Early Bird Registration for Author School Visits Now Open

Wordfest Youth Early Bird Registration Now Open

Calgary and area schools and youth organisations may now reserve their author visits, order Festival books and plan for October 2015. Read below for more information, or visit the Wordfest Author Lineup.

Book a School Visit

Aaron Paquette is one of Canada’s premiere First Nations artists. He is a painter, writer, keynote speaker and workshop facilitator. He is also a political commentator, illustrator, goldsmith and cathedral stained glass artist. Lightfinder is a fantasy novel, a story that follows the paths of Aisling and Eric, siblings unwittingly thrust into a millennia old struggle for the future of life on earth. It deals with growing up, love and loss, and the choices life puts in our path. Grades 6-9

Anne Villeneuve has written and illustrated close to 40 books, created games for magazines, illustrated for newspapers and designed cake boxes for a bakery. As far as she can recall, she’s always held a crayon or a brush in her hands. She tries to draw every day, even on vacation, curious of her surroundings and eager to observe every aspect of her environment. The Loula series is tender and sensitive, touching and tasteful, sparse and balanced. Grades K-3 / English / French

Bill Slavin is an award-winning children’s book illustrator with over 50 books to his credit. His works include Stanley’s Party and The Bear on the Bed. Bill is also the author behind Big Star Otto, the graphic novel for young readers. Grades 3-6

Christophe Mauri comes from France to present Matthieu Hildaf, a fantasy series. Christophe was 13 when he sent his first manuscript to a publisher. Through hard work and perseverance, he saw his first novel published at the age of 22. Christophe will speak about the Matthieu Hildaf series but also about his journey as a young writer. Grades 5-8 / French

Cybèle Young is an author and an internationally renowned visual artist. Her art practice has inspired the creation of several children’s books. In her latest title, Young interweaves the science of animal eyesight into a clever whodunit involving a haughty queen. This is a unique and sophisticated book unlike any other. Her book is an excellent resource for life science lessons on animal and human characteristics. The sly humor, engaging storytelling and layered narrative also make it a terrific mystery read.Grades K-6+

Diya Lim moved from Mauritius to Toronto and worked in education and literacy before becoming a full time writer. Diya Lim’s books are very imaginative and transport the reader to other worlds. Through the written word, Diya Lim creates fantastic worlds where dreams can come true. Grades K-6 / French / English

Drew Hayden Taylor is an award-winning playwright, novelist, scriptwriter and journalist. Me Artsy, his latest title, is a compilation of essays by fourteen contributors, exploring the centrality of art in First Nations communities, its ability to foster social change, and the role of art in representing Native culture and the fusion of traditional and contemporary techniques. Grades 9+

Édith Bourget is an acclaimed prolific children’s writer who travels the Francophone world with her twenty plus high quality and critically acclaimed children’s books. From books for early readers to teen’s novels via poetry and short stories, Edith Bourget brings stories to life for the delight of her readers. Grades K-7+ / French

Elizabeth Turgeon is a youth writer who continually nurtures her passion for the arts, practicing all forms of expression including theatre, drawing, sculpture and painting. Her latest title, Lili Moka takes readers on an adventure through the arts of Europe. Grades +6 / French

Kenneth Oppel is the author of numerous books for young readers. His award-winning Silverwing trilogy has sold over a million copies worldwide and was adapted into an animated TV series and stage play. Airborn won a Michael L. Printz Honor Book Award and the Governor General’s Literary Award; its sequel, Skybreaker, was a New York Times bestseller and was named Children’s Novel of the Year by The Times (London). He is also the author of Half Brother, This Dark Endeavor, Such Wicked Intent, and The Boundless. Grades 4-8

Kevin Sands: Since escaping from university with a pair of degrees in theoretical physics, Kevin Sands has worked as a researcher, a business consultant and a teacher. His first novel, The Blackthorn Key, is a middle grade mystery novel full of suspense. Grades 4-7

Kevin Sylvester is an award-winning writer, illustrator and broadcaster. His books include the Neil Flambé series, Gold Medal for Weird, and Sports Hall of Weird. His latest title, MINRS is a middle-grade gritty action-adventure novel. Grades 3-7

Juan Pablo Villalobos has published travel stories and literary and film criticism. He is the author of books including Down the Rabbit Hole. With Quesadillas, “Villalobos has inaugurated a new kind of avant-garde novel, one whose grasp of certain dehumanizing political realities never erodes the power to dream something better.” (Kirkus (starred review)). Grades 10+ / English / Spanish

Linda Bailey has written more than twenty books for children in a number of different genres, including the best-selling Stanley-the-dog series, the Good Times Travel Agency series, and most recently, When Santa was a Baby, a funny and sweet story about Santa’s formative years as a jolly, one-of-a-kind kid. Known for her wonderful sense of humour, evident in almost all her stories, Bailey relates to all young readers. Grades 1-6

Maxim Cyr: Since 2007, Maxim Cyr has worked with Karine Gottot on various projects, including the very popular and hilarious series Les Dragouilles (presented at Wordfest in 2012). In recent years, Maxim Cyr made his mark by becoming one of Montreal’s most distinguished illustrators on the web, and is behind the new Francophone graphic Novel Victor & Igor. Grades 2-6 / French / English

Mélanie Watt writes her books both in French and English. She is the bestselling creative genius behind many beloved picture books for children, including the Scaredy Squirrel series and the Chester series. At Wordfest, she presents Bug in a Vacuum, about a fly whose entire life changes with the switch of a button. Grades K-4 / French / English

Michel Chikwanine: A former child soldier, Michel Chikwanine has endured and overcome unimaginable pain and struggles. His passion and belief in the possibility for change makes him a truly remarkable individual and humanitarian. Today, Michel is an accomplished inspirational speaker. His first memoir is a graphic novel that speaks volume on resilience, perseverance and hopes. Grades 5+

Raziel Reid’s debut novel When Everything Feels like the Movies won the 2014 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature (Text) and was a finalist for CBC’s Canada Reads 2015 competition, defended by Lainey Lui of LaineyGossip.com. The School Library Journal described the novel as a “whirlwind, gender-bending drama with plenty of pop culture references.” Grade 11+

Susin Nielsen is an author of children’s books and young adult books. She is a script-writer for the popular television series Degrassi Junior High as well as a respected YA author. We Are All Made of Molecules, about a thirteen-year-old boy who is academically brilliant but “ungifted” socially, explores family tragedy and family ties; sibling rivalry and union; and adolescent confusion and revelation. Grades 6-9

Trina St. Jean grew up in northern Alberta and now lives in Calgary where she teaches ESL and enjoys strategically evading grizzlies in the nearby Rockies. Her first novel, Blank, is a coming-of-age tale and a medical-suspense drama. Grades 7+

Book a School Visit

About the Wordfest Youth Program

Wordfest Youth is a popular youth and education program that brings students together with authors to stimulate literacy and encourage a love of reading and writing. Events are available in public theatres as well as in community halls and schools. In 2014, over 10,000 young readers took part in Wordfest events.

Something for Everyone

Authors and illustrators working in a variety of languages including English, French and Spanish. Featured titles are of different genres – non-fiction, novels, graphic novels and picture books.

Field trips

Wordfest offers great field trip destinations for K-12 students with ticketed events for age appropriate groups. Two authors are featured at each event, with the opportunity for your students to see the people behind the books and stories created by world-class writers and artists.

Reading guides available

Reading guides are available so students can learn more about the featured authors and books. The guides and activity sheets are designed to help teachers and students find meaningful connections between the themes in the books presented at the Festival and classroom learning goals.