Karen welcomes the opportunity to talk about the writing process and to share her passion for researching and writing in presentations tailored to each of her books:

I CAN, TOO! / PLAYDATE SURPRISE: Disabilities, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Friendship for Grades K-3 based on picture books I CAN, TOO! and PLAYDATE SURPRISE

MAKING SEAKER: Writing and STEAM for Grades 3–6 based on middle-grade contemporary novel MAKING SEAKER

KAH-LAN: Sea Otters and a Thriving Ocean for grades 2–5 based on chapter books KAH-LAN THE ADVENTUROUS SEA OTTER and KAH-LAN AND THE STINK-INK

GROWING UP IN WILD HORSE CANYON: Exploring Centuries of History for Grades 3–6 based on narrative non-fiction picture book GROWING UP IN WILD HORSE CANYON

BRINGING CANADIAN HISTORY ALIVE for grades 4–6 based on middle-grade historical novels SECOND WATCH, SAARA’S PASSAGE, and SABOTAGE

Karen is available for in-person and virtual author visits and readings for grades Kindergarten and up. See individual presentation details below.

School Presentation Details

I CAN, TOO! / PLAYDATE SURPRISE Disabilities, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Friendship

Ideal for Grades K-3

In this interactive school presentation, Karen, as a disability-adjacent writer:
• focuses on the picture book writing process and her personal inspiration for the books
• explores topics such as inclusion, accessibility, relationships, growth mindset, persistence, disability awareness, movement and adaptive equipment
• uses props and PowerPoint in an engaging way
• includes illustrated readings of I CAN, TOO! and PLAYDATE SURPRISE followed by time for students to ask questions and if in person, a draw for a copy of a book for a participating class

Students come away with increased empathy and a better understanding of disabilities, how to make the world more accessible, what inclusion looks like, and how a picture book is made.

Format:

In-person (45 minutes) maximum 3 classes or virtual (35-40 minutes)

Presentation Details:

To promote interaction during in-person presentations, Karen prefers to meet with smaller groups, so a maximum of three classes.

Equipment Required:

- two medium-sized tables to hold presentation materials
- separate table and chair for book sales (if requested)
- computer and projector for displaying PowerPoint presentation from a USB drive

Contact Information:

Please email Karen directly to arrange for a school presentation.
Thank you for your interest.

MAKING SEAKER: Writing and STEAM

Ideal for Grades 3–6

In this interactive school presentation, Karen reveals the inspiration behind her Middle Grade STEAM novel—including Paddle-to-the-Sea and her own STEAM journey—along with the multi-revision writing process.

Karen explores STEAM topics, confidence, and what Jamie’s Seaker STEAM project is all about. She'll also talk about the persistence required to overcome obstacles in a STEAM project by sharing the successes and failures involved in the ongoing attempts to actually create a Seaker (trackable model boat).

Following Karen's engaging, illustrated reading from Making Seaker, there's time for Q&A and a draw for a copy of her book.

Presentation Details:

Length:

45-60 minutes
The length of presentation and depth of information shared are determined by the age range of children in attendance. To promote interaction, Karen prefers to meet with smaller groups (maximum four classes) with no more than a three-grade spread (i.e. Grades 3–5 or 4–6).

Equipment Required:

- two medium-sized tables to hold presentation materials
- separate table and chair for book sales (if requested)
- computer and projector for displaying PowerPoint presentation from a USB drive

Contact Information:

Please email Karen directly to arrange for a school presentation.
Thank you for your interest.

KAH-LAN: Sea Otters and a Thriving Ocean

Presentation focused on writing, researching, environment, and nature – ideal for grades 2–5

   

You otter be reading!

In this fun, interactive presentation, Karen Autio weaves together her passion for science, language arts, history, and sea otters. She also gives students insight into the challenges of writing and encourages them to follow their interests to write their own stories while researching to make their stories believable. Karen makes effective use of props and PowerPoint images to enhance the learning opportunities for children.

Both Karen’s presentation and her chapter books, KAH-LAN THE ADVENTUROUS SEA OTTER and KAH-LAN AND THE STINK-INK, are fuelled by fascinating research about the unique characteristics that help sea otters survive spending their whole lives in the cold Pacific Ocean. With her enthusiasm and knowledge, Karen reveals these characteristics and the history of sea otters, from near extinction to their recent and amazing comeback, despite continuing threats. She also explains how sea otters have a key role in ensuring the ocean thrives. They fight climate change by eating the sea urchins that destroy the kelp, a plant that absorbs carbon dioxide. In enabling kelp to flourish, sea otters help slow the warming of the ocean and increase fish habitat.

Karen shares her journey as an author, starting with her childhood writing. She then notes the steps and persistence required to get Kah-Lan’s story in print (first draft to published book in 30 years must be some kind of record!), and presents sample drafts of the story and final manuscript, together with a sketche and final art by the illustrator. She also shares her creative wordplay that immerses the reader in Kah-Lan’s watery world and shows students how the large folded printed pages and flat cover fit together to form a printed book.

This dynamic presentation includes a brief reading from KAH-LAN AND THE STINK-INK and time for students to ask questions. Karen’s goal is for students to leave inspired to read, research, and persist to use what they learn in order to write engaging stories.

Presentation Details:

Length of presentation: Presentation length (40-60 minutes) and depth of information shared are determined by the age range of students in attendance. To promote interaction, Karen prefers to meet with smaller groups (maximum three classes) of similar grade level: 2–3, 3–4, or 4–5.

Equipment Required:

- two medium-sized tables to hold presentation materials
- separate table and chair for book sales (if requested)
- computer and projector for displaying PowerPoint presentation from a USB drive

Contact Information:

Please email Karen directly to arrange for a school presentation.
Thank you for your interest.

GROWING UP IN WILD HORSE CANYON: Exploring Centuries of History

Presentations focused on writing, illustrations, and natural and social history – ideal for Grades 3–6

Paintings © Loraine Kemp

Karen Autio and Loraine Kemp Joint Presentations

Author-Illustrator School and Library Presentations

Karen Autio Presentations

In Wild Horse Canyon, a ponderosa pine seed sprouts and begins to grow. Seasons pass and the tree's growth becomes a measure of human history, from First Nations’ quests and trapping wild horses, to fur brigades, railway construction, secret wartime commando training, and more.

In this engaging and informative presentation, Karen Autio shares the inspiration behind her picture book GROWING UP IN WILD HORSE CANYON. She draws from her collaborative journey with illustrator Loraine Kemp exploring the canyon and other historical sites and consulting Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts. Based on their discoveries of how First Nations history is interwoven with European settlement, Karen shows how they authentically portrayed this fascinating research through narrative nonfiction, maps, and illustrations. Making effective use of props and images, Karen reveals how the writing, illustrating, and publishing process works from story draft to art manuscript, illustrations, and final proofs.

This presentation includes a brief illustrated reading from GROWING UP IN WILD HORSE CANYON and time for students to ask questions.

Presentation Details:

Length: 45-60 minutes
The length of presentation and depth of information shared are determined by the age range of children in attendance. To promote interaction, Karen prefers to meet with smaller groups (maximum four classes) with no more than a three-grade spread (i.e. Grades 3–5 or 4–6).

Equipment Required:

- two medium-sized  tables to hold presentation materials
- separate table and chair for book sales (if requested)
- computer and projector for displaying PowerPoint presentation from a USB drive

Contact Information:

Please email Karen directly to arrange for a school presentation.
Thank you for your interest.

BRINGING CANADIAN HISTORY ALIVE

Presentation focused on writing, reading, and researching history – ideal for grades 4–6


In this lively, visually appealing presentation, Karen Autio engages students in Canadian history and the immigrant experience, as she does in her trilogy of historical novels.

She shares her journey as an author, including writing projects in her childhood. Karen makes effective use of props, PowerPoint images, and hands-on materials while sharing her passion for researching history and the resulting “jigsaw puzzle” of transforming historical facts into a fascinating story.

Karen’s goal is to inspire students to read, research, explore history (both family and general), and write using their own interests and experiences, showing how revision tightens and completes the exercise. She conveys writing is not a one-step process, that persistence is needed to get the story right and get it published. In fact, her book, KAH-LAN THE ADVENTUROUS SEA OTTER, took 30 years from first draft to publication! Karen shares the editing process of SABOTAGE, from getting feedback from student editors, to being directed by her editor to rewrite the entire manuscript (cue gasps from the audience) and the benefits from that revision.

Karen’s historical novels focus on immigration and adapting to a new life in Canada. Other intriguing historical events in the stories include the 1914 shipwreck of the Empress of Ireland (Canada’s Titanic), survival during a tuberculosis epidemic, and espionage, sabotage, and internment of enemy aliens during the First World War. Presenting these topics to students captures their attention.

In teaching children about Canadian history and identity, Karen’s books and presentation support learning outcomes for both Language Arts and Social Studies. For each novel, a Teacher’s Guide containing activities and questions for research and discussion is available to download at the top of this page.

Karen reads a captivating scene from one of her novels, then compares researching to time travel and involves students in exploring the resources accessible to a writer of historical fiction. Karen explains the publishing process from first draft to page signatures and flat cover that go together to form a printed book. With the help of volunteers, Karen demonstrates the stages of cover design for one of her novels.

Finally it’s time for students to ask those burning questions they’ve been saving up and Karen is happy to answer.

Presentation Details:

Length of presentation: 60 minutes
Karen's interactive school presentation is designed for a maximum pf three classes.

Equipment Required:

- two medium-sized tables to hold presentation materials
- separate table and chair for book sales (if requested)
- computer and projector for displaying PowerPoint presentation from a USB drive

Contact Information:

Please email Karen directly to arrange for a school presentation.
Thank you for your interest.

I CAN, TOO! Teacher Resources

KAH-LAN Student Activity Guide:  Colour   B&W is available.

Teacher's Guide for GROWING UP IN WILD HORSE CANYON

Using GROWING UP IN WILD HORSE CANYON in the Classroom: A Teacher's Experience

Teachers' Guide for SECOND WATCH  is available. Teacher Guide Second Watch

A Teachers' Guide for SAARA'S PASSAGE is available. Teacher Guide Saara's Passage

SABOTAGE Student Activity Guide is available.

Testimonials for I CAN, TOO! Presentation

"Great visuals! Love the wheelchair! Great pictures! Wonderful slideshow presentation. Loved the movement with the hands, so much fun! I really enjoyed the presentation."

Kendall Schuster, Teacher-Librarian at Glenrosa Elementary, West Kelowna, BC

"Your presentation was matched perfectly to the age of your audience. All of your visuals really made the presentation easy for the students to follow/understand. Wonderful how you shared your personal writing journey with us. You have made very important information about disabilities accessible/meaningful to very young learners. This is not an easy topic to cover with children in a way that they can connect to and understand. Your book and presentation did the job!"

Kim Reynaud, Grade 1 Teacher at Rose Valley Elementary, West Kelowna, BC

"Good age-based presentation. Lots of visuals, fun and colorful. Good balance of technology and face-to-face information. The [Grade 1] kids were engaged for the entire presentation."

Erin Semashkewich, Teacher-Librarian at Bellevue Creek Elementary, Kelowna, BC

"WOW! Love the inclusivity of the book! The interactive style [of presenting] works well. Easy to listen to – clear voice, right pace, interesting facts. Kids [Grade 1] sat and listened for a good amount of time. Very inspirational for those future writers!"

Donna Hope, Teacher (TOC) at Bellevue Creek Elementary, Kelowna, BC

"I love your honesty around people who don’t 'see' themselves in books."

Grade 1 Teacher, West Kelowna, BC

Testimonials for Growing Up in Wild Horse Canyon Presentation

"I am so impressed with your ability to engage the students by bringing them into the creation of your book and artwork. I really appreciate how you strove to incorporate a First Peoples’ perspective. The visuals of the canyon, the water, the map, and the trail worked well because these kept the children engaged. They really enjoyed the personalized stories."

Lori Petersen, Teacher, Anne McClymont Elementary, Kelowna, BC

Krystal Sharpe, Grade 5/6 Teacher, George Pringle Elementary, West Kelowna, BC

"Great connection to process of book and story creation—important to see photos of exploration. Audience participation worked well as it is so important, especially for young students. Nice visuals from book, to exploration, to illustration. Very authentic inclusion of Indigenous perspective. Thank you."

Heather Noakes, Teacher, Naramata Elementary, Naramata, BC

"Great job! You thought of every way to reach all the learners! Worked well having large visuals to engage students, photos to support the background story, and sharing point-of-view examples (European vs. First Nations) and importance of [Indigenous] advising editor. You both really brought the process of writing and illustrating a book to life! Thank you."

Michelle Newman, Teacher, Mar Jok Elementary, West Kelowna, BC

“Glenmore Elementary was fortunate to have local author and illustrator of the book Growing up in Wild Horse Canyon visit our school. The author, Karen Autio, gave the children an insight into the research, collaboration and experiences needed to write her book. She gave real life accounts through an interesting slide show of the years of work involved to create such a wonderfully informative book. The illustrator, Loraine Kemp, talked about how working with Karen, she created the delightful illustrations that are featured in the book. Also with the aid of a slideshow Loraine walked the children through the process of how she creates her illustrations. The 45 minute presentation grabbed the students attention and gave them an amazing insight into the creation of a story. It was a pleasure to host Loraine and Karen for the day. The students and teachers are still talking about all they learned.​”

Doug Obst, Teacher-Librarian, Glenmore Elementary, Kelowna, BC