Johanna Wagstaffe is the meteorologist and science host for CBC Vancouver and CBC News Network. She is the author of Little Pine Cone: Wildfires and the Natural World, Little Cloud: The Science of a Hurricane and Fault Lines: Understanding the Power of Earthquakes. With a background in seismology, geophysics and earth science, Johanna has covered a wide range of science stories, from the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire and the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami to the Paris Climate Change Conference. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
JULIE MCLAUGHLIN is a freelance illustrator whose clients include Harper Collins, Scholastic, Random House, and more. Her work has been nominated for several awards including the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, which she won for Why We Live Where We Live (Owlkids Books) by Kira Vermond in 2015. She is based in Victoria, BC.
Chris Tougas is a writer-illustrator who loves dogs, the great outdoors, writing fun stories and making art. He has studied art and animation in both Canada and the United States, and has worked in film animation at Disney and other studios. Chris now lives and works in Victoria, British Columbia. His previous works include Dojo Daycare, Mechanimals and Art Supplies.
Mark Leiren-Young is an award-winning author, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker. He is the author of three books about whales for children: Orcas Everywhere: The Mystery and History of Killer Whales (which was short-listed for a Red Cedar Book Award and the Information Book Award and won the City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize), Orcas of the Salish Sea and Big Whales, Small World (which were all commended as selections for the 2020 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens). He has also written two books about sharks, including Sharks Forever: The Mystery and History of the Planet’s Perfect Predator (which was commended as an Honor Book for the 2023 Green Earth Book Award) and Big Sharks, Small World. He has written TV shows for young viewers for Netflix, CBC, ABC, BBC Kids and PBS. He wrote, directed and produced the award-winning documentary The Hundred-Year-Old Whale. Mark hosts the podcast Skaana, sharing ocean stories, and is actively involved in the fight for the survival of the endangered southern resident orcas. He lives in Saanich, British Columbia.
Mark Leiren-Young is an award-winning author, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker. He is the author of three books about whales for children: Orcas Everywhere: The Mystery and History of Killer Whales (which was short-listed for a Red Cedar Book Award and the Information Book Award and won the City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize), Orcas of the Salish Sea and Big Whales, Small World (which were all commended as selections for the 2020 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens). He has also written two books about sharks, including Sharks Forever: The Mystery and History of the Planet’s Perfect Predator (which was commended as an Honor Book for the 2023 Green Earth Book Award) and Big Sharks, Small World. He has written TV shows for young viewers for Netflix, CBC, ABC, BBC Kids and PBS. He wrote, directed and produced the award-winning documentary The Hundred-Year-Old Whale. Mark hosts the podcast Skaana, sharing ocean stories, and is actively involved in the fight for the survival of the endangered southern resident orcas. He lives in Saanich, British Columbia.
BROOKE KERRIGAN adore dessiner depuis qu’elle est toute jeune. Il lui semblait donc tout naturel de devenir artiste à l’âge adulte. De toutes ses activités créatrices, l’illustration de livres pour enfants est sa préférée. Née à Toronto, elle vit maintenant avec son mari dans une petite ville des Alpes françaises qui l’inspire chaque jour.
BROOKE KERRIGAN grew up surrounded by books and the love of art. Now she has illustrated more than a dozen books including Fishermen Through & Through, A Plan for Pops and the Blue Spruce Award Honour Books The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain and Kiss Me! I’m a Prince.
Her fun and whimsical illustrations are created in watercolour, gouache, pencil crayon and collage. Born and raised in Toronto, she now splits her time between Tiny, Ontario and a little town in the French Alps called Chamonix. Visit her at www.brookekerriganillustration.com.
Alison Hughes is an award-winning author of many books for children and young adults, including The Silence Slips In, winner of the R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature and Hit the Ground Running, a nominee for the Governor General's Literary Award. Alison is a university Writing Advisor, volunteers with children and literacy groups and gives frequent workshops and presentations at schools, libraries, festivals and conferences across Canada. She lives in Edmonton with her family.
Alison Hughes is an award-winning author of many books for children and young adults, including The Silence Slips In, winner of the R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature and Hit the Ground Running, a nominee for the Governor General's Literary Award. Alison is a university Writing Advisor, volunteers with children and literacy groups and gives frequent workshops and presentations at schools, libraries, festivals and conferences across Canada. She lives in Edmonton with her family.