APPLY TO HOST AMBREEN BUTT-HUSSAIN (IN-PERSON)
Home Location: New Jersey
Creator Type: Author
Genres: Middle-grade fiction
Tour Region: Ontario (Halton Region: Milton, Burlington, Oakville, Halton Hills)
Target Audience: Grades 4 - 8
Cost: $300* (for one 60-minute presentation)
*(The author collects $250 of the fee and $50 of the fee covers The Canadian Children's Book Centre's administration fees for coordinating Book Week).
Taxes charged on presentations: YES
BIOGRAPHY
Ambreen Butt-Hussain is the author of the debut middle-grade novel, The Unlovable Alina Butt. Ambreen was born in Pakistan but lived in England and Scotland before finally settling in Canada for many years. She has a bachelor of science from the University of Toronto and a master of education from Queen’s University. She continues to move around and has recently made Princeton, New Jersey her new home, with her husband and two sons. She is ecstatic to be turning her book into a series. The second part, You're Out of Luck, Alina Butt, is coming out in May 2025!
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTIONS
Presentation - How to Achieve ANYTHING You Want!
*This presentation can be geared towards any age group (high school/ college/ adults)
Target audience: Grades 4 - 8
Ideal group size: 2 classes
Maximum group size: 100 – 150 students
Do you want to know how to be able to achieve your wildest dreams? Join Ambreen as she reveals four simple steps to being able to reach any of your goals! Ambreen will talk about her journey of becoming an author of the Alina Butt series, as well as her writing process, highlighting the importance of hard work and resilience. She will read a chapter from The Unlovable Alina Butt, speaking about what inspired her to write and why she feels this story was so important to share with the world. Through this inspiring presentation, students will reflect on their interests and gain the confidence to pursue their passion.
Required materials: none
Required equipment:
*laptop (I will bring my own, but just incase there are any issues)
*I have a MacBook, so I will need an adaptor to connect to the projector
*clicker
*screen and projector (I have a slideshow to go along with the presentation)
*mic
Workshop - Turning Journaling into Story Writing
Target audience: Grades 4 – 8 (but could be adapted for Grades 2 – 3)
Ideal group size: one class
Maximum group size: two classes
Join Ambreen for a fun and interactive session about turning journaling into story writing. Ambreen will read a chapter from The Unlovable Alina Butt, revealing how the story was inspired by her own childhood experiences, of immigrating to a new country, being the new kid, trying to fit in with a funny last name. Students will be inspired to learn that her writing journey began when her dad gifted her her very first, pink, fluffy diary as a 9-year-old - which she started journaling in every single day. Participants will think of their funniest memory, and learn how to turn that into a riveting story. Students will use their experiences and imagination to come away with the beginnings of their story, in written or picture format.
Required materials:
lined papers, blank papers, pencils, erasers, crayons/ colouring pencils
Required equipment:
*laptop (I will bring my own, but just in case there are any issues)
*I have a macbook, so I will need an adaptor to connect to the projector
*clicker
*screen and projector (I have a slideshow to go along with the presentation)
*mic
Workshop - Creating the New Kid
Target audience: Grades 4 – 8 (but could be adapted for Grades 2 – 3)
Ideal group size: one class
Maximum group size: two classes
Join Ambreen for her “Creating the New Kid” workshop! Ambreen will read an excerpt from The Unlovable Alina Butt, introducing her main character, Alina, who is the new kid, starting her first day of school in a new country. Participants will create their very own “new kid” who is being introduced to the class. They will learn how to create a three-dimensional, relatable character by coming up with diverse physical features, a distinctive personality, past experiences, and finally give their character a unique name! Students will come away with a well-developed character, the “new kid” they have created, either in written or picture format.
Required materials:
lined papers, blank papers, pencils, erasers, crayons/ colouring pencils
Required equipment:
*laptop (I will bring my own, but just incase there are any issues)
*I have a macbook, so I will need an adaptor to connect to the projector
*clicker
*screen and projector (I have a slideshow to go along with the presentation)
*mic