APPLY TO HOST MARIA MARIANAYAGAM (IN PERSON)
BIOGRAPHY
Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan-Canadian children’s book author. She was born in India and grew up in Nigeria and four provinces across Canada (Quebec, Ontario, Newfoundland, and Alberta). Maria graduated from the University of Calgary with a B. Sc. in Chemical Engineering and spent a decade working in project management. She fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an Amma (mom). Maria enjoys writing lyrical picture books centered on STEM, faith, and South Asian culture, as well as high-concept middle grade grounded in culture. Her debut picture book, The Amazing Power of Girls (Sourcebooks eXplore, 2024), was named a Children's Book Council Teacher's Favorite and endorsed by the presidents of Girls Inc. and Actua Inc. Her debut middle grade novel, No Purchase Necessary (HarperCanada/HarperCollins, 2025), received four starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, ALA Booklist, and BookPage, as well as glowing reviews from The Horn Book and Publisher's Weekly. She is also the author of the family favourite 4-title board book series, The Baby Virtues (Hachette, 2024/2025), and her most recent picture book release, Wait'Til You're Older (Sourcebooks eXplore, 2025). Her latest book is Curry Means More. Maria is represented by Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown Ltd.
Home Location: Calgary, Alberta
Creator Type: Author
Genres: Board books, picture books, middle-grade fiction
Website: www.marianayagam.com
Tour Region: Alberta
Target Audience: Grades 1 - 8
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
From Equations to Empowerment: A Journey through STEM and Story
Engineer-turned-author Maria Marianayagam shares how science and storytelling come together through physics fun, a powerful picture book, and hands-on activities.
Target Audience: Grades 1 - 4
Preferred group size: Smaller groupings of Grades 1-2, 3-4 (50-60 students)
Maximum group size: 100 students (assembly)
Join engineer-turned-author Maria Marianayagam for an inspiring, interactive school visit that bridges STEM and storytelling. Maria will begin by sharing her unique journey—from solving real-world problems as an engineer to crafting powerful narratives as a children’s book author. She’ll highlight the core qualities that drive success in both careers and open students' eyes to a wide range of exciting career options in science, technology, and the arts.
Students will then dive into ONE of two picture books (school's choice):
• The Amazing Power of Girls, a vibrant story designed to spark confidence, curiosity, and equity in STEM. Maria will unpack the inspiration behind the book and explain why representation and empowerment matter, especially in the science field.
• Wait 'Til You're Older, a social-emotional story with a STEM twist, about two siblings who can't agree. Maria will unpack the inspiration behind the book, the science of time travel, and the importance of staying present.
The visit wraps up with hands-on learning and fun: students will explore the science in the story, participate in a lively read-aloud, and enjoy a themed activity session featuring a word search and colouring sheet (for The Amazing Power of Girls), or maze, coloring sheet, and mindfulness exercise (for Wait 'Til You're Older) that reinforces the book’s core messages.
Required equipment: LCD projector, whiteboard, or screen
Required materials: paper handout (provided by me) and printed by the school, and colouring utensils
Write Like a Scientist, Think Like a Poet - Writing Workshop
Engineer-turned-author Maria Marianayagam offers a behind-the-scenes look at publishing with an interactive dive into scientific concepts and figurative language.
Target Audience: Grades 5 - 6
Preferred group size: 25 - 30 students
Maximum group size: 30 students
Maria Marianayagam, author of the award-winning The Amazing Power of Girls, will share her inspiring journey of becoming both an engineer and a children’s book writer—showing students how curiosity, determination, and creativity can lead to exciting careers in science or the arts (or both!). She’ll give a behind-the-scenes peek into how books are published, helping students see the magic (and the work!) behind their favorite stories.
After discussing the scientific forces present in the book, Maria will perform a lively read-aloud of The Amazing Power of Girls. She will then guide students through a deep dive into the literary devices used in the text—focusing on powerful tools like diction, puns, idioms, and personification. Students will be given the opportunity to break into groups to craft their very own personification poems and present them to the class in a fun, supportive environment.
The visit wraps up with an engaging Q&A (as time permits), allowing students to ask questions about writing, publishing, STEM careers, or anything in between.
Required equipment: LCD projector, whiteboard, or screen
Required materials: paper and writing utensils
Between Words and Actions: Building Real Characters
Join Red Maple finalist and author of the four-starred novel No Purchase Necessary, for an interactive session where students explore how real characters emerge in the space between words and actions—through tough choices, powerful reflections, and the stories those reveal.
Target Audience: Grades 7 - 8
Preferred group size: Ideally one classroom (30 students)
Maximum group size: 45 students
In this interactive author visit, Red-Maple Award finalist, Maria takes students behind the scenes of her critically-acclaimed novel, No Purchase Necessary, to explore how stories come alive when characters face tough choices and reveal their emotions through action. Through readings, discussion, and guided writing exercises, students will discover how ethical dilemmas shape character and how activities and movement can powerfully convey reflection, without slowing down the plot.
Students will then put these ideas into practice by writing their own short scenes: a moment of choice or an action-centred reflection that shows who their characters really are. Includes optional Q&A.
Required equipment: LCD projector, whiteboard, or screen
Required materials: paper and writing utensils
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Amazing Power of Girls. Sourcebooks eXplore, 2024 (Picture Book)
Baby Virtues: Baby Hope & Baby Courage. WorthyKids/Hachette, 2024 (Board Books)
Baby Virtues: Baby Love & Baby Faith. WorthyKids/Hachette, 2024 & 2025 (Board Books)
No Purchase Necessary. Harper Canada & HarperCollins US, 2025 (Middle grade novel)
Wait ‘til You’re Older. Sourcebooks eXplore, 2025 (Picture Book)
Curry Means More. Astra Books For Young Readers, 2025 (Picture Book)
A Trip Back Home. Astra Books for Young Readers, 2026 (Picture Book)
Our Sky. OwlKids, 2027 (Picture Book)