MASC Young Authors & Illustrators Festival
Tuesday, May 5 — Wednesday, May 6, 2026
The MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival returns for TWO DAYS this spring! The festival for students in Grades 4 – 8 will take place on May 5th and 6th at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Students in grades four to eight are invited to sign up for one or both days of the festival. If you have a passion for writing and art – this is the literary festival for you!
Check out our line-up of award-winning Canadian authors and illustrators coming to Ottawa for the 2026 festival. A big thank you to our event sponsor, Leacross Foundation, for making this amazing event possible.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
If you have any questions, email us at mascyoungauthors@gmail.com
Don’t wait! Spaces are limited, so sign up early to make sure you get your first-choice artist Master class! Deadline to register is February 27th.
Holiday Gift Option
Looking for a special surprise this holiday season? Give the gift of creativity with a MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival experience!
Gift Card Details
We’d be delighted to send you a cheerful gift card you can print and wrap so the child has something special to open and enjoy. Please note: this card is for presentation purposes only — it does not reserve a spot.
To request a digital gift card, email: MichelineShoebridge@masconline.ca
with the subject line: MYAIF Holiday Gift Card
and copy-paste the following message into your email:
Please send me a MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival gift card. I understand this card is for gift presentation only, does not represent payment, and does not reserve a place in the festival. To secure the child’s spot at the festival, I understand that the registration form must be filled in and payment made.
This way, you can share the joy of a gift now — and payment is handled directly by the parent or guardian when registering their young artist.
Note: Registration closes February 27, and spaces are limited. To make sure the child gets to work with the author or illustrator they’re most excited about, we recommend signing up early!
2026 Authors & Illustrators
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Jamaal Amir Akbari
Poet and Performer
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Michelle Kadarusman
Author
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Megan Kearney
Graphic Novelist
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Hilary Leung
Author and Illustrator
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Lesley Livingston
Author
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Chad Lucas
Author
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Jacqui Du Toit
Host
Jamaal Amir Akbari or JustJamaal ThePoet is an award-winning poet, arts educator, and Ottawa’s 2017–2019 Poet Laureate Emeritus. He is the author of CHAMBERS an upcoming poetry collection, and Brave To Be, a children’s book blending verse and song to inspire courage. A father of eight and founder of Origin Arts & Community Centre, Jamaal shares stories rooted in emotional truth and cultural heritage. He lives in Marathon Village, ON, using poetry to teach, mentor, and spark creative change across Canada.
Michelle Kadarusman
Author
Michelle Kadarusman is a Canadian-based children’s author, originally from Australia and Indonesia. Twice-nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award, her work has been translated into Spanish, German, Japanese and Turkish. Her middle-grade novels explore issues of biodiversity, animal protection and social justice and have earned numerous honours including the TD Award for Children’s Literature, Green Earth Books Awards, USBBY Outstanding International Books and Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature. Her latest publications include the short story collection, We the Sea Turtle and the novel, Seabird.
Megan Kearney is a Toronto-based award-winning cartoonist and graphic novelist, with a background in animation. She works as a writer, illustrator and educator, and can be found teaching at the local college or jetting around town on her e-scooter. Swan Lake: Quest for the Kingdoms, from Harpercollins, was a Kirkus Starred Review in 2022 and is currently in development at Paramount Animation. Her upcoming books include Corpse de Ballet and Too Hot to Tango.
Hilary Leung is a celebrated children’s book author and illustrator based in Toronto. Hilary’s vibrant illustrations and delightful stories introduce young readers to important themes like consent, sharing, and celebrating differences. From a grumpy giraffe and affectionate ladybug to The Legend of Ninja Cowboy and Bear, his stories celebrate friendship, courage, and life’s milestone moments. Beyond his books, Hilary is dedicated to promoting literacy and creativity through school visits and workshops. He is a facilitator with Story Planet, a not-for-profit arts organization devoted to amplifying the voices of children and young people in Toronto’s equity-deserving communities.
Lesley Livingston
Author
Lesley Livingston is the author of 16 books, including four highly acclaimed teen fantasy trilogies. Wondrous Strange was named one of CBC’s “100 YA Books That Make You Proud to be Canadian”. Lesley’s many literary awards and nominations include the Copper Cylinder, Sunburst, Monica Hughes, and White Pine Awards. Her most recent novel is Queen Among the Dead, a YA fantasy set in ancient magical Ireland.
Chad Lucas is the author of Thanks a Lot, Universe, Let the Monster Out, You Owe Me One, Universe, and The Vanished Ones. He is a past recipient of the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children’s Literature. His works have been selected for the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard and featured on “best middle-grade books” lists from the School Library Journal, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, and the New York Public Library. An award-winning journalist, Chad has worked as a newspaper reporter, freelance writer, part-time journalism instructor, and parenting columnist. He is also a musician and coaches youth basketball. A proud descendant of the historic African Nova Scotian community of Lucasville, Chad lives with his family in Nova Scotia.
Jacqui Du Toit
Host
Born and raised in South Africa, Jacqui Du Toit is known for her animated stories from the mother land. By combining gestures, movement, singing, facial expressions, and dramatic impersonations that spark the audience, Jacqui knows how to captivate the audience with more than just words. She is the co-owner of The Origin Arts and Community Centre.
Schedule
Your festival day will run from 8:30am to 3:30pm, with a lunch break between your morning and afternoon sessions (lunch not provided). See below for a more detailed breakdown and master class descriptions!
8:30-8:45am : Arrival & check-in
9:00-9:40am : Welcome, meet the authors, creative warm-up
9:45-11:40am : Master class session #1
11:45-12:30pm : Lunch break & mini dance workshop
12:35-1:00pm : Author readings & prize draw
1:05-2:40pm : Master class session #2 (same artist)
2:45-3:00pm : Wrap-up & special performance
3:00-3:30pm : Book fair, author signings, and farewell
Artist Master Classes
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Bring The Poetry: How Words Build Worlds
With JustJamaal ThePoet – Grades 4 to 6
In this energetic and engaging Master class, participants discover how writing and performance can unlock creativity, expression, and confidence! Guided by professional poet and performer JustJamaal ThePoet, participants explore how to transform everyday writing into powerful poetry through the use of imagery, rhythm, and other literary devices. Students gain practical tools for setting writing goals and turning personal stories into works that resonate with others, while also learning how to bring their words to life on stage. The workshop blends interactive writing games, storytelling prompts, and spoken word activities designed to spark imagination, strengthen voices, and show how words can truly build worlds.
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From Character to Story to Stage: Storytelling with Puppets
With Michelle Kadarusman – Grades 4 to 6
Author Michelle Kadarusman often shares her Indonesian cultural background in her stories. In her latest novel, Seabird, the main character Kartini talks about performing shadow puppet plays called Wayang Kulit. In this Master class we will learn about Wayang Kulit puppetry and have the chance to make our own puppet characters. Part of this session will be dedicated to creating stories for our characters and showcasing our own puppet plays.
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Drawn To Words – Let’s Create Stories!
With Hilary Leung – Grades 4 to 6
This workshop will focus on the magic of collaboration! We will warm up with drawing games, discuss the ingredients of a good story, and learn how to make a book together. Students will take pen to paper, creating an original character to write and draw a story about and leave with their very own unique book!
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Comics! Start-to-Finish Super Crash Course!
With Megan Kearney – Grades 6 to 8
Cartoonist Megan Kearney is ready to take you on a lightening-fast, hands-on journey through creating a comic strip or page, step by step. Learn how to structure a story using prompts, dial up the emotion with camera angles, and deliver a one-two punch of appeal with character design! All the essentials to get you started on your graphic novel or comic strip journey.
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Putting REALITY into your FANTASY
With Lesley Livingston – Grades 6 to 8
Make winged horses, wizards and wonders feel at home in your writing! Learn techniques for grounding fantastical elements in your stories while still letting them take flight. In this Master class, we will explore world-building, crafting convincing dialogue, and how to incorporate the senses to create rich, exciting, resonant tales of your own.
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What’s Your Problem?
With Chad Lucas – Grades 6 to 8
In this interactive Master class, we’ll discuss how conflict – a problem to solve – is central to any story. We will look at different types of conflict, developing tension and stakes in a story, and how tackling problems helps create compelling, relatable characters. And we’ll put it all into practice on the page!
Photos of MYAIF 2025
