APPLY TO HOST J. TORRES (IN PERSON)
BIOGRAPHY
J. Torres is the author of the Forest of Reading Honour Books Stealing Home and Planet Hockey, the Junior Library Guild titles How to Spot a Sasquatch and Bigfoot Boy, and Lola: A Ghost Story recipient of an Aesops Accolade from the American Folklore Society. He’s also written comics for the Archies, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Batman, Teen Titans, and Wonder Woman among others. Torres has also written for animation and TV, most notably for Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Home Location: Whitby, Ontario
Creator Type: Author
Genres: Picture books, beginning readers, early-chapter books, middle-grade fiction, young-adult fiction, graphic novels
Website: jtorrescomics.com
Tour Region: British Columbia (Metro Vancouver Regional District)
Target Audience: Grades 1-6
Cost: For one 60-minute presentation: $300 plus 5% GST
NOTE: The fee of $300 (plus tax) will be paid to The Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) upon receipt of an invoice from the CCBC. After Book Week, the CCBC will pay the author their presentation fee of $250 (plus taxes, if applicable).
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTIONS
Paisley & Peck: All About Graphic Novels
A fun and interactive introduction to reading graphic novels, learning how they're made, and who makes them
Target Audience: Grades 1 - 3
Preferred group size: 15 - 20 students
Maximum group size: 40 students
Author J. Torres will read from his newest graphic novel, Paisley & Peck: Jurassic Farm, and guide students through a pre-reading exercise, "The parts of a comic page", and a behind-the-scenes look at how graphic novels and comic books are made.
Students will learn:
- how to read a graphic novel/comic book
- the importance of storytelling told by the artwork
- basic terminology associated with the medium
- the different creators involved and their various roles.
Additionally, Jurassic Farm is the story of a young rooster who wants to grow p to be a dinosaur so the author will share his story of growing up wanting to be a writer, and discuss career and other aspirations with the audience. At the end of the presentation, Torres will answer questions the students may have about Paisley & Peck, his work, or graphic novels in general.
Required equipment: LCD projector, whiteboard or screen; laptop to plug in memory stick and run a slideshow
Required materials: none
Stealing Home: Drawn to History
A reading and behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration, research, and creation of a historical work of fiction presented in a graphic novel
Target Audience: Grades 4 - 6
Preferred group size: 15 - 20 students
Maximum group size: 40 students
Author J. Torres will read an excerpt from his award-winning graphic novel Stealing Home, a story set during World War 2 and the Japanese Internment in British Columbia. The reading will be followed by a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the book, and how comics and graphic novels in general are made. Students will participate in an interactive "quiz" and learn about:
- the stages of comic book production
- the different types of creators involved in making a comic book
- developing, researching, and planning a story
The session ends with a discussion and Q&A, and teachers may request that the author incorporate a specific curriculum connection or topic they wish to explore with the class related to themes found in Stealing Home (e.g. Asian Canadian history, discrimination, social justice, family, etc.)
Required equipment: LCD projector, whiteboard or screen; laptop to plug in memory stick and run a slideshow
Required materials: none
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Paisley & Peck: Jurassic Farm. Illustrated by Mike Deas. Owlkids, 2025
Stealing Home. Illustrated by David Namisato. Kids Can Press, 2021
Planet Hockey. Illustrated by Tim Levins. Scholastic Canada, 2020
How to Spot a Sasquatch. Illustrated by Aurelie Grand. Owlkids, 2022.
Lola: A Ghost Story. Illustrated by Elbert Or. Oni Press, 2020
Brobots: The Complete Collection. Illustrated by Sean Dove. Oni Press, 2024.