Still My Tessa
Written by Sylv Chang
Illustrated by Mathias Ball
Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.
ACTIVITIES
Discussion Questions – .doc | .pdf
Making Ice Cream 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
