Join our children's exhibitors for a special hour of readings, storytelling, and book sharing. Meet talented authors and illustrators, discover wonderful new books, and celebrate the creativity that inspires young readers and their families.
Location: Children’s Tent, UBC Robson Square
Type: Children’s, All Ages, Reading
Moderator: Mary Duffy
Readers: Toby Lermer · Johanne Arsenault · Rindala Semaan · Red + Blue Stories; Karl Kim · Hugo Badger · Lise Boullard · Olga Lebed and Igor Karnovsky
About The Moderator
Mary Duffy
Mary Duffy was born in Dublin, Ireland but grew up on Red Island and in Southern Harbour, Newfoundland. Her poetry has been published in various journals and anthologies including Quills, Leafpress, Blueprint Review, High Altitude Poetry, The Return of the Downtown Eastside Poets, The Soul of Vancouver and online at the Globe and Mail. She performs her poetry frequently as part of Pandora’s Collective -https://www.pandorascollective.com/ Her poetry comes from connection with community whether that be in a Newfoudland outport or with the local poetry community.
She currently lives and works as a librarian on the territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations .
About The Readers
Toby Lermer is the author of the Ella and Mark Early Reader Series, a Canadian sight word series created to help young children develop confidence and fluency in reading.
Toby works full-time as an IT Architect and has also taught university and college courses. She was inspired to create a modern Canadian early reader series after seeing how easily her three children learned to read using a structured sight word program. Combining her passion for literacy with her technology background, she developed a five-book, ten-story series featuring Canadian settings, engaging stories, and carefully selected sight words for beginning readers.
Johanne Arsenault
Johanne Arsenault has led a life that has been far from ordinary. She spent her childhood moving between Quebec and New Brunswick, navigating the challenges of poverty, abuse, and emotional neglect. Her adolescence and adult years were marked by exploitation, substance abuse, and a toxic marriage, yet through it all, she refused to be defined by her circumstances.
Even a Flower Can Grow in the Ugliest of Places is a memoir of endurance, transformation, and the power of choice. Guided by faith and a strong work ethic, Johanne rose above the struggles and cared for her children while embracing uncertainty with courage. She doesn’t position herself as a victim but as a survivor, who through hope and grit triumphed over hardship.
Honest and inspirational, Even a Flower Can Grow in the Ugliest of Places reminds readers that they, too, can change perspective and learn from their mistakes. Johanne’s journey beautifully demonstrates that even in the most difficult environments, resilience can bloom—and optimism can create a life worth living.
Rindala Semaan
Hi I’m Rindala Semaan, a Canadian writer, clinical counselor, social activist, and naturalist. I was born and raised in Byblos, Lebanon, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and I am grateful to live here on the Salish coast. I offer my respect to elders past and present in First Nations communities who welcome me and my family on their land.
My work has appeared in francophone outlets and my text “Le terroir de teta” was published in the magazine A ciel ouvert this spring. I am also the author of a bedtime story in French entitled “Et si on dormait?” that helps children of elementary school learn to let go and fall asleep. I am currently working on an essays book in English. Beyond formal publication, I enjoy writing on my blog, where I post thoughts on mental health, activism, and the art of slow living.
Red + Blue Stories; Karl Kim
Karl is a creative technologist who firmly believes that 1+1 can equal 3 when different elements are combined to create something innovative. Passionate about experimenting with new technologies, Karl loves creating interactive experiences that demonstrate how technology can open the door to creativity. He runs Red + Blue Stories with his partner, where they write stories and shape them into engaging cross-media experiences for kids to enjoy.
Hugo Badger
Hugo Badger, author of The Puffy Badger, is a Taiwanese visual artist and storyteller based in Vancouver. With an MFA in animation, Hugo works in visual effects and animation on major Hollywood productions. By night, he writes and illustrates stories for kids and adults, believing the best tales always start with a little trouble. His stories feature animal characters, told in simple language with thoughtful details that bring them to life.
Lise Boullard
Lise Boullard is a children's author, journalist, and entrepreneur based in British Columbia. A graduate of Simon Fraser University's Master of Publishing program, she creates engaging stories that encourage children to explore the world around them through curiosity, imagination, and a love of reading.
Lise's books are inspired by the animals that share our communities. Through her Real Life Pets and stories Urban Animals series, she introduces young readers to memorable characters based on real-life experiences and observations, helping children connect with the natural world in meaningful ways.
Inspired by her father's Parisian roots and a lifelong connection to French culture, Lise writes and publishes books in both English and French. She regularly shares her stories through school visits and community read-alouds, bringing language, culture, and storytelling together for children of all backgrounds.
Olga Lebed and Igor Karnovsky
Olga Lebed and Igor A. Karnovsky are authors with lifelong backgrounds in engineering, mathematics, science, and education.
Igor Karnovsky, D.Sc., is a professor and researcher with more than 50 years of experience in applied mathematics, structural mechanics, and vibration theory.
Olga Lebed, M.Eng., M.Sc., is a civil engineer with more than 25 years of experience in engineering, mathematics education, and software development, and has taught mathematics in Canada.
Together, they have co-authored several technical books published by Springer and McGraw-Hill. Voices of the Past. Origins is their first work of fiction – a historical adventure for young readers, combining their love of science, history, education, and storytelling to bring the great discoveries of the past to life.
