Trees are so much a part of our daily lives, whether we take them for granted or find ourselves fighting for their survival: so it is perhaps unsurprising that there are many stories from all over the world that feature trees, woods or forests as a central theme or ‘character’… … Continue reading ...
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‘There is more than one way to picture a tree.’ So begins this … Continue reading ...
As an author and zoologist, Jess Keating has tickled a shark, lost a staring contest against an octopus, and been a victim to the dreaded paper cut. She lives in Ontario, Canada, where she spends most of her time writing books for adventurous and funny kids.
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By: Aline Pereira,
on 8/22/2012
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre Presents: The Art of the Picture Book Exhibition ~ by Holly Kent, Sales and Marketing Manager, The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
(Part 3 of 3. Read Part 1 “The Canadian Children’s Book Centre Presents TD Canadian Children’s Book Week” here and Part 2 “The Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s TD Grade One Book Giveaway Program” here.)
It is through the support of generous sponsors, donations, and our members and subscribers that the Canadian Children’s Book Centre is able to run its many programs. We also hold fundraising events – one of the most exciting being The Art of the Picture Book Exhibition and Auction.
Over 80 original illustrations from Canadian picture books will be on exhibit at the world-famous Montreal Museum of Fine Art in fall 2012. Some of the most stunning images from Canadian picture books will be part of the exhibition celebrating Canadian children’s book illustrations. The exhibit will run from September 11 to October 14.
The kicker (for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre) is that each piece has been graciously donated by leading Canadian illustrators and the sale of these pieces will raise funds to support our programs, publications, and operating costs.
Works have been donated by renowned artists including Rebecca Bender (image on left), Geneviève Côté, Barbara Reid, Michael Martchenko, Mélanie Watt, and many more.
The month-long exhibit will be followed by Take Home an Original, an auction of the original art, on the evening of October 16, 2012.
The 
Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1976. We are dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing, illustrating and publishing of Canadian books for young readers. Our programs, publications, and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers.
At the heart of our work at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre is our love for the books that get published in Canada each year, and our commitment to raising awareness of the quality and variety of Canadian books for young readers.
Our programs, such as TD Canadian Children’s Book Week and the TD Grade One Book Giveaway, are designed to introduce young Canadian readers not only to the books all around them, but to the authors and illustrators that create them. Our quarterly magazine Canadian Children’s Book News and the annual Best Books for Kids & Teens selection guide are designed to help parents, librarians and educators discover the world of Canadian books and to help them to select the best reading material for young readers.
We are thrilled to have The Canadian Children’s Book Centre join us as PaperTigers’ Global Voices Guest Blogger for the month of August. Part 1 of the series “The Canadian Children’s Book Centre Presents TD Canadian Children’s Book Week” was posted here. Part 2 “The Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s TD Grade One Book Giveaway Program” was posted here.
By: Melissa Ackerman,
on 8/24/2010
By Abby in Editorial
Have you ever heard of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library? This literacy program brings free books each month to preschool kids all across the country so that regardless of income, thousands of kids have good books to read. Dolly’s wonderful idea—plus a family Seder where the kids received Jewish-themed books—inspired Harold Grinspoon, a Massachusetts philanthropist. He founded the PJ Library to help families strengthen their Jewish identity.
Every month, the library (“PJ” as in pajamas—for cozy bedtime reading) sends a book with Jewish content to Jewish families with kids aged six months to seven years. The neat thing is that these books, too, are all free—interested families just need to sign up when PJ comes to a participating community.
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation works with local funding partners to provide the books (and one CD of songs each year). The PJ Library is now in over one hundred twenty-five communities coast to coast and in Canada and serves more than sixty thousand families. In four years, the library has given away more than two million books!
We’re delighted that the PJ Library has included several Albert Whitman picture books in its offerings. These include Linda Glaser’s simple and charming Hoppy Hanukkah! and Hoppy Passover! in which two young bunnies observe the holidays with their family; Barbara Reid’s Fox Walked Alone, an unusual take on the Noah’s Ark story, with stunning plasticene art; and Frances Harber’s The Brothers’ Promise, a retelling of a Talmudic tale of brotherly love.
Take a look at some of these great stories. And you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy them!
By: Betsy Bird,
on 8/21/2010
You gasped over the Month at the Museum video by my buddy Davin. You raved over the Month at the Museum video by YA author James Kennedy. Now one of our own has entered the fray. Yes! Tis blogger extraordinaire Leila Roy coming to you via bookshelves of doom. She tosses her hat into the ring as well. Will any of these three make it to the final round? Will any of them actually get to spend a full month living, eating, and breathing museum life? Only time will tell, but good luck, Leila!
I am not an artist so my knowledge of the different techniques at an illustrator’s fingertips at any given moment is limited to what I see. So it is that the term “plasticine” was relatively unknown to me until I ran across this post on Sara O’Leary’s blog about using it. She proceeds to link to this video by Barbara Reid, who is the author/illustrator of one of the most popular picture books in any New York City library, Subway Mouse. In this three part series you can see how she does her art. Great great stuff.
How neat would it be if someone created a web series where folks went to different illustrators’ homes and they showed techniques they used to create their art? Just a thought.
This is a little last minute (in that you have 8 days left to participate) but if you know a person of the youthful persuasion who likes making movies, they may be interested in submitting to the Write It, Film It Video Contest as sponsored by AdLit.org and Reading Rockets. All they have to do is create a fun 3 minute video based on a list of different topics like “Silent Movie” or “Superhero Action”. Then submit and win! The results are due by August 30th so you have some time left. Check out this site for more information. Thanks to the ALSC Blog for the link.
Speaking of time left, you’ve only six days left to vote on your favorite Newbery/Caldecott Banquet red carpet fashion over at On the Red
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By: Sara O'Leary,
on 7/20/2010
What would childhood be without plasticine? The substance was
invented in the 1890s by art teacher William Harbutt.
I recently came across this 1958 newsreel clip of his daughter, Miss Olive Harbutt (80), who was a pioneer in the field of painting with plasticine.
By: Barbara Bietz,
on 3/4/2010
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By: Mark,
on 2/18/2007
Mark speaks with author and illustrator Barbara Reid about her use of plasticine in children’s book illustrations, how certain works were photographed for The Party, and how she read books by picking sections of the Dewey Decimal System in her school library.
Books mentioned:
You can learn more about the way Barbara Reid works with plasticine by reading her book Fun With Modeling Clay.
Participate in the conversation by leaving a comment on this interview, or send an email to [email protected].
Photo: http://www.barbarareid.ca/biography.htm
Tags:Barbara Reid, childrens books, Fox Walked Alone, The PartyBarbara Reid, childrens books, Fox Walked Alone, The Party
Ooog.
No ooging, young lady. That’s a lovely video you have there.
Great video, Leila! The “guilty conscience from the misdeeds of my youth” angle is hilarious.
I look forward to our halberd duel in the semifinals. (What? You haven’t heard? Well, I’m sure you can pick up a cuirass at the last minute somewhere. I’ve been working on my powered exoskeleton for months.)
Even if neither of us wins, come visit me in Chicago — we’ll sneak in to the Museum of Science and Industry do your egg drop penance clandestinely.
Who are we kidding? We’re just going to throw eggs at children.
See, this is what I love about you guys. That we, as civilized human beings, can compete against one another to live in a museum on the one hand, and then extend the hand of friendship to propose bombarding our youth with foodstuffs the next. It does my old heart good.
Another great roundup! The plasticine series is esp. brilliant.
Cheers, Newbery Award winner! Just gives my day a little added extra thrill when I see you comment. Do I pander? Well then I pander.
James, I’m always up for pelting the young’uns with eggs.
And water balloons.
Count me in!
PS. I scoff at your powered exoskeleton. My remote-controlled steam-powered army of clockwork hummingbirds (anthropomorphized, of course) is ready for battle.