Join Calgary Public Library for LitCon 2026! These virtual sessions throughout the month of May are designed for the classroom to inspire students to explore creative processes in writing, drawing, poetry, music, comics, oral storytelling, and more. Recommended for Grades K – 9.
LitCon posters available for your school - Download them today.
Grades 4 – 6 | May 11 | 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Author Kim Spencer reads from, "I Won’t Feel This Way Forever" and leads a discussion on grief, resilience, and growing into who you are. Join the conversation and reflect on what it means to navigate life’s challenges.
Grades 3 – 9 | May 13 | 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Go behind the scenes of manga creation with Misako Rocks and take part in a step-by-step drawing workshop. Explore how character design choices bring manga to life!
Grades 1 – 9 | May 14 | 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Tsuut'ina artist and environmentalist Sizi Jojo Crowchild will share Indigenous knowledge through art. Students will learn about Indigenous beadwork styles and how plants are incorporated into creative work while designing their own medallion.
Grades K – 6 | May 20 | 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Join author Maria Marianayagam for a reading of "The Amazing Power of Girls". Students will discover how forces show up in everyday life, uncover poetic tools used in the story, and explore the important role girls play in the STEM fields.
Grades K – 6 | May 21 | 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Join author Gene Luen Yang for an exciting talk about comics, storytelling, and creativity! He will share advice for aspiring young writers and explore themes from his books, such as identity, the immigrant experience, and cultural conflict.
Presenting Monday, May 11
Kim Spencer is an award-winning, bestselling author from the Gitxaala Nation whose debut novel, "Weird Rules to Follow" received national and international recognition. She writes powerful stories for young readers that explore identity and resilience.
Presenting Wednesday, May 13
Misako Rocks is a Japanese manga artist whose books, including "Bounce Back," have been published worldwide and recognized by the American Library Association. She also creates and teaches popular “How to Draw Kawaii Manga” guides.
Presenting Thursday, May 14
Sizi Jojo Crowchild is a Tsuut’ina artist and environmentalist whose work centres on reconnecting with land, culture, and community. Through workshops, art, and advocacy, they support others in building relationships with the land and themselves.
Presenting Wednesday, May 20
Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan-Canadian children’s author whose stories weave together STEM, faith, and South Asian culture for young readers. A 2025 Top 40 Under 40 recipient, she brings a global perspective to her work.
Presenting Thursday, May 21
Gene Luen Yang is a bestselling and award-winning comics creator, best known for "American Born Chinese", now a Disney+ series, and the "Avatar: the Last Airbender" comics. His work explores identity, culture, and belonging for young readers.
Presenting Monday, May 4
Wesley King is an award-winning author of fourteen novels, including the Edgar Award-winning "OCDaniel". His recent book "Benny on the Case" was named a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.
Presenting Wednesday, May 6
Daniel Go leads special events at the National Music Centre that bring people together through art. With a passion for music as a multi-instrumentalist, he blends technical insight with creative energy in everything he does.
By attending LitCon 2026 and participating in the Padlet Q&A during any virtual session, your class will be entered to win exciting prizes, including book sets for your entire classroom. It’s a great way to boost student engagement while giving your class the chance to take home something special.
Want your writing featured in the Short Story Dispenser at Central Library? We are looking for fiction, poetry, and comics from students 5 – 17. Selected winners’ submissions will be available to print in our Short Story Dispenser over the summer.
General Contest Rules:
Fiction and Poetry: Up to 750 words max/4800 characters including spaces.
Comics: Must use the downloadable template to create your comic and email it as a JPEG file. Comics can only be in black and white (no colour or gray-scale) and are limited to the one-page template. Any comic submissions that do not follow these requirements will be disqualified as they won't print with our Short Story Dispenser.
Submissions are open from May 1 to June 12 and should be submitted to litcon@calgarylibrary.ca.
Share this video with your class to spark comic ideas and support student submissions for a chance to be featured in the Library's Short Story Dispenser.
