Elly MacKay is the author and illustrator of several picture books, such as Red Sky at Night, Butterfly Park and If You Hold A Seed. She is known for her unusual illustrations using light and paper. She lives in Owen Sound, Ontario with her family.
An overview of writing and illustrating for children in Canada.
The picture book structure, illustration basics, types of picture books, the market, the publishers, who is accepting unsolicited manuscripts, query letters, agents, income and inspiration.
Depending on the group, we create individual or group lightbox illustrations.
Alternatively at libraries I also do a reading and art activity based on the book.
I have also done full week/ full school visits and worked with the whole school to create library installations. My website www.ellymackay.ca shows what we created in Bulgaria.
Introduction of my books and how I create the illustrations for my books.
We build a scene in my miniature theatre.
A read aloud of one of my books.
Together we do a group collaborative illustration and photograph it to create a poster.
Follow up on creative writing or an activity based on the age.
Questions and Goodbye/Bookmarks.
