The Green Ship
by Quentin Blake (Red Fox, 1998)
Two children on the lookout for adventure climb a wall into a neighbouring garden which turns out to be more of a park or a forest with a delightful surprise at its centre. They are able to return every day of a magical summer to explore and follow their imaginations on a series of adventures overseen by the generous Mrs Tredegar and the indefatigable gardener/Bosun.
The Dot
by Peter H Reynolds (Candelwick Press, 2003)
Christopher Award Winner
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner
“Just make a mark and see where it takes you”. These gentle, encouraging words from teacher allow Vashti to explore her creative spirit.
If You Could Wear My Sneakers
by Sheree Fitch, illustrated by Darcia Labrosse (Doubleday Canada Ltd. 1997)
Poetry and pictures to celebrate and explore the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Canada ratified this International Human Rights Treaty in 1991.
On Our Street
Our First Talk About Poverty
by Dr. Jillian Roberts and Jamie Casap, illustrated by Jane Heinrichs (Orca Book Publishers, 2018)
This book is part of The World Around Us Series which introduces children to complex cultural, social and environmental issues. In this title, the starting point is a child’s question about a man sleeping on the street surrounded by all his belongings. Why is he there? Using illustrations, photographs and straightforward text, this nonfiction picture book introduces the topics of homelessness and poverty to young readers.
A portion of the royalties from the sale of this book will be used to support UNICEF.
Tell Me A Picture
by Quentin Blake (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books in Association with the National Gallery, 2001)
Since 1960, Quentin Blake has illustrated over 250 books by 80 different authors, including a particularly successful pairing with Roald Dahl. In 1999 he was appointed the first Children’s Laureate in the U.K. which was both a recognition of his work and a mandate to raise the profile of writing and drawing for children “in whatever way the Laureate considers appropriate”. He conceived the idea of an exhibition that would include great illustrations as well as great paintings, many by ‘Old Masters’, inviting children to engage with these works through their own imaginations. The exhibition and this accompanying book includes 26 of his favourite works and which he surrounds with light text and illustrations encouraging readers to look for the stories they tell. Published to accompany the exhibition ‘Tell Me A Story” at the National Gallery London, 2001.
Under the Spell of the Moon
Art for Children from the World’s Great Illustrators
Foreword by Katherine Paterson, Edited by Patricia Aldana, Translation by Stan Dragland (Groundwood Book, House of Anansi, 2004)
A collection of artists from around the world have donated their illustrations together with a piece of text of their choosing to create a book that celebrates art specifically created for children from around the world.
A portion of the proceeds from this book go to IBBY - The International Board on Books for Young People - which works to promote the creation of illustrated children’s books in countries where such artistic activity is just beginning to take hold. ‘Picture-book publishing is still limited in some parts of the world by economic constraints, market size and, in some cases, the dominance of books published in other countries.’ IBBY also honours illustrators and authors through the Hans Christian Andersen Awards.
IBBY was founded by Jella Lepman, a Jewish journalist and German refugee hired to advise the occupying forces of a defeated post WWII Germany on the cultural and educational needs of children living in the American zone. She persuaded the military establishment that what the children of Germany needed was books! both to nourishe their spirits but also to build bridges with children around the world. She tells her story in A Bridge of Children’s Books (The O’Brien Press, 2002)