CATCA 2026-Feb 19 and 20 in Person and Post Recording Videos till May 31st

Dawn Leslie is a nurse and the author of the Healthy-Wealthy-Wise educational series for children, with over 150,000 books on the shelves of Canadian elementary classrooms. A self-proclaimed nomad: she’s lived in four countries to date, including nine years in Saudi Arabia, and since visiting more than forty, is always up for an adventure! Dawn is deeply committed to her wellness philosophy that children can be wonderful stewards of their own health when armed with tools in an engaging, age-appropriate format. Her book, A Thousand Twinkly Stars, was chosen as one of 2024's Best Books for Kids and Teens by the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and addresses the impacts of life and death in a sweetly philosophical way. The inevitability of seasonal changes underpins this poignant look at nature's purpose in death, the beauty of new beginnings, and the constancy of love. The timeless art of iconic Canadian artist, Daphne Odjig, a Governor General's Award and Order of Canada recipient provides an incredible layer of relevancy to this story, which is further enhanced by fellow Order of Canada awardee, Maxine Noel’s (Ioyan Mani) compelling Foreword. Her latest project, Gypsy Horses of Horn Hill, explores social and mental health issues through the lived experiences of 9–12 year-olds participating in a local horse-riding academy. Once again, Dawn's ability to combine accurate wellness information in engaging fiction is fully on display in this charming, informative series. An exciting public speaker, Dawn is guaranteed to inspire, inform, and invigorate her audience to continue empowering children.