Media Kit: Lana Button
LANA BUTTON is an award-winning author of over twenty books for children which have been translated into several languages. Lana’s books have been named Best Book of the Year by Kirkus, Bank Street Books and New York Public Library. She has been recognized by the Charlotte Huck Award, the Blue Spruce Award, and the Hamiliton Literary Award among others. Her books have received the Crystal Kite Award, the IBBY Outstanding Book for Children with Special Needs and the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Award and have been named Best Bets and Best Books by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the Toronto Globe and Mail.
Lana is a dynamic and engaging speaker who has presented at literary festivals, education conferences, and school and library events. She is a passionate and energetic speaker, available for interviews and events.
About Lana Button
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LANA BUTTON is an award-winning author of over twenty books for children which have been translated into several languages. Lana’s books have been named Best Book of the Year by Kirkus, Bank Street Books and New York Public Library. She has been recognized by the Charlotte Huck Award, the Blue Spruce Award, and the Hamiliton Literary Award among others. Her books have received the Crystal Kite Award, the IBBY Outstanding Book for Children with Special Needs and the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Award and have been named Best Bets and Best Books by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the Toronto Globe and Mail.
Lana is a dynamic and engaging speaker who has presented at literary festivals, education conferences, and school and library events. She and her husband live in Southern Ontario. When not writing or presenting, Lana can be found reading board books to her new grandson.
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LANA BUTTON is an award-winning author of over twenty books for children which have been translated into several languages. Lana is an early childhood educator and her stories are sparked by her lifelong love and passion for supporting young children. With each book, and with each presentation Lana strives to connect with children’s feelings, curiosity and play and support their social emotional development.Her books have been shortlisted for the Shining Willow Award, The Blue Spruce Award, the Jean Throop Award, the Hamilton Literary Award among others, and have received the Crystal Kite Award, and the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Award. Many of her books have been named Best Bets and Best Books by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and have been recognized by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the Toronto Globe and Mail. Lana’s recent early chapter book, Brianna Banana and her picture book One Can which she co-wrote with Eric Walters, were named a Best Book of the Year by Bank Street Books, Kirkus and the New York Public Library.
Lana is a dynamic and engaging speaker. She is a former actress, having worked professionally on stage, in television and on film. Lana brings this perfomance experience, as well as her passion for supporting children, to every public appearance, whether delivering a keynote talk or visiting a classroom of students.
Lana was born and raised in St Stephen, New Brunswick where she appeared on many local stages, and where she first began working with children. She studied her BFA, Acting for Theatre, at Concordia University in Montreal and studied Early Childhood Education at NBCC in St Andrews, NB. After a career in acting in both Montreal and Vancouver, Lana had a career in early childhood education in both Maryland and Ontario, that spanned more than 30 years. Lana now lives in Southern Ontario. When not writing or presenting Lana can often be found reading board books to her new grandson.
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Conferences:
Toronto, Reading for the Love of It Educational Conference: 2026 Presenter of Enhancing Social Emotional Learning Through the Read-Aloud
Ontario Library Association, Super Conference: 2024 Presenter of Catching up on Social Emotional Literacy and Resiliency Through the Read-Aloud
Saskatchewan, Prairie Horizons Conference: 2025 Keynote Speaker of “There are Seven Audiences in Your Story- Let’s Captivate Them All!” Author Panel for: Getting Published
Believe Writer’s Conference 2024 Keynote Speaker, “Inspired to Write”
Podcasts:
2025 The Book Faire Podcast: “An Interview with Lana Button” discussing Lana Button books that enhance social emotional learning and empathy building
2025 Journey of the Art Podcast ep41: Interview “One Can, This Book is Changing Children’s Minds About Food Insecurity”
Festivals:
Toronto Word on the Street: 2026 Host Children’s Activity Tent
Nova Scotia Funny Pages Festival: 2026 Presenting Author
Ontario, Telling Tales Festival: 2026 Early Reader Presenter of chapter book Brianna Banana, New Cheese Girl,
2025 Read-Together Presenter with picture book One Can and Early Reader Presenter with chapter book Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day, 2020 Presenter, 2018 Presenter
New Brunswick Frye Festival: 2026 School Outreach Program Presenter, 2020 Virtual Presenter
Burlington Literary Festival: 2025 “A Novel Approach to Children’s Stories”, 2021“Meet the Author, Lana Button”
Lakefield Writer’s Festival: 2024 Children’s Tent Storytime Performance
Thunder Bay, ON, Teddy Bear Picnic: 2024 Festival presenter
Quebec Imagination Writer’s Festival: 2023 Featured Author/Presenter
Nova Scotia Read by the Sea Festival: 2023 Festival presenter
Saskatchewan Festival of Words: 2017, 2019 Author Writing Panels and Storytelling Sessions
Eden Mills Writing Festival: 2018 Festival Presenter
Canadian Children’s Book Week Author Tour: 2024 Virtual Presenting Author and Ontario Touring Author, 2017 Touring Author, Alberta Schools
Writing Workshops:
Burlington Public Library: 2022 “Writing in Rhyme for Children’s Books”
Brantford Public Library, Young Writers Kick-Off: 2025 and 2026 writing workshop presenter
Sample topics for Presentations, Panels, Interviews, Conversations
Young Audiences
Lana uses her books to address topics of conversation that include:
bullying awareness and friendship challenges at school
food insecurity
socioeconomic diversity
resilience
positive mental health strategies
school anxiety
empathy
Parents:
How to “BookTalk” with Your Child to Support Their Social Emotional Learning
Education and Literacy
Using Picture Books to Enhance Students’ Social-Emotional Development.
Addressing Challenging Behaviours and Improving Classroom Climate Through the Read-Aloud
Handling Tough Topics Through Picture Books: How Students Can Feel both Inspired and Safe
Story Time: Why it is Crucial and How You Can Make it Work in Your Classroom
Writing and the Creative Process
Writing Picture Books for Children
The Novel Approach to Writing for Children
Writing in Rhyme and Getting it Published
Addressing and Captivating the Seven Audiences in a Children’s Book
Unlocking Your Inner Child When Writing for a Young Audience
Balancing the Craft vs the Business of Writing for Children
High Resolution Photos
