Kari-Lynn Winters
Biography:Kari-Lynn Winters is an award-winning picture book author, playwright, and performer who enjoys being in the classroom in any of these capacities. She recently accepted a position at Brock University as a professor of drama-in-education and literacy. Her graduate work, which was completed at the University of British Columbia, focused on combining the arts with reading and writing. When Kari-Lynn began to write children’s picture book manuscripts and submit them to publishers about eight years ago, people often shook their heads, advising her to write novels instead. “It is so difficult to get picture books published in these times,” they said. But Kari-Lynn persisted, continuing to collect, read, research, and write picture books. Her persistence paid off. Today, nine picture books that Kari-Lynn wrote—including Jeffrey and Sloth, aRHYTHMetic: a book and a half of poetry about math, Runaway Alphabet, On My Walk, When Chickens Fly, PunctuACTION, Mathical Creatures, Stinky Skunk Mel, and Just Be-a—have been accepted for publication by Orca Book Publishers, Simply Read Books, Tradewind Books, and Gumboot Books. In addition, she has had poetry and non-fiction pieces accepted for publication in KNOW Magazine for Curious Kids, Fandangle, and ChickaDEE and academic chapters and articles about student literacy published by Heinemann and in The Reading Teacher. Kari-Lynn says the best thing about writing for children is that she can share silly ideas in funny and interactive ways and that she can talk to children about their own experiences as young authors. She currently lives in Vancouver with her husband, two kids, and two cats. To learn more about Kari-Lynn please see her website, www.kariwinters.com. Presentation Information:Get over writer's block, try free-style skiing or snowmobiling, meet some rot-ten dragons and some teacup pups, participate in a word hockey game, or go for a rhythmic Vancouver Walk! In her educational and interactive presentations, Kari-Lynn Winters (an award-winning author and drama/literacy professor) collaborates with teachers in order to explore how to bring reading and writing off the page for students. Rather than occupying the traditional space of presentation (e.g., students listen quietly while the author speaks), her author visits are re-imagined as interactive spaces for mentorship between author and child. Audiences negotiate what it means to be an author by participating in story building, exploring the power of imagination, identifying the joy of generating ideas, and by asking questions. Kari-Lynn's creative and dynamic presentations include visuals, puppets, songs, and dramatic play. She believes that books and stories provide boundless spaces where authors and readers can come together to explore literacy strategies, social justice issues, sports, science or mathematics concepts, and most of all—imagination! Book List / Discography:Jeffrey and Sloth. Illustrated by Ben Hodson. (Orca Book Publishers, 2007) "Rhyme or Reason" in A World of Stories. Edited by Crystal J. Stranaghan. Illustrated by Scot Ritchie. (Gumboot Books, 2008) aRHYTHMetic: A Book and a Half of Poetry About Math. Co-written with Tiffany Stone and Lori Sherritt-Fleming. Illustrated by Scot Ritchie. (Gumboot Books, 2009) On My Walk. Illustrated by Christina Leist. (Tradewind Books, 2009) Runaway Alphabet. Illustrated by Ben Frey. (Simply Read Books, 2009) When Chickens Fly. Illustrated by Izabela Bzymek. (Gumboot Books, 2009) Awards:Jeffrey and Sloth Praise for Kari-Lynn Winters:"A teacher workshop with Kari-Lynn Winters is lively, fun, and full of fresh ideas. I have left her workshops with many strategies to support my students’ literacy through storybooks, drama, and games. She demonstrates how a teacher can make children active participants in classroom literacy experiences…I highly recommend her teacher workshop to any school, and would love to have her back at mine." David Johnson, Teacher "One of our best author visits!" Becky Pendleton, teacher-librarian "Kari Winters is an outstanding author whose ideas really resonate with children, making children’s learning feel relevant and purposeful to them. Whether she is writing about the struggle for writing topics in Jeffrey and Sloth, or giving children an easy way to remember math concepts through rhythmic poems in aRHYTHMetic, she relates to students and makes them feel that they too can accomplish their dreams." Amanda Vine, Grade 2 Teacher "From the moment Kari-Lynn took the floor, she didn’t disappoint. She captivated the minds and ears of both the preschool-to-primary children and their parents with ease, taking us from one imaginative setting to the next through songs, finger plays and puppets. She showed great intuition - she always seemed to know just when the children needed to stand up and move around or needed more visual stimulation or interaction, which greatly helped to keep the children engaged and focused. And her quick wit and welcoming nature allowed her to quickly and calmly respond to all the incessant questions/comments thrown at her from the very inquisitive audience." Mary Jo Wagner "[Kari-Lynn's] energy and enthusiasm were infectious. Her creativity and dedication to the craft of children’s literature were inspiring. And I really appreciated her patience and graciousness with the organizers and the children alike.” Raymond Nakamura, Ph.D., President |
 Craft:author Genre:picture books Ideal Audience Size:100 – 150 Maximum Audience Size:250 Grades:Preschool – 6 Special Equipment:- digital projector and cable Website:School Reading Fee:$150.00 per reading Public Reading Fee:$250.00 per reading (four readings covered by the Canada Council) Book Week Tour Contact:Barbara Kissick |