One of my favourite things about being an author is visiting schools, libraries and book groups. I love working with young readers and writers. I tailor my presentations to fit the needs and skills of individual groups, but all of my presentations include a question and answer period, discussion of the writing and publishing process, as well as an interactive, creative element.
Interested in having me visit with your group?
CANADIANS: please visit my page on the Authors’ Booking Service website here.
AMERICANS: please email me contact@vikkivansickle.com
Students are invited to bring their favourite teddies or stuffies to school for a virtual teddy bear’s picnic! A cozy event that celebrates small acts of kindness and promotes social emotional learning. Digital activity kit including customizable Teddy Bear of the Year certificates available.
JK- Gr 3: MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES & IF I HAD A GRYPHON
Students are asked to consider objects from a bag of clues to determine what kind of pets may be in this book about mythological creatures. Digital teacher’s guide and printed activities available. A fun introduction to mythological creatures and inferencing, based on IF I HAD A GRYPHON, finalist for the 2017 Blue Spruce & Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award.
Intermediate & Senior Presentations
Gr 5-8: THE WINNOWING
This presentation focuses on Vikki’s Red Maple award-winning novel, THE WINNOWING and explores the possibilities of Vikki’s two favourite words, WHAT IF? Includes an introduction to alternative history and conspiracy theory. Digital discussion guide available.
GR 5-8: SUMMER DAYS, STARRY NIGHTS
This presentation is built around 2015 Red Maple finalist SUMMER DAYS, STARRY NIGHTS and focuses on writing historical fiction and exploring the music and culture of the 1960s. It includes trivia and a discussion of character building featuring music clips. Students will be asked to take part in the Summer Days, Starry Nights Playlist Project. Digital discussion guide available.
UPCOMING APPEARANCES
June 17, 1pm EST, 2022- Teddy Bear of the Year virtual storytime event. YouTube Live.
PAST APPEARANCES
July 20, 2021 Anonymouse Virtual Presentation, West Vancouver Public Library
July 2-9, 2021 Anonymouse Presentation with Wild Willie, Read by the Sea: WordPlay virtual festival
July 2nd @ 2:00pm ET, Virtual Teddy Bear Picnic & Teddy Bear of the Year Storytime with Idea Exchange on Facebook
June 14th @ 12:15pm EST, What I Wish I Knew Then: Publishing Notes to My Younger Self. This writing workshop is being offered by Ink Well Vancouver. $30 a person, register here
April 29th, Someone’s Good Books video series with Joel Sutherland. Video available on YouTube.
April 11th @ 10am EST, Teddy Bear of the Year virtual storytime, Penguin Random House Canada, Instagram Live (@penguinrandomca).
April 9th @ 12pm EST, writing workshop for kids & teens, Milton Public Library Instagram Live (@miltonpubliclibrary). This virtual event is free and most suitable for kids 8 and up,
March 31st @ 10am EST, Teddy Bear of the Year virtual storytime, Mastermind Toys, Instagram Live (@mastermindtoys)
March 25th @ 10:30 EST, If I Had a Gryphon virtual storytime, Tundra Books Facebook Live
March 18th @ 10:30 EST, Teddy Bear of the Year virtual storytime, Tundra Books Facebook Live
March 8th, 10:30am, Teddy Bear of the Year storytime, Type Books Junction in Toronto
Feb 27 @ 3pm, PLA conference, Teddy Bear of the Year signing, Tundra Books booth, Nashville
Feb 22 @ 11am, Teddy Bear of the Year storytime, Queen Books in Toronto
Feb 8 @ 11am, Teddy Bear of the Year launch, Moonbeam Books in Toronto
January 26 @ 2pm, ALA Midwinter Teddy Bear of the Year signing in the Tundra Books booth
April 19th, 10am, stackt market Best Friday Every
Sept 23, 2pm, Hamilton Public Library, Telling Tales: TeenTales Festival
Oct 18th, 6:45pm, StoryGarden Book Club: The Winnowing
April 27th, 4-5pm, Queen Books, Storytime & guest bookseller for Canadian Independent Bookseller Day
April 27-30, 1000 Islands Writers Festival, Gananoque, ON
Canadian Children’s Book Week, Manitoba:
- Mon, May 7th, 9:30-10:30am Neepawa Public Library
- Tues, May 8th, 1-2pm Pinawa Public Library
- Wednesday, May 9th, South Central Regional Library readings
- Thurs, May 10th, Jake Epp Library, 1:30-2:30
May 10th, 7pm, McNally Robinson Grant Park, McNally Robinson Writing ContestGala , Winnipeg
Forest of Reading Celebrations
- Niagara Region May 4th
- Toronto May 15th
- Durham Region May 17th
- Peel Region May 18th
May 26, CANSCAIP Mini Prairie Horizons, Saskatoon, SK
May 27, Montreal YA Fest, Montreal, QU
Sept 10, Eden Mills Writers’ Festival
2:25-2:45, Eden Mills village, 12km east of Guelph
Sept 17, Girl Expo Canada
Toronto Botanical Gardens , 777 Lawrence Ave E
10:30 am IF I HAD A GRYPHON storytime
2pm WRITING WORKSHOP
Sept 24, Word on the Street Toronto
4-5pm TD Children’s Literature Tent, Harbourfront Centre
Oct 14th, Indigo Burlington signing, 2-3pm
1250 Brant Street, Burlington, ON L7P 1X8.
Oct 15, Celebration of Stories Festival
3-4pm, Milton Centre for the Arts (1010 Main St. E, Milton)
Oct 22 Books and Brunch Event with Blue Heron Books
11:00am, Wooden Sticks Golf Club
Oct 28, 2-3pm Chapters Vega Signing
3050 Vega Blvd, Mississauga, ON
Nov 4, Festival of Readers
10-2, St Catherine’s Public Library
Central Branch, 54 Church Street, St Catherine’s
Kitchener Public Library– Saturday, June 17th, 11am-11:45am
Telling Tales Festival– September 18th, 2016
Westfield Heritage Village, Rockton, ON
IF I HAD A GRYPHON- Cathcart School House, 12:30pm
MEET THE PUBLISHERS- Mountsberg Church, 2:45pm
Indigo Milton– Storytime, Sept 24th, 11:30am
Calgary Wordfest– October 7-17, 2016
IF I HAD A GRYPHON
Oct 12th, 10-11:30am
Glenbow Museum Theatre, Calgary, AB
Vancouver Writers Fest– October 18-23rd, 2016
Oct 18th, 10-11am, Revue Stage- Creatures, Kids & Communities with Alice Kuipers & Roy Henry Vickers
Oct 19th, 1-2pm, Performance Works- Chain Reactions with Lisa Moore &
Owen Laukkanen-Matthews
Oct 20th, 1-2pm, Revue Stage- Read it Again, Please! with Monica Kulling & Olive Senior
Vikki VanSickle 
Hi Vikki,
I am wondering if you can have a presentation soon at S. Walter Stewart library?
Please,please,please,please,please,please,please!!! 🙂
My Dad knows you from The Torkidlit Writing Group.
She came to my school!!!!!!!!!!
Glad to see you’re coming back to Telling Tales Festival in Hamilton on Sept. 15. My daughter, 10 and I have read all three books of the Clarissa and Benji series and thought you could have them grow into grade 9. Good to see you have new book. See you in September … the 15th.
Hi Barbara! I’m really looking forward to returning- I had such a lovely time. Be sure to come say hi! Let’s hope the weather is just as nice!
Dear Vikki,
My name is Michaela Hishon, I am a grade 7 student at Jeanne Sauve Public School. I was at the award ceremony today (the festival of trees), and I went to one of you workshops. You are such an inspiration to me and I think you are amazing.
Earlier on this morning, before the workshop, I was in line to get your autograph. My teacher was absent today so I had a supply teacher and she didn’t print off the autograph booklets. Then, a lady was going down the line asking then writing our names down on purple slips of paper. When she got to me, I told her my name, then showed her the back of the booklet I made myself, because I had written my name and school on the back in case I lost it. The lady then told me that she couldn’t let me in to get your autograph without a booklet. Finally, she just grunted and went to the next student in line. I was very upset that I couldn’t get your autograph, since you are such a great role model for me. I was hoping maybe you could email me back and then possibly mail me an autograph? I really hope you can email me back and we can talk.
Once again, you are such a great author and I loved your book ‘Summer Days, Starry Nights’. Hope to talk to you soon 🙂