SYLV CHIANG (she/her) is the author of several award-winning children's books. As a teacher, she wrote her middle-grade series, Cross Ups, to convince her video game-loving students to put down their controllers long enough to read a novel. The inspiration for her first picture book, Still My Tessa, came from within her own family. Sylv lives with her family near Toronto, Ontario.
1. Allies are Superheroes (Still My Tessa)
Focus: Allyship
Audience: Kindergarten to Grade 3
Length: 30 minutes
Group size: Up to 40 students
Cost: $250 for 1 presentation or $300 for 2 presentations (on the same day)
Join Sylv Chiang for an interactive storytime with a focus on how we can all be allies. Sylv will introduce her 2024 CBC Kids Reads winning picture book, Still My Tessa, by sharing how the story is based on her own family. After we hear the story and talk about how the main character, Evelyn, is an ally to her non-binary sibling, we will share examples of allyship from the children’s everyday lives. Finally, to reinforce the concept of allyship, participants will have a chance to draw their own face on a superhero template and share how they can be an ally.
2. What's Your Super Power? (Cross Ups Series)
Focus: Growth Mindset
Audience: Grades 4-8
Length: 45-60 minutes
Cost: $300
Join Sylv Chiang in an interactive session that gets kids thinking about their passions and how to use planning and perseverance to achieve their goals. Using examples from the life of Jaden, a 12-year old gamer in the Cross Ups series, as well as examples from her own life, Sylv will illustrate how people can use a Growth Mindset to change over time. We will then take a look at the video game characters from the Cross Ups series who all have the ability to transform into mythical creatures to do their “super” moves. Participants will be given a template to draw themselves as a video game avatar performing their own “super” move based on their passion.
3. The Author's Journey
Focus: Perseverance
Audience: Grades 4-8
Length: 45-60 minutes
Cost: $300
Hear Sylv Chiang share her circuitous path to becoming a children’s author. Despite knowing she wanted to be an author since the age of 6, she took a complicated path to get there. Sylv will talk about her journey to become a writer, her writing process, and the three Ps she sees as keys to success for reaching any goal: passion, planning, and perseverance. The presentation will end with a Q and A session.
4. Virtual visits
*for any of the above presentations
Cost: $200
