Career

click for large, printable version photo by Nataliya Dmitrieva, 2007

After finishing her doctoral program at UBC in literacy education, Kari-Lynn recently assumed her new job as Assistant Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. Here, she teaches drama-in-education to and mentors teacher candidates in their elementary cohort group.

Kari-Lynn enjoys being in the classroom, as a student, a teacher, and as a presenter. Her masters thesis, on exploring the efficacy of using the arts to strengthen less proficient students’ reading comprehension (part of her multimedia thesis presentation is available online), won the Master’s Research Award in 2005 for the best thesis in Canada in her field. Before that, she taught in North Carolina for three years and in Toronto for 2 years. Kari holds a teaching degree from the University of Toronto, in regular and special education for children ages 3-13. She is also a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada (in Montreal), where she earned a certificate in technical theatre.

History

Kari-Lynn Winters was born as Kari-Lynn Moore in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. Her urge to travel and explore different cultures has led her to live in locations all across North America: St. Catharines and Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa, Ontario, Chapel Hill NC, Grants Pass and Ashland OR, Barrie Ontario, Vancouver BC, and now back to St Catharines. It’s been quite a trip, which she’s taken with with her husband Jonah, son Liam, daughter McKenna, and two cats, Cali and Jamaica. This is the view she enjoyed for 9 years in Vancouver.

Orca Book Publishers published Kari-Lynn’s first picture book, Jeffrey and Sloth (2007), a tale about a boy who has writer’s block and the imaginary creature he creates to help him write his story, which has received many positive reviews. This book was Silver Medalist for the 2009 Chocolate Lily Award, as voted for by schoolchildren across BC; Silver Medalist for the Blue Spruce award, as voted for by schoolchildren acoss Ontario; finalist for the 2008 BC Book Prize and sponsored tour; and winner of the ABCs of Education best books for 2007.

Her next publication was “Rhyme or Reason” in A World of Stories (2008). This book is more than a book, it is also a fundraiser.  We are raising money with Rotary Clubs to support literacy initiatives in BC and in Washington state.

aRHYTHMetic (co-written with Tiffany Stone and Lori Sherritt-Fleming, illustrated by Scot Ritchie, Gumboot Books) was published in the spring of 2009, followed by a French adaptation titled aRYTHMétique.  It combines math+rhythm+poetry and  has received rave reviews by children and teachers alike and a mention in the Vancouver Sun.

Next in 2009 came On my Walk, illustrated by Christina Leist, Kari’s first book for babies, toddlers, and preschool children, featuring delightful scenes of a walk around Vancouver.

2010 was release time for Runaway Alphabet (illustrated by Ben Frey, Simply Read Books), an exciting project which included a CD of a studio performance by voice actors and musicians. Finally, the Olympic-themed book When Chickens Fly (Gumboot Books, 2009), illustrated by the popular “faerie” artist Izabela Bzymek, is being released just in time for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Several other picture books have been accepted for publication, including Oh Ducky Day (illustrated by Ailsa Long, Gumboot Books).

Kari didn’t always consider herself a writer. In fact, many of her elementary school years were spent either resisting composition or struggling to write. It was her love of storytelling, theatre, and children’s literature that brought Kari to try her skills at writing. Kari’s love of children’s literature continues to grow as she practices writing as a reader, and reading as a writer.

Media

Kari has been interviewed on radio and TV.

Download bio photo.

Other bios of Kari

• Canadian Children’s Book Centre
• Orca Book Publishers
• Gumboot Books
• Blue Spruce
• Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers
• Children’s Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia
• Creative Writing for Children
• Wikipedia on Kari-Lynn Winters
• Amazon profile

Disambiguation

I am not the Kari Winters who authored books about pets and who sadly passed away in 2009.

This website was built by Kari’s husband Jonah Winters of Winters Body Works, offering sports and therapeutic massage in St. Catharines Ontario, and Winters Web Works. Jonah’s graduate work is in history of religions, and when he’s not practicing massage he does academic websites.