Creator Profile:
Shannon Bramer
Home Location: Toronto, Ontario
Available for in-person visits: Ontario (locations within a drive of 60 minutes or less from Toronto)
Available for virtual visits: Prince Edward Island
Craft: Author
Genre: Picture Books, Beginning Readers
Target Audience: Kindergarten to Grade 6
Cost for School and Public Presentation: $250.00, plus applicable taxes
Biography
Shannon Bramer writes poems, plays and short fiction. She is the author of Climbing Shadows: Poems for Children, illustrated by Cindy Derby, and several poetry collections for adults, winning the Hamilton and Region Arts Council Book Award for her first book, suitcases and other poems. Shannon’s plays include Chloe’s Tiny Heart Is Closed (for children) and The Hungriest Woman in the World. In 2020 Book*hug press published Trapsongs, a collection of Shannon’s plays. Robot, Unicorn, Queen, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher, is her most recent collection of poetry with Groundwood Books (October 2023). She lives with her family (and two beautiful old cats) in Toronto, Ontario.
Presentation Information:
Workshop: Poem is a Puddle is a Poem (Grades 1-3; 30 minutes)
This poetry workshop is intended as an invitation to open the door of any poem and step inside.
In the workshop, Shannon will read a few of her favourite poems and talk about some of her favourite words and word combinations. She will also share a few treasures and secrets that are kept hidden in her magic poetry bag—which, like a good poem, should always contain surprises. The students will all make a tiny poem (a nearly invisible poem!) of their own following the session with Shannon.
Workshop: Poetry Is a Piece of Cake (Grades 4 and up; 60 minutes)
In this workshop, Shannon will read a short selection of poems and tell the stories behind how and why they were written. She will talk about the editorial process, taking risks with language (and emotions!), and define some of her favourite literary devices. The students will be given one writing prompt at the beginning of the workshop and another near the end—resulting in the first draft of a poem of their very own! Fifteen minutes will be reserved at the end of the workshop for questions and/or sharing the poetry made during the workshop.
Book List
Climbing Shadows (Groundwood Books, 2019)
Robot, Unicorn, Queen (Groundwood Books, 2023)
Nightmare Jones (Groundwood Books, forthcoming 2025)