Available for virtual visits: Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island
Craft: Author/Illustrator
Genre: Picture Books
Target Audience: Kindergarten to Grade 6
Cost for School and Public Presentation: $250.00, plus applicable taxes
Biography
Ruth Ohi is the illustrator of over 60 books, including 23 of which she has also written. Her latest illustrated book is We Belong Here (written by Frieda Wishinsky; Scholastic Canada). Her author/illustrated books include Blanket (Groundwood Books, 2022) and Choose Kindness (Scholastic Canada, 2021). Her books have been published in Korea, China, Belgium, Turkey, Holland, Australia and translated into Spanish and Hebrew. Ruth’s books have been shortlisted for awards such as the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and Blue Spruce Award. They have been selected for Quill & Quire Books of the Year, CBC Best Canadian Books for Kids & Young Adults, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books and the Ontario Library Association’s ‘Best Bets.’
Presentation Information:
Picturing Stories for Primaries (Kindergarten-Grade 3, Family Literacy Events; 45-55 minutes, including Q&A )
Using samples from my latest books, We Belong Here (by Frieda Wishinsky) and my own author/illustrated Blanket, I demonstrate the steps an illustrator (and author/illustrator) takes when creating a picture book. An interactive drawing demonstration allows young readers to experience how scribbles and basic shapes can grow a story. Students suggest big feelings and characters, settings and plot points which results in creating a visual story together.
Picturing Stories for Kindergarten: A Scribble & Shapes Storymaking Session (40-55 minutes, including Q&A)
This fun Call-and-Response presentation is especially tailored for JK/SK students. Using samples from my latest books, “We Belong Here”(by Frieda Wishinsky) and my own author/illustrated “Blanket”, I demonstrate with young readers how visual stories are created. Through an Interactive Draw Along, students suggest big feelings and characters, settings and plot points which result in creating a visual story together.
Picturing Stories for Juniors (Grades 4-6; 50 minutes, including Q&A)
Using samples from my latest books “We Belong Here” (by Frieda Wishinsky) and my own author/illustrated “Blanket, participants discover the steps and stages that I take when creating picture books as an illustrator AND as an author/illustrator through lots of fun interactive drawing demonstrations. Students experience techniques for brainstorming ideas, characters, and plot points through this interactive session which includes a hands on segment, Q&A and lots of drawing tips.
More information about my virtual visits
Virtual sessions include all content (eg. Interactive drawing demo) from my In Persons with the bonus of each student getting a front row seat in my actual studio. Props that are too fragile to transport can be shown live instead of as a digital image during virtuals!
Photographs are fine and appreciated, but please no audio/video recording—thanks for understanding.
Could the host kindly be responsible for:
- event platform (security, invitations, waiting room, Q&A)
- introducing the author to begin the session
- keeping an eye on the clock for pacing ( eg. "We have time for maybe one more question.")
- hosting the Q&A
- closing the session
Virtual Audience Size:
Please note that smaller audiences with minimal age ranges allow for a more age-focused interactive Q&A and tailored Call-and-Response Drawing Demo.
eg. Session One: K-1, Session Two: Gr.1-3
I will need 10-15 minutes between sessions to reset my presentation materials.
Screen sharing Test Before Actual Event:
I would like to book a date to do a quick screen-sharing test with the person who will be hosting using the event's actual platform setup. This test should take no more than 10 minutes.
This is not a presentation, but a chance to ask questions, review format and test invite compatibility. An exchange of phone numbers for day of event emergency (eg. "We just lost Wifi.") is useful. Once a tech run has been booked, I will share my emergency cell number.
Book List
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi ("llustrated by" list follows)
Blanket (Groundwood Books, 2022)
Choose Kindness (Scholastic Canada, 2021)
No Help Wanted! (Scholastic Canada, 2019)
Fox and Squirrel Help Out (Scholastic Canada, 2018)
Fox and Squirrel The Best Christmas Ever (Scholastic Canada, 2016)
Scribble (Scholastic Canada, 2016)
Fox and Squirrel Make a Friend (Scholastic Canada, 2014)
Shh! My Brother’s Napping (Scholastic Canada, 2014)
Kenta and the Big Wave (Annick Press, 2013)
Fox and Squirrel (Scholastic Canada, 2013)
Chicken, Pig, Cow’s First Fight. (Annick Press, 2012)
Chicken, Pig, Cow & The Class Pet. Annick Press, 2011.
Chicken, Pig, Cow Horse Around (Annick Press, 2010)
Chicken, Pig, Cow & The Purple Problem (Annick Press, 2010)
Chicken, Pig, Cow On the Move (Annick Press, 2010)
Chicken, Pig, Cow (Annick Press, 2009)
A Trip with Grandma (Annick Press, 2007)
Me and My Brother (Annick Press, 2007)
The Couch Was a Castle (Annick Press, 2006)
Clara and the Bossy (Annick Press, 2005)
Me & My Sister (Annick Press, 2005)
And You Come, Too (Annick Press, 2005)
Pants Off First (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2001)
Illustrated by Ruth Ohi
includes middle grade chapter books (5) and illustrator collections (1)
We Belong Here by Frieda Wishinsky (Scholastic Canada, 2023)
Friends for Real by Ted Staunton (Scholastic Canada, 2020)
I Am Canada by Heather Patterson. Illustrated by Ruth Ohi & more! (Scholastic Canada, 2017)
Naomi’s Tree by Joy Kogawa (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2011)
No Monsters Here by Sharon Jennings (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2006)
Grandpa's Garden by Sherry Yano (Scholastic Educational (Literacy Place for the Early Years Reader), 2005)
Mita's Lost Ball by Janet Bright (Scholastic Educational (Literacy Place for the Early Years Reader), 2005)
Bottled Sunshine by Andrea Spalding (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2005)
The Sidewalk Rescue by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 2004)
Beneath the Bridge by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 2004)
The Pedlar's Caps by Mark Carthew (Scholastic Canada, 2003)
I'd Know You Anywhere by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 2002)
Next Stop! by Sarah Ellis (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2002)
Into My Mother's Arms by Sharon Jennings (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2001)
Two So Small by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 2000)
Oooo-Cha! by Colleen Sydor (Annick Press, 1999)
The Bye-Bye Pie by Sharon Jennings (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1999)
One Duck by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1999)
It's Raining, Yancy & Bear by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1998)
Adam's Daycare by Julie Ovenell-Carter (Annick Press, 1997)
Yancy & Bear by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1996)
Tess by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1995)
Carly's Stories by Ken Ainsworth (Annick Press, 1995)
Baggage to London by Lynn W. Cutler. (Annick Press, 1994)
The Catfish Palace by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1993)
A Train to the City by Wendy Orr (Annick Press, 1993)
The Wedding by Wendy Orr (Annick Press, 1993)
Pegasus and Ooloo-Mooloo by Wendy Orr (Annick Press, 1993)
And You Can be the Cat by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1992)
Aa-Choo! by Wendy Orr (Annick Press, 1992)
Amanda's Book by Kerry Westell (Annick Press, 1991)
Katie's Babbling Brother by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1991)
Nicholas at the Library by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1990)
Anniranni & Mollymishi, the Wild-Haired Doll by C. Drew Lamm (Annick Press, 1990)
One Day there was Nothing to Do by Jill Creighton (Annick Press, 1990)
Zoe & the Mysterious X by Richard Thompson (Annick Press, 1990)
Norman's Snowball by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1989)
Maybe a Monster by Jill Creighton (Annick Press, 1989)
Chapter books and novels illustrated by Ruth Ohi
Naomi's Road by Joy Kogawa (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2005)
The Prince of Tarn by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1997)
Within a Painted Past by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1994)
A Light in Space by Wendy Orr (Annick Press, 1994)
A Cat of Artimus Pride by Hazel Hutchins (Annick Press, 1991)