Grades 5-9

Author and Illustrator Talk

Beloved children’s author Kyo Maclear has teamed up with ACAD grad Byron Eggenschwiler on a gorgeous new book, Operatic, which brilliantly captures the high drama of middle school, friendship, bullying, first crushes, and opera. Eggenschwhiler and Maclear go beyond the pages of their graphic novel in this interactive multimedia presentation that includes a short drawing activity with your students.

Kyo Maclear is the author of highly acclaimed books for kids including The Fog, Julia, Child, and Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli. Her books have been translated into 15 languages and garnered nominations from the Governor General’s Literary Awards to the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards.

Byron Eggenschwiler is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been published in magazines and journals across Canada and the U.S.A., including The New York Times, GQ, O, The Oprah Magazine, Owl, and The Walrus. He also illustrated Coyote Tales by indigenous hero Thomas King.

About Operatic

It’s almost the end of middle school, and Charlie has to find her perfect song for a music class assignment. But it’s hard to concentrate when she can’t stop noticing her classmate Emile, or wondering about Luka, who has stopped coming to school. On top of everything, she has been talked into participating in an end-of year performance with her best friends.

Then the class learns about opera, and Charlie discovers the music of Maria Callas. The more she learns about Callas’ life, the more Charlie admires her. Can Charlie follow the example of the ultimate diva when it comes to her own life?

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