Available for virtual visits in: Alberta, Saskatchewan & Quebec

Craft: Author

Genre: Picture Books

Grades: Preschool-Grade 3

 

 

 

 

Virtual Presentation Information

Reading: Kindergarten to Grade 3 (60 mins)

Reading: Kindergarten to Grade 3 (30 + 30  mins)

Have you ever read a book with an author?

Part 1- In the first workshop, Saumiya will read her book Two Drops of Brown in A Cloud of White, and have an interactive discussion with the children about two things they liked in the book, and one thing they would have changed/written differently. (Based on the concept of ‘Two Stars and A Wish’) Also, writing prompts will be provided – for the children to think about something at home. e.g. Something fun from the book, or something you like to do in winter.

Part 2 – Sketch, Script and Share

In the next half of the workshop, the kids can share ideas or pictures. Saumiya will facilitate a ‘fun’ writing exercise in the context of the book. The exercise can also be done in pictures (For KinderGarten/Grade 1 class). The class can swap journals with each other, and build upon the stories of their peers. Saumiya will encourage ‘aspiring’ writers to share their work (Sharing is optional), and will introduce the ‘4-Step Edit’ concept and assist the kids advance their ideas/story starters.

Book List

Two drops of brown in a cloud of white. Picture book written by Saumiya Balasubramaniam and illustrated by Eva Campbell (Groundwood Books, 2020). Top PIck- Toronto Public Library’s First and Best of 2020

When I Found Grandma. Picture Book written by Saumiya Balasubramaniam and illustrated by Qin Leng (Groundwood Books, 2019)

Biography

Saumiya Balasubramaniam is the author of ‘Two Drops of Brown in a Cloud of White’ and When I Found Grandma which was listed in The Globe and Mail’s “Seven books to help kids make sense of the world,” and also in CBC’s kids books to look for in Spring 2019. She was also nominated for the 2020 Marilyn Baillie and Ezra Jack Keats Picture Book Awards.

She won the Blume and Appel scholarship for work-in-progress Young Adult Fiction, and has also written essays for the Globe and Mail.