MASC Young Authors & Illustrators Festival
Thursday April 8 – Friday April 9, 2027
A New Festival Year Begins
The MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival is an immersive literary event for students in Grades 4–8, held annually at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
Throughout the day, students participate in a dynamic program of hands-on workshops, group sessions with authors and illustrators, live readings, book signings, and interactive discussions. It’s a unique opportunity for young writers and artists to learn directly from award-winning Canadian authors and illustrators, explore their creativity, and connect with others who share a passion for storytelling and illustration.
Students are invited to sign up for one or both days of the festival. If you love writing, drawing, and bringing stories to life, this is the literary festival for you!
Introducing the 2027 Artist Lineup!
We’re excited to welcome an incredible lineup of authors and illustrators to the 36th edition of the MASC Young Authors & Illustrators Festival, taking place April 8–9, 2027, at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.
More ideas. More creativity. More stories to tell. Discover this year’s artists and learn more about their inspiring masterclasses.
Stay tuned. Registration announcements coming soon!
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!
2027 Authors & Illustrators
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Angela Misri
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Caroline Pignat
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Kern Carter
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Matt James
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Monique Polak
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Rosena Fung
Angela Misri
Angela Misri is an award-winning journalist, author, and educator. Her detective series, called The Portia Adams Adventures, is set at Baker Street in the 1930s, and her first middle-grade series is called Tales from the Apocalypse. Pickles vs the Zombies, the first in that middle-grade series, won the 2021 Hackmatack for fiction and the second, Trip of the Dead, was shortlisted for a Red Cedar Award. Misri has an MA in journalism from the University of Western Ontario and has worked as a digital journalist for more than 20 years, at the CBC and at The Walrus. She is also an assistant professor in the journalism department at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).
Caroline Pignat
Caroline Pignat is the author of twelve books including Egghead, Shooter, and her Greener Grass series. Her highly acclaimed novels have won several awards including the Red Maple Award, John Spray Mystery Award, MYRCA, and two Governor General’s Awards. Caroline’s latest adventure The Discovery of Finnegan Wilde (2025) begins with a lost girl, a found book, and a hunger for home. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre praises Caroline’s character driven stories as “historical fiction at its best!”
Kern Carter
Kern Carter is a novelist who is celebrated for his captivating storytelling. His middle grade novel, Is There a Boy Like Me?, has been shortlisted for multiple children’s literary prizes including the; OLA Red Maple, Hackmatack Children’s Choice, Manitoba Young Readers and Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Awards. Kern has built a devoted readership not just for his novels, but for his writing on the intersection between literature and popular culture, both historically and through a contemporary lens. Kern also teaches professional writing at the college level, hosts workshops on craft and storytelling, and is in-demand as a public speaker for his expertise on creative culture. He is based in Toronto.
Matt James
Matt James is a Canadian author-illustrator, musician and painter. He has written and illustrated Tadpoles, Nice Try, Charlie! and his author-illustrator debut, The Funeral, which was named a New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Book. His next book, The Crush, is scheduled for publication in 2027. As a child, Matt liked to trace comics and pretend that tennis racquets were guitars. Now he lives in Toronto and behaves more like a grown-up.
Monique Polak
Monique Polak is the author of 37 books for young readers. Her most recent books are Wanted: Your House (Kids Can), Christmas Weekend (LLP), and Just A Minute: Why Humans Tell Time, co-authored with Kirstie Hudson (Orca). She is a three-time winner of the Quebec Writers’ Federation Janet Savage Blachford Prize for Children’s and YA Fiction. Monique’s work has been translated into French, Dutch, Korean and Armenian. Monique taught for 35 years at Montreal’s Marianopolis College, wrote frequently for The Montreal Gazette and was a contributor to Radio-Canada’s Plus on est de fous, plus on lit! She was the 2026 writer-in-residence for Montreal’s Jewish Public Library. Monique divides her time between Montreal and Quebec’s Eastern Townships.
Rosena Fung
Rosena Fung is a cartoonist and illustrator based in Toronto, Canada. She is the creator of the graphic novel Living With Viola and Age 16, and a contributor to the middle grade anthology Today I Am. Her illustration clients include Chickadee Magazine, The Bentway, CBC Arts, and the Toronto Transit Commission. She has created work for magazines, newspapers, and public art murals. When she is not drawing, Rosena can be found teaching illustration, vending at zine fairs, and going to the library. She also loves cats and snacks.
Artist Master Classes
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Unlikely Heroes: Survive the Story!
With Angela Misri – Grades 4 to 6
What happens when the least likely character is the only one who can save the day? Inspired by the animal survivors of Apocalypse Meow and the young heroes of Gods of Spadina Sweethouse, author Angela Misri will help the kids create an unforgettable protagonist and send them into an impossible adventure. In the morning, students will create their own heroes, complete with special skills, real weaknesses, and plenty of personality. They’ll also write and sculpt a wildly catastrophic situation using papier-mâché, plasticine, or other available materials. In the afternoon, all the scenarios go into a hat, and students will randomly draw a catastrophe and throw their hero into someone else’s hilarious predicament! Working together, they’ll create a story around their unexpected pairing and present it to the group. What could possibly go wrong? Hilarity will ensue!
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The Dig Site: Excavating Awesome Stories
With Caroline Pignat – Grades 6 to 8
Great archaeological discoveries start with a map, the right tools, and a sense of adventure. In this Master Class, we’ll use those to dig deep into our imaginations for compelling characters, dramatic conflicts, and vivid settings. We’ll excavate fiction from fact, develop strong voice, and construct solid scenes. Join us and discover the amazing treasures buried in your imagination.
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Writers Are Superstars
With Kern Carter – Grades 6 to 8
Writers Are Superstars is an interactive workshop that introduces middle-school students to multiple forms of writing—from film and video games to books and more! Through a variety of engaging activities, students learn how writing can be an enjoyable hobby without feeling overwhelming or intimidating. Over the course of the day, they’ll discover the many possibilities of writing and how creative, fun, imaginative, and thought-provoking storytelling can be!
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What Happens Next? Drawing from the Unexpected
With Matt James – Grades 4 to 6
What if a mistake is the beginning of a good idea? Matt James invites students to experiment with materials and turn unexpected marks into pictures and stories. They’ll follow their curiosity, take chances and discover that a project doesn’t always have to go as planned to turn into something interesting.
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Finding the Story You Need to Tell
With Monique Polak – Grades 4 to 6
We all have a story we need to tell. In this workshop, Monique will share her tricks for discovering what that story is. Participants can expect several writing exercises — including one based on an old memory — to help them find “their” story. Monique will also explain how she turns her ideas into books. By the end of the workshop, it is hoped that participants will have made a real start on the story they most need to tell! And that they’ll be fired up to keep writing once they get home!!
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Draw It, Write It, Zine It!
With Rosena Fung – Grades 6 to 8
Draw It, Write It, Zine It! In this class, we will look at behind-the-scenes of graphic novels, and work on both individual and collaborative drawing and writing exercise to create your own zines and comics! Activities include learning character design, page and panel layouts, and how to create stories that are uniquely yours.
Photos of MYAIF 2026
