World-renowned children’s book illustrator Qin Leng will make her eagerly awaited debut as an author at our 11th Annual TOTSAPALOOZA festival. Kids aged 2-8 can celebrate this milestone with Fay & Fluffy’s Drag Queen Story Time, author Emil Sher, and indie rock all-stars The Woodshed Orchestra. Presented in partnership with The Children’s Book Bank, “TOTSAPALOOZA 11: A Day With Qin Leng & Friends,” is on Saturday, February 2nd, 1-3pm, at Revival Bar (783 College St).

TOTSAPALOOZA sells out every year. Get your tickets early: click here.

DON’T MISS:
● After illustrating over 30 beloved and bestselling children’s books, Qin Leng unveils her debut picture book as an author, I Am Small. Qin will conduct a drawing demonstration.
● Drag Performers JP (Fay Schlift) and Kaleb (Fluffy Soufflé) run their widely celebrated, interactive reading program, Drag Queen Storytime.
● A sneak preview of Mine.Yours by Marsha Diane Arnold, illustrated by Qin Leng, which will be published in April, 2019. (Thanks to KidsCan Press, advance copies will be available for purchase at the event).
● Award-winning author Emil Sher shares his bestselling book Away, illustrated by Qin Leng.
● Legendary drummer Dave Clark (Rheostatics, Dinner Is Ruined, Gord Downie) pilots The Woodshed Orchestra’s five-piece horn section, four-piece rhythm section and full-ensemble vocals, in a soulful mash up of classic dance styles from around the world.

PERENNIAL AUDIENCE FAVOURITES RETURN:
● Choreographer Ann-Marie Williams will conduct audience dance sessions.                                                                                                                                                 ● Dress up and create a souvenir of the day at PhaseOne Entertainment’s Photo Booth.
● Kensington Market mainstay Wanda’s Pie-in-the-Sky will fuel partygoers of all ages with healthy, handmade snacks from their pop-up bakery.

Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event.

TOTSAPALOOZA LASTS ALL YEAR All proceeds from TOTSAPALOOZA enable us  to offer literary programs to kids aged 2-12 across the GTA, FREE of charge, throughout the year.

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK BANK provides books and literacy support to children living in low-income neighborhoods across Toronto. Since 2008, the Book Bank has operated and offered various programs at a beautiful storefront space located in the Regent Park/St. James Town neighborhood. Visit: childrensbookbank.com

Advance Tickets are now available: click here

Every four years, grown-up Torontonians get to vote for the kind of city they’d like to live in. We’re joining forces with East End Arts and The Children’s Book Bank to give citizens aged 6-12 a chance to not only register their civic priorities but bring them to life at Mouse City Votes!, an election-themed edition of our popular model city-building workshop, on Saturday, October 20, 9am-1pm, at St Matthews Clubhouse (450 Broadview Ave). FREE with RSVP. To sign-up, click here.

There’ll be a voting booth with ballots that list perennial urban priorities such as arts and culture, affordable housing, and transportation. When they arrive, kids can choose the real-life issue that the make-believe residents of Mouse City need most to live happy lives. The outcome of this vote will shape the direction of the model city-building workshop.

Young urban planners can construct buildings and urban landmarks out of recycled materials and craft supplies.  Small Print Toronto’s Urban Planning Education Directors, Alexander Furneaux and Marcia Garnes, will guide kids through the steps of finding the most appropriate spot for their creations on a giant city grid, in terms of the ongoing development of Mouse City as a whole.

To ensure that Mouse City’s election is not hijacked by fat cats, at the end kids will also be invited to act as media observers. Aspiring reporters can write and draw mini-articles for the newspaper of record, The Mouse City Times. Copies of The Times will be distributed after the event at The Children’s Book Bank.

Space is limited. Be sure to sign up early, here.

ADVANCE POLL: To get public input outside of the workshop, The Children’s Book Bank (350 Berkley St, Toronto) will host an Advance Poll on Saturday, October 13, from 10am-5pm. Young citizens who cannot attend the model city building workshop are invited to fill out a ballot and create a piece for The Mouse City Times.