APPLY TO HOST DEREK MASCARENHAS
Home Location: Toronto, Ontario
Creator Type: Author
Genres: Picture books, middle-grade fiction
Website: www.derekmascarenhas.ca
Tour Region: BC (Vancouver Island)
Target Audience: Preschool - Grade 2
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: NO
BIOGRAPHY
Derek Mascarenhas is a graduate of the University of Toronto SCS Creative Writing Program, a finalist and runner up for the Penguin Random House of Canada Student Award for Fiction, and a nominee for the Marina Nemat Award. His linked short story collection, Coconut Dreams, was called a "stunning debut" in Quill and Quire's starred review and The Globe and Mail named it one of the best reads from Canadian small presses. Derek’s first picture book, 100 Chapatis, was praised by Kirkus Reviews as “warm and reassuring,” and his second, The Mango Monster, was the CBC Books top pick for Canadian kids in Fall 2024. Derek is also working on a middle-grade and speculative novel, and currently teaches creative writing at the University of Toronto SCS.
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTIONS
Presentation Mango Monster
Target audience: Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2
Group size: flexible
Put your detective hats on and join Derek Mascarenhas for an interactive reading of his latest book, The Mango Monster. This fun and tasty mystery is sure to excite and inspire, while also teaching prediction, problem solving, and sharing.
Option A: Write a Story! Derek will lead the children in creating their own mystery story! Utilizing both imagination and real-life experiences, students will come away with a story setting, character, problem, and (surprise!) ending.
Option B: Mango Monster Masks! Derek will help the children make their very own Mango Monster mask! Using creativity and visual arts skills, students will bring this story to life and keep a physical reminder of the lessons learned.
Required equipment: projector and screen
Required materials:
for writing activity: paper and pencils
for mask-masking activity: paper bags (large enough for child to wear over their head), construction paper, scissors, pencils, glue, crayons or coloured pencils
100 Chapatis
Target audience: Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2
Group size: flexible
Combining literacy and numeracy, join Derek Mascarenhas in an interactive reading of 100 Chapatis. This celebration of food and culture teaches both patience and how to approach major life shifts. Derek will lead an exercise cutting 100 square paper chapatis, coloured with a topping of choice (red jam, yellow butter, brown peanut butter, etc.). Children will count up to 100 chapatis and divide them into different piles to share with family and friends.
Required equipment: projector and screen
Required materials: construction paper, scissors, crayons or coloured pencils
Write a Story!
Target audience: Grades 3 - 8
Group size: flexible
Derek Mascarenhas will read from his acclaimed short story collection, Coconut Dreams, then lead the children in creating their own story! Utilizing both imagination and real-life experiences, students will come away with a story setting, character, problem, and (surprise!) ending.
Required equipment: projector and screen
Calling all aspiring writers!
Target audience: Grades 9 - 12
Group size: flexible
Derek Mascarenhas will read from his acclaimed short story collection, Coconut Dreams, and share his journey, inspiration, and process. Students will gain insight into the basic elements of a story, and how an idea can move through the stages of draft, revision, publication, and beyond.
Required equipment: projector and screen
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Published Books:
The Mango Monster. Owlkids Books, 2024
100 Chapatis. Owlkids Books, 2023
Coconut Dreams. Book*hug Press, 2019
Forthcoming Books:
[Title Embargoed] Original commissioned text for a Big 3 educational publisher, January 2026
Soma Sees Stories (Middle-Grade Fiction)
Beyond the Banyans (Adult Speculative Fiction)