea party they had missed and so they decided to have an autumn FESTIVALwith food, fun, and maybe even some books...
AUTUMN ANIMALS WORDSEARCH
(POSSIBLE WORD DIRECTIONS )
SQUIRREL
RACCOON BOOKS
ACORN RAIN
FOLD KIDS MAD LIBS
The Magical Bookstore
One (time of day) , I walked into a bookstore that smelled like (scent) and (food) . On the shelves were books that could (verb) and (verb) . I picked up a book titled ‘The (adjective) (animal) ’ and opened to page (number) . Suddenly, a (adjective) light flashed, and I was transported into a land filled with (plural noun) and flying (plural noun) . A (adjective) guide handed me a (object) and told me, ‘Only the (adjective) reader can defeat the (villain name) !’
The Talking Book
I was reading in my (room in house) when I heard a (sound) . I looked down and saw my book (verb) and (verb) ! ‘Hello!’ it said. ‘My name is (silly name) and I need your help finding the missing (plural noun) .’ I grabbed my (object) and we jumped into a (adjective) portal. Along the way, we met a (animal) , a (occupation) , and a (fantasy creature) who all loved to read (plural noun) . In the end, we saved the (noun) and were rewarded with unlimited (plural noun) for ever!
WE ALL HAVE STRUGGLES WORTH FIGHTING FOR...
Amyra Ghai, age 11
No matter where we go, we can never escape, We all have struggles worth fighting for. Though we all try to cover it with smiles and tapes, We’re hurting behind the door.
No matter what we do, we can never escape, We all have struggles worth fighting for. Even if spread between the four corners of the world We’re all bounded by the troubles behind the door.
No matter how we try, we can never escape, We all have struggles worth fighting for. We tried enough, We‘ve been tough So now we’re breaking piece by piece , Always waiting for true peace....
As we all have struggles worth fighting for….
MAKE YOUR OWN BOOKMARK
One thing that can make us feel less alone in our struggles is reading!
This Reading Monster loves books... how many will it go through?
Track your progress by colouring a star for each book you finish.
READING PROGRESS
MAKE YOUR OWN BOOKMARK
AS I DRIVE BY
Mackenzie Da Maren, age 14
A memory came to me, as we drove by
A memory of us
We loved seeing them
They brought us laughter
They brought us joy
But that was then
And this is now
Now they bring me sorrow
The delight I once felt, I feel it no more
As I drive by
You can cut out your bookmark Monster and glue it to a piece of cardboard to make it stronger...
ATTAI’S MYSTERIOUS PICNIC
Jayita Vijayakaran, age 13
“How long?” asked Anikha. “Almost there,” I said. “A few more hills.” Anikha groaned. “What!? I could barely climb the first steep one. Why do we have to go through these craggy mountains just to get some plants for your aunt’s grand meal?” It was an ordinary Saturday afternoon, and my attai had taken us to a forest for our annual weekend picnic. It was a summer tradition to go on a picnic, since it was the only time she came back to Canada from Colombia where she worked as a geographer. This time, my best friend, Anikha, begged to come along, since my attai told us that we will be going on the most unforgettable mission of our lives. It was to explore plants on a mountain in Québec. We equipped ourselves with trekking poles, helmets, crampons, and a GPS and off we went!
After training us, my attai assigned us to go up the first mountain of Mount Brome, and she said she’d meet us on the other side by 7pm. We had to collect three plants, but I recognized only the large hosta leaves we needed — to eat from. Usually back home, we have banana leaves to put our rice and curries on, but since we didn’t have any here, we needed big leaves. However, the other two plants were mysteries and I had never heard of them.
“Kathy, we got the special grass and the huge leaves. What more plants do we need to get?” Anikha asked. I reached for the crumbled list in my pocket and straightened it out. We collected everything on the list, but there was a box left open. It was the most unusual plant. In fact, when I searched it up on Google, there wasn’t a speck of information about it, and instead showed a picture of flat rocks. I read the unchecked box to Anikha, and a peculiar feeling washed over me. It read in a different font, “The Ecudtower” — Found only on the peak of Mont Brome, where royalty resides. Anikha looked amused. “What does that mean?” I shrugged,
“It’s probably a prank from my aunt.” Deep inside, I wondered if this would show me another side of attai. We continued to travel uphill and I was intrigued.
“We’re here!” I exclaimed. We were at the highest point of the mountain and the view was breathtaking. It was a rosy sunset, the fog hovering over the mountains lifted, and the tall trees, and birds gliding in the sky looked peaceful. Anikha’s loud voice exclaimed suddenly, “Kathy, I found it!”, but there was something different about her voice. I rushed to her, and saw a glowing rock with a note that had the exact same font as the one on the list. “Are you ready to meet your queen?” As soon as we stepped on it, with a glow, and BOOM, lo and behold, there was in front of us a new dimension with my attai standing there in royal regalia!
FESTIVAL BOOK LIST FESTIVAL BOOK LIST 2025
LUCKY MERMAID SLEEPOVER
By Mitali Banerjee Ruths
Illustrator: Aaliya Jaleel
5–7 years old
978-1546137566
Scholastic Canada
DRAGON ON THE LOOSE
By Marty Chan
Illustrator: Grace Chen
6–8 years old
978-1459834217
Orca Book Publishers
I LOST A DAY
By Briana Corr Scott
4–8 years old
978-1774713631
Nimbus Publishing
THE ONE AND ONLY QUESTION
By Norma Charles & Andrea Charles
Illustrator: Ken Daley
4–8 years old
978-1773069654
Groundwood Books
IT BEGAN WITH A BUZZ
By Shiva Delsooz
4–7 years old
978-1771477031
OwlKids Books
YOU CAN’T TAME A TIGER
By Stephanie Ellen Sy
Illustrator: Julien Chung
4–7 years old
978-1771475464
OwlKids Books
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
By Joyce Grant
Illustrator: Kathleen Marcotte
9–12 years old
978-1525303227
Kids Can Press
CHASING BATS AND TRACKING RATS
By Cylita Guy
Illustrator: Cornelia Li
9–12 years old
978-1773215389
Annick Press
SOMETIMES I EAT WITH MY HANDS
By Kid Haile
3–6 years old
978-1773069241
Groundwood Books
THE ANTIFA COMIC BOOK: Revised and Expanded
By Gord Hill
Teen Crossover
978-1834050041
Arsenal Pulp Press
AN ANTHOLOGY OF INTRIGUING ANIMALS
By Ben Hoare
6–8 years old
978-1465477026
DK
PATTY DREAMS
By Nadia L. Hohn
Illustrator: Sahle Robinson
4–7 years old
978-1771476027
OwlKids Books
THE LAND KNOWS ME
Leigh Joseph
Illustrator: Natalie Schnitter
6–11 years old
978-0760392911
becker&mayer! Kids
THE SUNSHINE PROJECT
By Uma Krishnaswami
Illustrator: Julianna Swaney
8–12 years old
978-1773067797
Groundwood Books
THE DEAD OF SUMMER
By Ryan La Sala
14+ years old
978-1546125877
Scholastic Canada
HE’S SO POSSESSED WITH ME
By Corey Liu
14+ years old
978-0316571845
Hachette Book Group Canada
DANICA DELA TORRE, DREAM DETECTIVE
By Mikaela Lucido
Illustrator: Joanna Cacao
8–12 years old
978-1773219776
Annick Press
MUMMY & ME
By Danesh Mohiuddin
3–6 years old
978-1771475952
OwlKids Books
YOU CAN BE AN ACTIVIST
By Charlene Rocha & Mary Beth Leatherdale
Illustrator: Drew Shannon
10–14 years old
978-1525308406
Kids Can Press
TIME SURFERS
By Kevin Sylvester
8–12 years old
978-1443475068
HarperCollins Canada
LOST & FOUND
By Mei Yu
7–10 years old
978-1454952640
Union Square Kids / Hachette Book Group
A DROP IN THE OCEAN
By Léa Taranto
12+ years old
978-1551529813
Arsenal Pulp Press
SEM’S MAP
By Rebecca Thomas
Illustrator: Azby Whitecalf
5–9 years old
978-1774714966
Nimbus Publishing
SARAH PONAKEY, STORYCATCHER AND MASKWA’S TIPI TALES
By Sita MacMillan
Illustrator: Azby Whitecalf
6–9 years old
978-1773219493
Annick Press
ALTERATIONS
By Ray Xu
8–12 years old
978-1454945857
Union Square Kids / Hachette Book Group
DRAW WITH MEI: How to Draw
Anime Characters
By Mei Yu
8+ years old
978-1454959090
Union Square Kids / Hachette Book Group
EDDY’S SHADOW PUPPETS
By Karina Zhou
3–8 years old
978-1834050188
Arsenal Pulp Press
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Scan the QR code or visit bramlib.info/join to learn more.
Visit your favourite Brampton Library branch!
Chinguacousy
In the Ski Chalet at Chinguacousy Park
Claireville
At the corner of The Gore Rd. and Queen St.
Cyril Clark
Near Loafer’s Lake Park
Four Corners
In downtown Brampton
Gore Meadows
In the community centre
Mount Pleasant Village
In Mount Pleasant Village Square
South Fletcher’s
In Shoppers World near Anderson College
South West
In the Lionhead Marketplace
Springdale
Near Bramalea Rd. and Sandalwood Pkwy.
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Decodable books and cards
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