Grandmother School Read-Along

Rina Singh is an award-winning children's author who is drawn to real-life stories about the environment and social justice. Her critically acclaimed books include Grandmother School, winner of the 2021 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize; Diwali: A Festival of Lights, nominated for the Red Cedar Award; and 111 Trees, winner of the Social Justice Literature Award. Rina has an MFA in creative writing from Concordia University and a teaching degree from McGill University. She lives in Toronto.

Ellen Rooney is an award-winning designer, artist and children’s book illustrator. Her textural mixed media artwork combines many traditional art techniques, like pencil drawing, painting, printmaking and collage, often combined with digital techniques. She is the winner of the 2021 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize for Grandmother School. Originally from Massachusetts, she now lives in the southern Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.

Kirstie Hudson is an award-winning author, editor and journalist. She was a reporter and producer with the CBC in Toronto, Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Victoria. Kirstie's work was recognized with a Jack Webster Award and Radio Television Digital News Association Awards. She co-authored two books about the making of the Witness Blanket with Indigenous artist Carey Newman. In 2020 Picking Up the Pieces was a finalist for the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. In 2023, The Witness Blanket was the winner of the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Nonfiction and a finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. She lives in Victoria, BC.