Career

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

After finishing her doctoral program at UBC in literacy education, Kari-Lynn assumed her position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, where she teaches language arts and drama-in-education, 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, and study at schools in different places, has led her to live in locations across North America: leaving hometown St. Thomas to head to St. Catharines and Toronto, then Montreal and Ottawa, back to Toronto, across the world for an adventure in Malaysia and the Philippines, out west to Grants Pass and Ashland OR, down south to Chapel Hill NC, heading north to Barrie Ontario, then many years in lovely Vancouver BC, and now back to St Catharines. This is the view of English Bay 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 across 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. It has been nominated for the 2010 BC Book Prize and sponsored tour

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 Stinky Skunk Mel (Simply Read Books) and Gift Days (Fitzhenry and Whiteside).

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.

Press

Kari has been interviewed on radio and TV.

Bios for media use

The following short bio is prepared for media use and may be copied without formal request, and here is a print-size bio photo.

Kari-Lynn Winters is a picture book author, poet, and performer. She enjoys being in the classroom in any capacity, as a presenter, a teacher, or as a student. After finishing her doctoral program at UBC in literacy education, Kari-Lynn assumed her new job as Assistant Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, where she teaches drama-in-education to and mentors teacher candidates. Previously, Kari-Lynn also taught in North Carolina, Oregon, Vancouver, and Toronto. She holds a teaching degree from the University of Toronto 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. Kari-Lynn has over a dozen books published or in press, many of which have won reader’s choice awards. Read more about Kari-Lynn at her website, www.kariwinters.com, or on Wikipedia.

Here is another, shorter version for media use:

Dr. Kari-Lynn Winters is an award-winning children’s author, playwright, performer, and academic scholar. Sixteen of her picture or poetry books have been published or are in press. An experienced teacher of writing, she has worked with students across Canada and the United States, including pre-school, special education, primary and intermediate, high school, and university teacher education. Kari-Lynn is an assistant professor at Brock University in St. Catharines, ON. Her research interests include drama in education, children’s literature, literacy, and multimodal forms of learning. More information about Kari-Lynn can be found at www.kariwinters.com.

Other bios of Kari

Disambiguation

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