It’s my hope that The Backpack Series, including the first volume — The Backpack You Don’t See— along with my newest volume — The Blue Backpack You Don’t See — inspires honest and earnest conversation in the classroom and at home. To that end, I would be delighted to guest speak and share my workshop through my author visits at schools, libraries, and other community organizations that champion and support talking with kids about themes showcased in my book(s). If you’d like me to visit your school or organization, lovely! Please feel free to reach out to me for my availability.
You can reach me at: info@thebackpackseries.com
ABOUT MY WORKSHOP — THE BACKPACK SERIES: Navigating the Joyful and Stressful Times Young People Experience
Every student arrives at school carrying a backpack that you do see, filled with books, supplies, lunches—and another backpack that you don’t see, filled with their feelings and experiences.
In this interactive workshop, I visit your school or organization to guide students through an engaging exploration of the “invisible backpacks” we all carry. Together, we discuss a wide range of emotions—happy, sad, worried, mad, excited, and everything in between—and learn how to understand, name, and normalize them.
The workshop includes a live reading of my story, followed by a supportive group discussion and a reflective literacy activity. Each element is designed to help students build emotional awareness while fostering confidence, empathy, and resilience.
This experience supports the mental health and overall well-being of every student in a safe, inclusive environment, offering simple yet meaningful strategies to help young people learn to regulate their feelings as they navigate the ups and downs of growing up.
School Visits
Louis-Honoré Fréchette Public School, YRDSB
Merci beaucoup Mme. Genova-Facchinelli and staff and students of Louis-Honoré Fréchette Public School, YRDSB for inviting me to share my story with your remarkable learning community! It was a true privilege to connect with students from Grades 1-7 and explore strategies to help better understand, express and navigate our feelings. It was a fun and engaging full day of sharing meaningful conversations and ideas!
Thank you for sharing some student feedback following my read a-loud and discussion workshop! I appreciate their thoughtful insights and I am happy they enjoyed my visit!
Mme. Genova-Fachhinelli says about Julie-Ann’s full day workshop…
“Yesterday, our school had the wonderful opportunity to welcome author Julie-Ann Pontarollo, creator of The Backpack Series, Students enjoyed listening to her stories and participating in meaningful conversations about mental health, emotions, and strategies for managing feelings in healthy, positive ways. Her visit encouraged students to reflect on the importance of kindness, empathy and understanding that everyone may be carrying struggles we cannot always see. We encourage families to continue these important conversations at home. Thank you, Julie-Ann, for such an inspiring and memorable visit!”
Louis-Honoré Fréchette Public School, YRDSB
Brain Power Enrichment Programs-Etobicoke and Richmond Hill Campuses
Thank you Brain Power Etobicoke and Richmond Hill campuses for your double warm Book Club welcome! It was wonderful meeting the students, staff and parents while connecting in such engaging environments. During the two workshops, we exchanged powerful conversations about BIG feelings and shared ideas on strengthening mental health awareness while expanding our emotional vocabulary. Please see the highlights of my Q&A Fireside Chat with Brain Power Enrichment Program CEO Vanessa Iarocci, in “Teachers & Parents”. Here the discussion focussed on pressures high achieving students experience.
“Bright kids ask big questions. They also carry big feelings. We recently welcomed Julie-Ann Pontarollo of The Backpack Series, to Brain Power for a cozy bookclub that tackled something we don”t talk about enough: how smart, capable kids experience stress. Through stories and conversation, our students practiced something surprisingly hard….putting words to what they feel. Thank you Julie! They left with new vocabulary for their inner world. And that might be the most important language arts lesson of all!!”
Brain Power Enrichment Programs-Etobicoke and Richmond Hill Campuses
St. Catherine and St. Gerald Elementary Schools, TCDSB
Thank you Ms. Pallotta for inviting me to visit both schools for a fun read a-loud followed by meaning discussions about our feelings we all carry in our backpacks you don’t see. It was a wonderful opportunity to share my stories with both learning communities while exploring ways we can identify and navigate our feelings. It was truly a pleasure meeting your amazing students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and exchanging in such thoughtful ideas together!
Ms. Pallotta, Library Technician says: “Thank you for visiting St. Catherine and for sharing your books in the Backpack series with staff & students. The books were well received by all, they are a great reminder that we all carry our emotions around wherever we go. The presentation was very engaging and educational. We love your enthusiasm for the important subject of mental health. We especially enjoyed your visual aids as you pulled them out one by one from your mini backpack.
I am glad that you also had the chance to share your books with the grade 7/8 students. In this case, the whiteboard in the classroom came in handy and the students were able to see the pages projected. You dived deeper into the topic and the students were very appreciative of your time/approach.”
St. Catherine and St. Gerald Elementary Schools, TCDSB
Northmount School
Thank you to the staff and students at Northmount School for their gracious invitation to share The Backpack You Don’t See, with the Kindergarten to Grade 4 students. It was a rewarding experience sharing feelings and discussing strategies we can use to help us along our journey. I was honoured to have been part of their school community for then day! Thank you Dr. Sheridan and Staff.
“Thanks very much for coming to Northmount and for sharing not only your beautiful and profound children’s book, but also your passion for teaching. Feedback from students has been extremely positive. Once again, your time and efforts are truly appreciated!”
Northmount School
St. Pius X Catholic School–TCDSB
It was an honour to be invited to share my book with the staff and students at St. Pius X Catholic School, TCDSB on Bell Let’s Talk Day 2025, to support child and youth mental health. Thank you to everyone for your warm welcome and for such a fun and productive day working together!
St. Pius X Catholic School—TCDSB, Primary Division Teachers say:
“Thank you for visiting our Primary students at St. Pius X Catholic School. We appreciate you taking the time to share your amazing book with us and completing an activity with all our classes. We hope you will always remember us as we will remember you!”
St. Pius X Catholic School–TCDSB
Our Lady of Peace Catholic School–TCDSB
Principal Mackie Coluccio, Our Lady of Peace Catholic School—TCDSB says:
“It was an honour to welcome you! We love your book and how it helped us share our ‘light and bright’ and ‘dark and heavy’ feelings! Such an important message!”
Our Lady of Peace Catholic School–TCDSB
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School–TCDSB
I am feeling so grateful for the warm welcome I received from the staff and wonderful Grade 1-4 students at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, TCDSB. It was so rewarding talking about our feelings and discussing strategies to help us all keep our backpacks bright and light! A special thank you to Ms. D’Ambrosio for her work coordinating this amazing day!
Ms. D’Ambrosio, St. Charles Borromeo—TCDSB, Grade 1 Teacher says:
“Thank you for coming and sharing this awesome book with the students!”
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School–TCDSB
