Mark Gunning

About Mark Gunning

Mark Gunning is an award-winning Canadian children's author, retired elementary school teacher, and lifelong believer that the best stories usually begin with someone saying, "This might not be a good idea."

After spending 28 years teaching students from Kindergarten to Grade 8, Mark traded report cards for plot twists and now writes the kinds of books he loved sharing with his own classes—stories packed with humour, heart, and just the right amount of chaos.

He is the creator of the I Told You So! series, inspired by his own childhood adventures growing up in the small community of Chippawa, Ontario. Whether it's dodging killer bees, building questionable ramps, or finding trouble where trouble probably shouldn't exist, Mark's stories celebrate imagination, friendship, and the fact that mistakes often make the best memories.

When he's not writing, Mark can be found visiting schools, encouraging young writers to turn their wild ideas into stories, hiking through Niagara's beautiful trails, cheering on his favourite sports teams, or trying to convince himself that buying just one more book is always a good decision.

Mark lives in Ontario, Canada, with his family and two dogs, who thankfully provide far fewer story ideas than William and Thomas.

Because every great adventure starts with a little imagination... and sometimes a really bad plan.