Media & More

Short Bio

Barbara Reid is the author and illustrator of more than a dozen award winning picture books, and the illustrator of over twenty five including The Party, The Subway Mouse, Perfect Snow, Picture a Tree and Picture the Sky. Awards for her unique plasticine artwork include the Governor General’s Award for Illustration, the Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People. Her interpretation of The Night Before Christmas won the Libris Best Picture Book of the Year. Barbara’s work has been published around the world, and her original artwork is represented in the Osborne Collection, and the Toronto Public Library Foundation. In 2013 Barbara was appointed to the Order of Canada for her contributions to children’s literature and 2015 became the Honorary Chair of Family Literacy Day. I Love You More by Emil Sher, is her newest book.

Shorter Bio

Barbara Reid’s unique plasticine illustrations are recognized around the world, and her picture books have won dozens of awards. Barbara lives in Toronto, but is at home in classrooms and libraries across Canada.

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Barbara Reid biography for young readers

Simple text and full colour photographs describe the life of Barbara Reid. By Jennifer Sutoski, published by Pebble Plus/Capstone Press. Other titles in this Canadian series include Robert Munsch, Hayley Wickenheiser, Terry Fox, Chris Hadfield and Patrick Chan.

9781491478387
Barbara Reid, by Jennifer Sutoski

Canadian Children’s Book Centre Picture book Gallery Interview

Barbara answers questions about process, the appeal of plasticine and more. You can find the interview here.

Storyland Podcast

Barbara in conversation with Storyland Podcast, a platform based in China that hosts interviews with children’s book authors from around the world.

https://www.ximalaya.com/sound/470756510

Interview with Ella at Sandwich Children’s Book Institute, Part One

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/4c_XzepQphmz_Q9NOUCiPg

Interview with Ella at Sandwich Children’s Book Institute, Part Two

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/u5376YsgdDeTJi3j-_2kQw

Podcast Interview at Wilkinson Public School

Eshal interviews author and illustrator Barbara Reid about her books and her art using plasticine.  The interview took place during a school visit to Wilkinson on April 14th, 2016. Listen to the podcast here.

Barbara Reid named Honorary Chair of Family Literacy Day

Each year January 27th marks Family Literacy Day in Canada. This annual celebration of families learning together happens in schools, libraries, learning centres and homes from coast to coast to coast. Created by ABC Life Literacy Canada (ABC) in 1999, Family Literacy Day also presents the opportunity for organizations to raise awareness around the importance of reading and engaging in literacy activities as a family.

There is no doubt that Family Literacy Day has become a significant Canadian cultural event. On January 27, 2015 #FamilyLiteracyDay trended fourth in Canada on Twitter, with one story published every eight seconds, as all types of organizations and Family Literacy Day enthusiasts across the country shared the fun they were having and what they were doing to make literacy learning a priority. During the surrounding weeks, over 1,000 news stories shone a spotlight on the importance of literacy and promoted local events online and in print.

As Honourary Chair, Barbara Reid will participate in several Family Literacy Day events. She has also created special Barbara Reid Family Literacy Day tips that incorporate literacy activities using her signature art form—modelling clay! Visit FamilyLiteracyDay.ca to hear Barbara’s Family Literacy Day message and download free activities.

“I am thrilled to be the Family Literacy Day Honourary Chair,” says Barbara Reid. “Through my work as an author and illustrator I encourage reading and literacy engagement. Families reading and playing together is an important theme that I often include in my books. I have been participating in Family Literacy Day events for many years now and I look forward to increasing my participation in this exciting new role.”

Barbara Reid has over twenty children’s books to her credit and is perhaps best-known for her whimsical illustrations that are created using plasticine. Her books are well loved and she has received numerous accolades and awards including the Ezra Jack Keats Award, the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People, The Governor General’s Award for Illustration and the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award.

“ABC is very excited to have Barbara Reid as the Family Literacy Day Honourary Chair” said Gillian Mason, President, ABC Life Literacy Canada. “Barbara’s books reach parents, children, teachers, librarians, and literacy practitioners across the country—she connects with the very people we strive to rally for Family Literacy Day. With her support, we know even more Canadians will celebrate learning together this coming January 27th.”

Interview and clay demo for PJ Library selection FOX WALKED ALONE

Barbara discusses the inspiration & creation of Perfect Snow

Interview with future students of Barbara Reid Public School

Bibliography

I Love You More

(Written by Emil Sher)

North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada 2022

ISBN 9781443175807

Watch It Grow

North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada 2020
ISBN 9781443175593

Picture the Sky

North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada 2017
Imagine le ciel, Editions Scholastic 2017
Albert Whitman & Co., New York 2019

Sing A Song Of Bedtime

North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada 2015
Comptines pour faire dodo, Editions Scholastic 2015

The Night Before Christmas

(written by Clement C. Moore)
Scholastic Canada, 2013
Les Editions Scholastic 2013

Welcome Baby

Scholastic Canada, 2013
Bienvenue Bébé, Editions Scholastic 2013

Zoe’s Year

Scholastic Canada Ltd., 2012

Picture a Tree

North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada 2011
Imagine un arbre, Editions Scholastic 2011
Albert Whitman & Co., New York 2013

Read Me A Story

(Anthology)
The Party, written & illustrated by Barbara Reid
Scholastic Canada Ltd., 2010

Perfect Snow

North Winds Press / Scholastic Canada 2009;
La neige parfaite, Editions Scholastic 2009
Albert Whitman & Co., New York 2012

Sing a Song of Mother Goose

Scholastic Canada 2007; Editions Scholastic 2007

Fox Walked Alone

North Winds Press/ Scholastic Canada 2006; Editions Scholastic 2006, Albert Whitman & Co., New York, 2009

Read Me A Book

North Winds Press/Scholastic (Canada) 2004, Mizan Pustaka (Indonesia)

Peg & The Yeti

(written by Kenneth Oppel)
HarperCollins (Canada) 2004

The Subway Mouse

North Winds Press / Scholastic (Canada) 2003; Scholastic Inc, New York, 2004; Kookmin Books (Korea), Mizan Pustaka (Indonesia), Gimtasis Zodis, (Lithuania) Arvids, Denmark (2008); video edition, narrated by author, Nutmeg Media, CT, 2005.

Zoe’s Rainy Day, Zoe’s Sunny Day, Zoe’s Windy Day, Zoe’s Snowy Day

HarperCollins (Canada) 1992, Scholastic (Canada) 2001

The Golden Goose

North Winds Press/Scholastic (Canada) 2000, Newton Korea (Korea), Maxima Pustaka (Indonesia)

Fun With Modelling Clay

(out of print)
Kids Can Press (Canada) 1998.

The Party

North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada (Canada) 1997, Les Editions Scholastic (Canada) 1997.

First Look Board Books: Acorn to Oak Tree, Seed To Flower, Caterpillar to Butterfly, Tadpole to Frog

(out of print)
HarperCollins (Canada) 1999.

Gifts

(written by Jo Ellen Bogart)
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada (Canada) 1994, Les Editions Scholastic (Canada) 1995, Sakyejul (Korea), Everest (Spain), Nahdet Misr (Egypt), Caramelo/Siciliano (Portugal)

Two By Two

North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada, 1992 (Canada), Les Editions Scholastic (Canada) 1992, Lentz (Germany), Sakyejul (Korea)

Effie

(written by Beverly Allinson)
Summerhill Press (Toronto) 1990, North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada (Canada) 1994, Les Editions Scholastic (Canada) 1990, Scholastic Inc. (Spain) , Nahdet Misr (Egypt)

Sing A Song of Mother Goose

North Winds Press/Scholastic-TAB Publications (Canada) 1987.

Have You Seen Birds?

(Written by Joanne Oppenheim)
North Winds Press/Scholastic (Canada) 1986, Sun YA (China), Scholastic Inc.(Spain), Lasten Keskuis Oy (Finland)

The New Baby Calf

(Written By Edith Newlin Chase)
North Winds Press/Scholastic-TAB Publications (Canada) 1984, HD-Forlaget (Germany), HD-Forlaget (Norway), Scholastic Inc.(Spain), Gottmer (Denmark)

Jenny Greenteeth

(out of print)
(Written By Mary Alice Downie)
Kids Can Press (Toronto) 1984, Scholastic-TAB Publications (Canada) 1983

Mustard

(out of print)
(Written by Betty Waterton)
Toronto: Scholastic-TAB Publications, 1983,
French edition: Moutarde, Toronto: Scholastic-TAB Publications, 1983

Anthologies:

Dream; a Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes

Written by Susan V Bosak, TCP Pres (Canada) 2004.

Mother Goose: A Canadian Sampler

Groundwood Books, Toronto, 1994

Awards

Picture the Sky

Winner:

Finalist:

The Night Before Christmas

Winner:

Picture a Tree

Winner:

Finalist:

Perfect Snow

Winner:

Finalist:

Fox Walked Alone

Winner:

Finalist:

Peg & The Yeti

Winner:

Finalist:

The Subway Mouse

Winner:

Finalist:

Read Me a Book

Winner:

The Zoe Board Books

Winner:

The Golden Goose

Finalist:

Fun With Modeling Clay

Winner:

The Party

Winner:

Finalist:

Gifts

Winner:

Finalist:

Two By Two

Winner:

Sing a Song of Mother Goose

Winner:

Have You Seen Birds?

Winner:

Finalist:

The New Baby Calf

Winner:

Finalist: