11 Storyteller
“Storytelling offers the opportunity to talk with your audience not at them.” -Laura Holloway
Rukhsana Khan
Born in 1962 in Lahore, Pakistan, Rukhsana Khan is a Canadian author and storyteller for young readers. She moved to Canada when she was three years old, and she grew up in Dundas, Ontario.
After completing her studies at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, she entered the field of biological-chemical technology. She started out as a biological-chemical technician before switching to writing, initially creating songs for kid’s videos. She resides in Toronto, Ontario, with her spouse and their four children, three of whom are daughters and one son. 1
Rukhsana Khan started her writing journey by creating songs for children’s videos, particularly for Adam’s World. Throughout her writing career, she has produced a wide range of works, including novels, picture books, and collections of short stories with a multicultural theme. She belongs to a number of literary associations, such as Storytelling Toronto, CANSCAIP, The Writer’s Union of Canada, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Numerous language translations of her books attest to her influence on a global scale. She also supports cultural sensitivity, as demonstrated by her 2008 IBBY World Congress speech in Denmark, “Freedom of Speech Versus Cultural Sensitivity: Balancing the Right to Create Freely vs. the Need of People to be Respected.” 1
She has published fifteen books and has more in the works. The New York Public Library selected her book BIG RED LOLLIPOP in 2013 as one of the top 100 children’s books of the previous century. She has made appearances on radio, television, and at international festivals. 2
Rukhsana Khan is a seasoned presenter with over 23 years of experience who is at ease on stage. Her storytelling style tries to be thought-provoking and entertaining while bringing humor to even the most serious subjects. Every presentation offers educational value by exploring deeper themes and incorporating curriculum elements. Using virtual platforms, it’s now easier and more affordable to schedule her for presentations. 2
Thanks to Rukhsana Khan’s storytelling skills, she has performed at festivals all over the world, including Canada, the United States, India, Iran, Italy, Singapore, Denmark, Mexico, and South Africa. As a writer and storyteller, she has also traveled to many different places, including Texas, British Columbia, the Yukon, Alaska, Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories, and England. In addition to giving performances, Khan shares her knowledge by giving workshops to aspiring authors. Her skill as a skilled storyteller is evident in her ability to captivate audiences of all ages. 2
Rukhsana Khan has won more than forty awards both domestically and abroad during her career. Her books are frequently included in lists of the “best of the year,” which confirms the wide recognition and praise she has garnered. Throughout her career, Rukhsana Khan has won numerous literary awards. Notable accolades include “King For A Day” being listed in numerous esteemed selections and winning honors from the South Asia Book Award. “Big Red Lollipop” won the Charlotte Zolotow Award and was selected by the New York Public Library. “Wanting Mor” was the recipient of the 2009 Middle East Book Award, and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre honored “A New Life” and “Silly Chicken”.
Key Takeaways
Throughout her writing career, Rukhsana has produced a wide range of works, including picture books, short story collections, and easy reader and young adult novels with multicultural themes. She belongs to a number of literary associations, such as Storytelling Toronto, The Writer’s Union of Canada, and Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Numerous language translations of her books attest to her influence on a global scale. Rukhsana Khan started her writing journey by creating songs for children’s videos, particularly for Adam’s World. Rukhsana Khan is a seasoned presenter with over 26 years of experience who is at ease on stage. Every presentation offers educational value by exploring deeper themes and incorporating curriculum elements. Rukhsana Khan has won more than 40 awards both domestically and abroad during her career. One of her books was even chosen by the New York Public Library as one of the hundred greatest children’s books in the last hundred years. Her books are frequently included in lists of the “best of the year,” which confirms the wide recognition and praise she has garnered. Her notable contributions to children’s literature have been recognized internationally through the recognition of her works. She has also won individual honors for her contributions as a writer and artist in the literary world. 2
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