Kids Comics Pitchfest 2026 Showcase
Comics creators from around the world submit their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents. A panel of judges (click here to see the juror list) select the top pitches. Projects are archived here so that industry pros may view them and discover new talent.
The Witches Association of Rose Thornhill
Rose Thornhill, once a sunny lakeside town for witches, is now a gloomy, acid-rain valley filled with neighbouring Oozes. An unlikely duo forms when twelve-year-old Nadia fails her incantation exam, causing her to miss out on the Witches Association pledge for her class; her idol, Willow, takes her on as a trainee witch. Who wouldn’t want to be mentored by their idol? That is, until weird things start to happen to Nadia, revealing family secrets and the key to rebalancing the world after a series of weather phenomena takes Rose Thornhill and neighbouring towns by storm. Will the neighbouring town councils set aside their agendas for the greater good of all species? And most importantly, will they listen to two adolescent witches?
Age Range:
Middle Grade (approx ages 9-12)Genre:
Adventure, BIPOC, Conservation & Environment, Fantasy, Government & Civics, Magical Realism, STEMPage Count Estimate:
256
My Why:
I wanted to create a fantastical, escapist world grounded in real-world situations. Fun with magic, but not a fix-it button.
Growing up dyslexic and undiagnosed was challenging to express why I would get great grades in certain areas and then struggle with what many would consider easy tests. I would have loved to see characters like me going through the same struggles.
Living in Toronto, after 30 years of air quality being at the forefront of environmental agendas, we’re finally starting to see some of our ponds and rivers heal, with fish returning and new organisms forming. This change couldn’t have happened within the city alone, as we had to work with neighbouring cities to lower emissions.
Comp Titles:
"5 Worlds" Written by: Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel, Illustrated by: Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, and Boya Sun “Meesh The Bad Demon” By: Michelle Lam “The Okay Witch” By: Emma SteinkellnerAmeena Siddique
I’m Ameena, an author/illustrator from Toronto, Canada, with a love of bold colours, collage textures, and stories that celebrate connection. I’m a first-generation Canadian with mixed roots, half Guyanese and half Bangladeshi. I pull inspiration from both cultures, especially through food, family, and storytelling.
With 15 years of experience in the animation and VFX industry, I’m now shifting gears to kidlit and bringing my life experiences into enchanted stories.