Natalia Paruzel-Gibson
Author, Presenter & Literacy Advocate
Inspiring young readers through the power of story, creativity, and connection.
Natalia grew up in Poland with a front-row seat to the world of imagination. Her childhood playground was the backstage of the Stefan Jaracz Theatre, where she watched her mother bring stories to life on stage. This early exposure to the performing arts sparked Natalia’s lifelong passion for storytelling, drama, and visual creativity—passions that continue to shape her work as a children’s author and presenter for schools and libraries.
After immigrating to Canada in 1990, Natalia began sharing her voice through writing, photography, and performance. Her work has been featured in Toronto’s Nuit Blanche, and she received the Young Talent Award from the Turzański Foundation for her original poetry and spoken word performances.
She studied Drama and Photography at the Etobicoke School of the Arts, later earning a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and History and completing a Master of Arts at the University of Toronto. This strong academic foundation informs her commitment to fostering literacy and creativity in classrooms and libraries.
Natalia has been crafting stories for children for over a decade, drawing inspiration from her own experiences as a mother and her ongoing journey to see the world through a child’s eyes.
Her debut picture book, Something Lost Something Found, marked Natalia’s official entrance into the world of children’s publishing. In March 2023, her second book, A Picture Day to Remember, was released by Clavis Publishing and has since been translated into Dutch, Danish, and Chinese
Today, Natalia combines her love of storytelling with her passion for education by offering interactive author visits for elementary schools and public libraries. Her workshops are designed to engage students, support literacy goals, and promote social-emotional learning (SEL) through reading and storytelling.
Explore Natalia's full range of services—including school author presentations, children’s manuscript evaluations, and book marketing for new authors.
Random Useless Facts About Natalia
Was born a mutant with 3 tonsils
Capturing the moment on film is a big passion of hers
She’s a hiking and outdoors enthusiast
Some of her fondest memories are of backpacking across Europe
Was featured in a fishing calendar as a child holding a large trout (guess who caught it?)
Weiner dogs make her world go round