Due to social distancing restrictions, “Telling Tales,” a popular children’s festival normally held at Westfield Heritage Centre, is moving online this year.

Organizers say that physical distancing shouldn’t stop people from enjoying the festivals amazing lineup of authors, illustrators, performers and storytellers from across Canada and further abroad.

This year’s theme is ‘stories that connect us.’

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to bring Telling Tales to not only our local community, but to all of Canada and the world,” says Susan Jasper, Executive Director of Telling Tales.

“We love that bringing our festival online allows us the opportunity to reach more children and families and share the gift of stories that connect us.”

Telling Tales is teaming up with the Hamilton Public Library and the Hamilton-Wentworth District Catholic and Public School Boards to present the popular “Celebrating Graphic Novels” event, which kicks off June 10 and runs until June 12.

This year’s presenters include Kevin Sylvester, Tory Woollcott and Sylv Chiang.

They will be leading an interactive online workshop focusing on different aspects of the creative process.

Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance via the Telling Takes website and the presenters will do their best to answer as many questions as they can.

“I think the thing that makes celebrating graphic novels such a great and important event is that it encourages creativity in a really fun way,” says presenter Tory Woollcott.

“It lets young people play with their creativity, and learn different ways to access literature and art.”

Telling Tales is a Canadian, not-for-profit organization committed to delivering outstanding literary programming for children and youth that raises awareness of the importance of literacy in our communities.

For more information on the event visit the Telling Tales website.