TCAF Kids
Toronto Comic Arts Festival
May 11, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. & May 12, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Toronto Reference Library
For the second year, Story Planet is overseeing kids’ programming at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, and we’ve lined up an exciting roster of authors and illustrators to share their craft with aspiring young comic-makers.
Saturday, May 11
9–10 a.m. | Drop-In Activities ⚡ Button-making, drawing, and more. All ages
10–10:45 a.m. | Intergalactic Bestiaries ⚡ Join award-winning author and illustrator HILARY LEUNG (Will Bear Share?) for a family-friendly creative journey. We’ll build an intergalactic bestiary book, filled with fantastical creatures. Ages 5+
11–11:45 a.m. | Pen, Pencil, Ruler, Eraser: Figuring Out Your Drawing Personality ⚡ CARA BEAN (Here I Am, I Am Me) will do a presentation about drawing personalities, then guide you through a series of calming, mindful drawing exercises. Ages 6+
12–12:45 p.m. | Time Travel Drawings ⚡Draw along with cartoonist JOSH ROSEN (History Comics: World War II and The Good Fight) in a series of time bending activities about exploring history through comics. Ages 6+
1–1:45 p.m. | Graphic Novel Page How-To ⚡ JONATHAN TODD (Timid) will discuss how he approaches putting together a page of a graphic novel, and you’ll practice plotting out your own stories. Ages 9+
2–2:45 p.m. | Wordless Comics ⚡ Make a comic without using words with CHRISTINE D.U. CHUNG and SALWA MAJOKA (Viewfinder). Ages 7+
3–3:45 p.m. | The Books of Clash: Graphic Novel Creation and Q&A ⚡ GENE LUEN YANG (American Born Chinese) will lead you through an exploration of building stories from your own life, from history, and from your imagination. Ages 8+
4–4:45 | Illuminated Comic Manuscripts ⚡ ISABEL GREENBERG (Young Hag) will help you make your very own illuminated manuscript comic using collage elements. Bring your own myth, or use one provided. Ages 12+
Sunday, May 12
10–10:45 a.m. | Make a Zine ⚡ Have you ever wanted to create your own book? All by yourself, with no pesky editors or publishers? Welcome to the world of zines (pronounced “zeen”)! Learn the basics of zine creation with artist MICAH CHU. Ages 5+
11–11:45 a.m. | Stencilling & Collage ⚡ Stencils and collage can help you create beautiful pictures to accompany your stories! NANCY VO (Boobies) will do a short reading, demo, and Q&A. Ages 5+
12–12:45 p.m. | Emanata: The Secret Code of Comics ⚡ Make superheroes fly and pies smell delicious! MEGGIE RAMM (BatCat: Sink or Swim) will teach you about the lines and symbols used to make motion and emotion in comics. Ages 6+
1–1:45 p.m. | Drawing Comics ⚡ What makes a story? How do you tell a story in a few panels? Learn the art of comics storytelling with acclaimed cartoonist NIDHI CHANANI (Super Boba Cafe and the Shark Princess series). Ages 6+
2–2:45 p.m. | Colour Theory with Crayons ⚡ Colours shape our world. Learn the basics, create a colour wheel, and create colourful art with illustrator and designer MINNIE PHAN (Simone). Ages 5+
3–3:45 p.m. | World-Building in Sci-fi & Fantasy ⚡ Join creator B.C. PETERSCHMIDT (Amelia Erroway: Castaway Commander) for a brief presentation about the pillars of a successful fictional world—then it's time to create! In your world, you make the rules. Ages 10+
4–5 p.m. | Drop-In Activities ⚡ Button-making, drawing, and more. All ages
