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Still My Tessa

Written by Sylv Chang
Illustrated by Mathias Ball
Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Hooked on Books Interview from Teachers on Call – Coming Soon

Illustrator Series – February 6th release (Video)

Blue Spruce Read-Aloud – April 11th release (Video)

ACTIVITIES

Discussion Questions – .doc | .pdf

Making Ice Cream Activity – .doc | .pdf

Art Activity – .doc | .pdf

Friendship Recipe Activity – .doc | .pdf

Colouring Sheet (source: Scholastic Canada)

CBC Kids Video – Gary the Unicorn reads Still My Tessa

CBC Books Profile on Still My Tessa

CBC Kids Reads 2024 Special – featuring winning book Still My Tessa

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Evelyn is worried about Tessa. Tessa doesn’t want to play the same games they used to play together, but Evelyn is determined to find new ways to connect with her older sibling. And she is also learning to see Tessa as a non-binary person by learning to use new pronouns for them. Evelyn learns very quickly that it isn’t hard, but she sees that others still find it difficult. Through the course of this heartfelt story, Evelyn reaffirms her connection to her sibling and shows those around them how to make the effort to support Tessa – with love. Back matter includes information on gender and ways to be a kind and effective ally.

SYLV CHIANG

SYLV CHIANG (she/her) is a French teacher by day and a children’s book author by night. She wrote her middle-grade series, Cross Ups, for kids who love video games. Still My Tessa is Sylv’s first picture book and the inspiration for the story came from within her own family. Sylv lives with her family near Toronto, Ontario.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Website: www.sylvchiang.com

Instagram: @sylv.chiang

Facebook: @sylvchiang

Twitter / X: @sylvchiang

Contact: https://www.sylvchiang.com/contact-me-1

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cross Ups 1: Tournament Trouble (2018, Annick Press)

Cross Ups 2: Anyone’s Game (2018, Annick Press)

Cross Ups 3: Rising Star (2019, Annick Press)

MATHIAS BALL

Mathias Ball (he/they) is a queer illustrator, who lives on the coast of Lake Huron. Growing up in the environment that he did, they drew inspiration from animals, emotions, and warm, bright colours for their work. They are a graduate of the Illustration program at Sheridan College. He has worked with clients such as The Washington Post, Huggies, Scholastic, and The New York Times, and their work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Website: https://mathiasball.com/

Instagram: @mathias.illu

Twitter / X: @MathiassJB

Email: mathias.illustration@gmail.com

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Every Body is a Rainbow, written by Caroline Carter, published by Rainbow Kids Press

What If Bedtime Didn’t Exist? written by Francine Cunningham, published by Annick Press

Little Wolf’s Howl, written by Nelly Buchet, published by Marble Press

Robin’s Worlds, written by Rainie Oet, published by ‎ Astra Young Readers 

The Night Ends with Fire, written by K. X. Song, published by Hodder & Stoughton

Read, Scream, Repeat, compiled by Jennifer Killick, published by Farshore