RANKIN INLET - Children's book author and illustrator Patricia Storms made three stops in the Kivalliq this past month as part of a five-community dash across Nunavut.

The tour was held in conjunction with Canadian Children's Book Week from Nov. 14-21.

Storms made stops in Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake and Arviat to do a workshop with kids that focused on drawing and creating characters.

It was the first trip to the Arctic for the Toronto resident, who has been producing children's books since 2004.

Storms said she always wanted to write and illustrate children's books and produced her first full effort, The Pirate and the Penguin, this past September.

She said with the publication of that book, she now refers to herself as an author and illustrator.

"One of my friends calls himself an author-strator and I really like that term," said Storms with a laugh.

"I want to continue to write my own stories, as well as illustrate them."

Storms said she enjoys doing children's books because she's young at heart, with a silly sense of humour.

She said she loves books and wants to help encourage children to read.

"The best way to start, in terms of encouraging kids to read, is to create children's books, and I like the idea of creating a book that's entertaining and educational.

"I also visited Iqaluit and Pangnirtung during my trip and consider myself very fortunate to have had the experience.

"Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and the children were all extremely talented and creative."

Kids respond well to Storms during her presentations and relate to her easily.

She said she suspects the reason for that is her youthful exuberance.

"Some people might just say I'm immature, but the important thing when writing and illustrating for children is not necessarily having children – because I don't – but loving children.

"You also have to remember what it was like to be a child.

"When I meet writers and artists who work on children's books, they all have clear memories of their childhood and I do as well.

"I know exactly how I felt then, and I remember how it felt to want to draw, encounter talented grown-ups, and receive positive feedback from them."

Rankin's own famous children's author, Michael Kusugak, came out for Storms's presentation. She said she was thrilled to meet Kusugak in person.

"I met his illustrator, who's from Toronto, quite a few times, and I can't say how honoured I was to meet him.

"I didn't expect such a wonderful surprise.

"I get very excited when I meet other writers, especially one of Michael's stature."