The Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illust & Performers.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Canada's community of children's writers, illustrators, performers and publishers gathers annually for PYI. We invite you to join us for this inspiring day of craft, business, and networking. canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

A few of the many memories made at #pyi2026 For those of you who were unable to attend in person or by livestream - not to worry -PYI RECORDED is coming. You can get recordings of the sessions available starting in November.

REMINDER: PYI Pub Night on Fri Oct 23, 7:00-late @ Firkin on Yonge PYI Brunch on Sun Oct 25, 10:30 @ Hothouse Cafe Check your emails for google form to fill out to RSVP

PYI Presents - Susan Currie: Building Empathy: Creating Characters Readers Care About Register for PYI today: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

PYI Presents - Danielle Daniel: The Secret Language of Symbols Register for PYI today: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

PYI Presents - Hadley Dyer: Small Changes, Big Impacts: An Editor's Toolbox for Revision Register for PYI today: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

Ready for PYI? Sat Oct 24th is fast approaching. Not registered yet? There is still space to attend the conference (in person or live stream). The in-person one-to-ones are now full.

PYI Pub Night on Fri Oct 23, 7:00-late @ Firkin on Yonge PYI Brunch on Sun Oct 25, 10:30 @ Hothouse Cafe Google form to RSVP sent via email yesterday to members and friends.

Thank you Jeremy Tankard for being the October Monthly Membership Meeting speaker!

LEONARDA CARRANZA Writing Racism from a Child’s POV An inspiring workshop on writing authentically, fearlessly, and sometimes autobiographically about the everyday experience of racism and its impact from a child’s POV.

PYI PRESENTS - SHARI GREEN Unlocking the Power of Verse Verse novels must contain all the same core elements as prose novels, but in a concise, poetic package. In this workshop, we’ll open our poetry toolbox and look at ways to amp up key story components and make the most of the verse format.

Monthly Membership Meeting! Wednesday October 14 at 7pm Speaker: Jeremy Tankard Register via the member/friend portal on the CANSCAIP website.

PYI Presents: Nneka Myers: Empowering Identities: Our Colours, Our Voices, Our Future. Register: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

Thank you CANSCAIP Members volunteers as readers for the entries.

The CANSCAIP Writing for Children Competition Shortlist has been announced - members and friends check your emails :-)

REMINDER: No-Homework Online Critique Groups: Picture Book Edition Saturday October 10 12-3:00pm ET

PYI Livestream is NEW this year - and what a great way to attend Packaging Your Imagination - from wherever you are - in real time! Register: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference #kidlitconference #publishing

No-Homework Online Critique Groups: Picture Book Edition Saturday October 10 12-3:00pm ET If you’d like peer feedback on a Picture Book story, we invite you to join us. Register via CANSCAIP member/friend portal: canscaip.org

Don't miss: Sara Gillingham in the CANSCAIP #PYI2026 session "Think like a designer to be found as an illustrator" Catch PYI in person in Toronto Or Livestream (from wherever you are) Or enjoy the recorded sessions on your own schedule Register: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

Don't miss! JOYCE GRANT & ANDREA CURTIS Non-fiction: From Hook to Book in 7 Steps Register: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference #kidlit #PYI2026

Thank you to our EDITOR'S TALK panel at the Monthly Membership Meeting this month -> Catherine Dorton, Amanda Sun, and Anita Yasuda.

Publishing Panel Gain invaluable insights into what publishers are looking for, how the submission process really works, and tips for navigating the path to publication. Erin Haggett, Ali McDonald, Gayna Theophilus, Yasemin Ucar Register: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

Please join us at the Fall Edition of our ONLINE WRITING RETREAT Saturday, September 19, 2026 ALL TIME ZONES: PT 8am–6pm | MT 9am–7pm CT 10am–8pm | ET 11am–9pm AT 12pm–10pm | NL 12:30pm–10:30pm REGISTER via the member/friend portal on the CANSCAIP website #canscaip #writingretreat

EDITORS TALK: We’re excited to hear from two Canadian freelance editors with more than 20 years of combined publishing experience. Catherine Dorton and Amanda SunAuthor Anita Yasuda will be the moderator for their discussion. Register via the CANSCAIP member/friend portal

Children's book authors and illustrators! Register for Packaging Your Imagination (PYI) - a professional conference designed to help improve your craft and make industry connections. * Learn from publishers, editors, agents, authors, and illustrators * Build skills ** Attend in person or online.

CANSCAIP is hiring! Job description: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Don't miss the picture book trio session at #PYI2026 - crafting authentic picture books. Register for in-person, live stream or recordings: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

@picturebookseh.bsky.social —a co-promotional group of Canadian picture book authors and illustrators—is hosting The Great Canadian Picture Book Party via Zoom! The event will take place Mon Aug 31 at 7pm. Register via the CANSCAIP member/friend portal and you will be sent a zoom link.

There are "learning paths" for both authors and illustrators at CANSCIP #PYI2026 Check out the speakers and sessions (a very jam packed day of professional development). Attend in person, via live stream, or get the recordings to watch later. Register: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

Join children's book creators from across Canada and the U.S. at Packaging Your Imagination (PYI) - a professional conference designed to help you improve your craft, receive professional feedback, and make meaningful industry connections. Register today: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference #kidlit

REMINDER: CANSCAIP Friends and Members across Canada are invited to an online Social Hour via Zoom on Sunday, August 23 at 3:00pm ET. Register for the event via the CANSCAIP member portal.

Canadian Children's Book Authors, Illustrators, and Performers - consider joining CANSCAIP and enjoy the benefits of membership and our kidlit community canscaip.org/JoinCANSCAIP

BREAKING IN PANEL The Breaking-In Panel features newly published authors discussing how they became traditionally published and/or acquired agents, and sharing info and tips to inspire and motivate other aspiring authors in the audience. Register today: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference

CANSCAIP Friends and Members across Canada are invited to an online Social Hour via Zoom on Sunday, August 23 @3:00pm ET. We hope you'll join us at this online meet-and-greet. Please REGISTER for the event (see member email today) #CANSCAIP

Write. Illustrate. Get Inspired. * Learn from publishers, editors, agents, authors, and illustrators * Build your skills and grow your publishing network * Invest in your creativity ** Attend in person or online. Register today: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference #kidlit #publishing

The #PYI2026 one-to-one evaluations fill up every single year. Don't hesitate to book your one-to-one as spots are very limited - both in-person and livestream. Additional cost to CANSCAIP PYI registration: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference #kidlit #writingconference

LOOK at the line up for #PYI2026! It is a knowledge-packed schedule full of experts on creating children's books - both on the author and illustrator paths. For the full bios and session details - please visit our website: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference Which sessions peak your interest? #kidlit

Don't miss Lynn Scurfield: Creating & Depicting Emotion Through Illlustration At #PYI2026 Available in person (in Toronto) and live stream (anywhere you have internet connection) Register:https://canscaip.org/PYI-Conference #kidlit #writingconference

You know someone who would love the Packaging Your Imagination Conference. Tag them below and help us fill the room with the people who are interested in creating children's books. #PYI2026

Registration is open for #pyi2026 When you register for either PYI IN PERSON or for PYI LIVESTREAM you choose 1 session in each time slot, for a total of 4 of the 12 sessions. SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, October 24 REGISTER TODAY: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference #kidlit

Writers and illustrators - learn more about Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) canscaip.org #kidlit

SHARE: What's your best takeaway from PYI? Packaging Your Imagination (PYI) Conference REGISTRATION for pyi 2026 OPENS in JULY. Join us at PYI IN PERSON: Saturday, October 24 2026 at Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute in Toronto . OR Can't be there in person? LIVESTREAM: Saturday October 24 2026

The book draw winners have been selected (and informed) and their prizes are off in the post!

CANSCAIP Monthly Membership Meeting - Wed June 10 7pm EST Topic: Query Letters David Griffin Brown founded Darling Axe Editing in 2018.

Save the date: Packaging Your Imagaination Conference is coming! Saturday October 24 PYI in-person (Toronto, ON) PYI livestream (anywhere you are connected to the internet) Registration opens in July! #CANSCAIP #kidlit

Save the date: June 10th Monthly Member Meeting for QUERY LETTERS - DARLING AXE's David G Brown.

Join CANSCAIP - become part of the Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers. Learn more: canscaip.org/JoinCANSCAIP

New and experienced Canadian authors, illustrators and performers - join CANSCAIP to get industry news, network, hone skills, and be part of the #kidlit community: canscaip.org

CANSCAIP’s Writing for Children Competition is now open for entries! Canada’s largest competition for children’s writers welcomes submissions from unpublished and self-published writers. The deadline for entries is May 31. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: canscaip.org/Submission-G... #CANSCAIP #kidlit

CANSCAIP Monthly Member Meeting -> Join Kevin Sylvester, Heather Camlot, Eric Zweig and Jean Mills as they discuss why they use sports in their writing. Wed Apr 8 at 7pm ET