Everyone can watch live presentations by our speakers on the WVML Youtube Channel. Events are open to all and not just limited to West Vancouver school classes this year.
No registration is required. Just visit our Youtube channel at the time of the event or find the link on the homepage half an hour before the event. You can also sign up for an email reminder at the bottom of this page.
You or your class will not be seen or heard during the event, which is a one way stream. You will be able to send questions to presenters in advance by email to youth@westvanlibrary.ca or by emailing live during the event (a librarian will be monitoring email during all livestreams and passing questions on). To keep things safe, we will not be using the Youtube chat.
About Our 2020/2021 Presenters
Roy Henry Vickers is an artist, speaker, storyteller, and a leader in the Indigenous community. His art is inspired by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest Coast and the ancient cultures of his ancestors. He carries the Chieftainship, Tlakwagila, from the House of Walkus in Wuikinuxv. Roy has also received the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada for his involvement in the community. He holds an honorary Doctor of Letters from York University in Toronto. His art can be found in collections around the world, including a painting gifted to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Kay Weisman is a librarian who has worked in elementary schools and public library youth services departments (including WVML!). She is a longstanding reviewer for Booklist and has contributed articles to various journals, including Book Links, NoveList, and School Library Monthly. Her research for this picture book debut included traveling to several sea gardens to observe archaeologists and marine ecologists at work. Kay lives in Vancouver.
Jerry Craft is the New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal winning author of the graphic novel, New Kid. His second graphic novel, Class Act, was published on October 6, 2020. Craft is also the creator of Mama’s Boyz, an award-winning comic strip which won the African American Literary Award five times. He is a cofounder of the Schomburg Center’s Annual Black Comic Book Festival. He received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts.
Teaching resources for New Kid are available here.
Christina Soontornvat grew up behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant in a small Texas town with her nose stuck in a book. She is the author of the fantasy middle grade series, The Changelings, and the early chapter book series, Diary of an Ice Princess. Her books published in 2020 include the middle grade fantasy, A Wish in the Dark, and All Thirteen, a nonfiction account of the Thai Cave Rescue. In addition to being an author, Christina holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Science Education. She spent a decade working in the science museum field, where she designed programs and exhibits to get kids excited about science. She is passionate about STEM (science, technology engineering, and math), and loves learning new things. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, two young children, and one old cat.
Tanya Lloyd Kyi is the author of more than 25 books for children and young adults. When she’s not scribbling, she likes to bake, read, and play tennis. Her favorite meal is breakfast, her favorite color is blue, and her favorite children’s book is A Wrinkle in Time. Tanya’s most recent works are This is Your Brain on Stereotypes, all about the science of stress, and Me and Banksy, a novel about one girl’s art-based rebellion against cameras in her classrooms. Tanya grew up in Creston, B.C. She now lives in Vancouver with her husband and two children.
Virtual Presentations
Learn more about the content of each presentation, including grade recommendations, and sign up for an email reminder.