Author Danesh Mohiuddin leads kids through an art demo using their favourite memory with a caretaker and creature-fy them on the page. Inspired by his picture book, Mummy and Me: A Monster’s Tale, attendees are encouraged to take out their pencil and paper for this Halloween themed bonus event. Kindergarten–Grade 3.
ASL Storytime with Gaitrie Persaud-Killings
November 4, 2025 • 9:00 am ET
In this annual storytelling event, Deaf artist and actress Gaitrie Persaud-Killings presents the incredible children’s book Patty Dreams by Nadia L. Hohn and Sahle Robinson in American Sign Language (ASL). Suitable for children of all ages, this ASL storytelling event provides viewers with an opportunity to learn a few signs as they discover the art of ASL storytelling. Oral translation will be provided by an ASL interpreter. Kindergarten–Grade 3.
Storytime with Shiva Delsooz
November 4, 2025 • 1:30 pm ET
In this storytime event, author Shiva Delsooz reads from her picture book, It Began with a Buzz, which follows a girl who discovers that music helps her to cope with the buzzing in her ear. The reading will be followed by an activity. Kindergarten–Grade 3.
Storytime with Briana Corr Scott
November 5, 2025 • 9:00 am ET
Big feelings can feel overwhelming but learning how to understand and calm them makes a big difference. In this special storytime, author Briana Corr Scott shares her picture book, I Lost a Day, and guides kids through simple breathing exercises to help them self-soothe when emotions run high. An optional handout will be available to support classroom or at-home learning. Kindergarten–Grade 3.
Making Maps with Rebecca Thomas
November 6, 2025 • 9:00 am ET
Maps tell stories but the map of Canada doesn’t tell the whole truth. In this interactive session, author Rebecca Thomas shares her picture book Sem’s Map, which contrasts the colonial map of Canada with the decolonial map of Turtle Island. You won’t want to miss this storytime event that wraps up with a fun, hands-on mapmaking activity that will spark creativity as young readers explore new ways to see the land around us. Kindergarten–Grade 3.
Crafting Folklore with Mikaela Lucido
October 30, 2025 • 12:00 am ET
Author Mikaela Lucido leads kids through art and writing activities while exploring the world of her novel, Danica dela Torre, Dream Detective. Inspired by her Filipino culture, Lucido’s workshop encourages attendees to incorporate their own cultures into their creature creations. Paper, pencil and pencil crayons are recommended for this Halloween-themed bonus event. Grades 5–8.
Finding Your Happy Place with Briana Corr Scott
October 30, 2025 • 12:00 am
Join author Briana Corr Scott (I Lost a Day) as she leads kids through an exercise to find their happy place. This event offers attendees the tools they need to explore emotional regulation through creative expression. Participants are encouraged to use the Finding Your Happy Place handout or a blank paper, pencil and colour pencils/ crayons. Grades 5–8.
Virtual events by age group
All events will be available ON DEMAND by November 9. Events will be available until June 30 with a VIRTUAL PLUS PASS or a BOARD-WIDE PASS
Let’s Draw! with Azby Whitecalf
November 4, 2025 • 11:00 am ET
In this art workshop for elementary students, illustrator and Silver Birch Express nominee Azby Whitecalf (Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and Maskwa’s Tipi Tales) provides step-by-step instructions for the creation of an incredible work of art. Bring a piece of paper, pencil, eraser and pen (for outlining). Grades 4–6.
The Making of a Graphic Novel with Mei Yu
November 5, 2025 • 11:00 am ET
Silver Birch Express winner Mei Yu breaks down the creation process behind her popular graphic memoir, Lost & Found: Based on a True Story, before leading kids through a how-to-draw demonstration. Participants are encouraged to bring a piece of paper and pencil. Grades 4–6.
The Illustrator Battle
November 5, 2025 • 1:30 pm ET
Our annual illustrator battle is back! Watch as a brand-new lineup of artists battle it out from their own drawing tables in a series of hilarious, interactive challenges. Featuring Canadian illustrators Mei Yu, Azby Whitecalf, and our Illustrator-in-Residence Ken Daley, with host Ardo Omer and special guest Marty Chan, this virtual event is packed with creativity, comedy, and artistic talent. Grades 5–8.
This event is sponsored by Tundra.
How to Be a Story Maker with Mitali Banerjee Ruths
November 6, 2025 • 10:00 am ET
Author Mitali Banerjee Ruths (The Party Diaries: Lucky Mermaid Sleepover ) explores how paying attention to the world can spark ideas for diary writing. In this hands-on event, students will be led through the process of creating a zine—a mini-book that can be used for reflection, sketching, or storytelling. Participants are encouraged to bring a piece of paper, a pencil or pen and scissors. Grades 4–6.
Crafting Folklore with Mikaela Lucido
October 30, 2025 • 12:00 am ET
Author Mikaela Lucido leads kids through art and writing activities while exploring the world of her novel, Danica dela Torre, Dream Detective. Inspired by her Filipino culture, Lucido’s workshop encourages attendees to incorporate their own cultures into their creature creations. Paper, pencil and pencil crayons are recommended for this Halloween-themed bonus event. Grades 5–8.
Finding Your Happy Place with Briana Corr Scott
October 30, 2025 • 12:00 am ET
Join author Briana Corr Scott (I Lost a Day ) as she leads kids through an exercise to find their happy place. This event offers attendees the tools they need to explore emotional regulation through creative expression. Participants are encouraged to use the Finding Your Happy Place handout or a blank paper, pencil and colour pencils/crayons. Grades 5–8.
Can You Believe It? with Joyce Grant
November 4, 2025 • 9:00 am ET
During a time of mass misinformation, thinking critically about what we read online is more important than ever. In this middle school event, author Joyce Grant (Can You Believe It? ) explores how to differentiate between fact and fiction when navigating the web through the interactive game “Pass or Post!”. Grades 6–8.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE Virtual events by age group
All events will be available ON DEMAND by November 9. Events will be available until June 30 with a VIRTUAL PLUS PASS or a BOARD-WIDE PASS
You Can Be an Activist with Charlene Rocha
November 4, 2025 • 10:00 am ET
What does it REALLY mean to be an activist? Author Charlene Rocha (You Can Be an Activist) explores common misconceptions and examines global and local activism using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Explore how individual strengths can make a collective impact in this timely event for teens. Bring a pencil and the My Activism Blueprint worksheet or a blank piece of paper. Grades 8–11.
The Illustrator Battle
November 5, 2025 • 1:30 pm ET
Our annual illustrator battle is back! Watch as a brand-new lineup of artists battle it out from their own drawing tables in a series of hilarious, interactive challenges. Featuring Canadian illustrators Mei Yu, Azby Whitecalf, and our Illustrator-in-Residence Ken Daley, with host Ardo Omer and special guest Marty Chan, this virtual event is packed with creativity, comedy, and artistic talent. Grades 5–8.
This event is sponsored by Tundra.
Stories that Spark Change with Uma Krishnaswami
November 6, 2025 • 1:30pm ET
Award-winning author Uma Krishnaswami (The Sunshine Project) invites students to think about the ways stories can inspire change in their own communities. Drawing on the popular Book Uncle trilogy, Krishnaswami explores how her characters take action and become activists in response to the world around them and leads students through an interactive activity to create a collaborative list poem—an imaginative exercise that highlights the power of individual voices joined together. Grades 6–8.
Horror-fied with Corey Liu and Ryan La Sala
October 30, 2025 • 12:00am ET
Join authors Corey Liu (He’s So Possessed with Me) and Ryan La Sala (The Dead of Summer ) as they discuss their new novels, exploring queerness in the horror genre and the terrifying experience of getting published. This event will be moderated by Ameema Saeed. Enjoy this Halloween themed bonus event for Grades 9–12.
You Can Be an Activist with Charlene Rocha
November 4, 2025 • 10:00am ET
What does it REALLY mean to be an activist? Author Charlene Rocha (You Can Be an Activist) explores common misconceptions and examines global and local activism using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Explore how individual strengths can make a collective impact in this timely event for teens. Bring a pencil and the My Activism Blueprint worksheet or a blank piece of paper. Grades 8–11.
The Writer’s Life with Ray
Xu
November 5, 2025 • 10:00 m ET
The Writer’s Life series explores the journeys of writers who balance their craft with other careers, offering insights into the challenges, inspirations, and unique paths that shape a writer’s life. This year, author, illustrator and story artist Ray Xu ( Alterations) discusses the process behind creating his first graphic novel, what it’s like creating storyboards for popular films like KPop Demon Hunters and TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, and what was his path to publishing. Grades 9–11.
Finding True Stories in Everyday Life with Léa Taranto
November 6, 2025 • 11:00 m ET
Writing prompts can be found anywhere—a photo, a journal entry, a prescription, or even a random list in a notes app. In this workshop, author Léa Taranto ( A Drop in the Ocean) helps students discover how to turn everyday primary sources into powerful stories. Participants may use any medium to record their writing, from paper and pencil to laptops. Grades 9–12.
An Indigenous History Lesson on Fascism with Gord Hill
November 4, 2025 • 5:00pm ET
From post World War I Italy to the modern-day United States, Indigenous author Gord Hill guides educators through the history of fascist movements and the strategies used by anti-fascist groups who resisted them. Designed for educators at all grade-levels, this workshop provides participants with tools to teach this history and to recognize its relevance in their own communities.
From Page to Action: Teaching Youth to Change Their World
November 4, 2025 • 7:30pm ET
Young people today are growing up in a world filled with big challenges and they’re not immune to the impacts. How can educators and caregivers help kids engage with these issues in meaningful, age-appropriate ways? In this free FOLD Kids Book Fest evening panel, streamed live on YouTube, authors Gord Hill, Charlene Rocha, and Uma Krishnaswami discuss why it’s essential to bring real-world conversations into the home and the classroom. Together, they’ll explore how their books tackle pressing issues, share strategies for guiding difficult discussions, and offer ideas for empowering students to take small but impactful actions in their own communities. This conversation will be moderated by Alyssa Gray-Tyghter.
The Misinformation Challenge: Tools for Today’s Classrooms with Joyce Grant
November 5, 2025 • 5:00pm ET
In this dynamic presentation, author Joyce Grant equips educators with practical strategies to help students recognize and resist misinformation. Drawing on real-world examples, Grant shares a five-step process for teaching what misinformation is, why it matters, and how to avoid it. Educators will explore engaging ways to spark classroom discussions on key topics such as confirmation bias, algorithms, and the BaaderMeinhof phenomenon while gaining tools to support students in developing critical thinking and media literacy skills that extend beyond the classroom.
Building Brave Libraries: Creating Inclusive Bookshelves in Challenging Times
November 5, 2025 • 7:30pm ET
What does it take to build and protect a truly diverse library collection? In this powerful panel moderated by Lily Kwok (Ontario Library Association), three librarians, teacher-librarians and educators—Michael Nyby, Karen Devonish-Mazzotta and Anuka Dey—share their experiences curating inclusive shelves while confronting growing challenges from shrinking budgets to increasing book bans. Join us for a candid conversation about why a diverse range of books in libraries matter, the obstacles educators face, and the strategies they’re using to ensure every student can see themselves reflected in their library.
This free evening panel, part of FOLD Kids Book Fest, will be streamed live on YouTube and is open to all educators, parents, and community members committed to equitable access to stories.
