News

Picture the Sky wins CBC’s Fan Choice Award!

Posted on November 14th, 2018 by Barbara

It was a wonderful night! On October 29 the 2018 TD Children’s Literature Awards Gala celebrated the best in Canadian children’s books. The TD prize for most distinguished books of the year was awarded to writer Joanne Schwartz and illustrator Sydney Smith for their stunning book Town is by the Sea. You can learn about all the finalists here find all the winners here.

The CCBC and TD Bank Group worked with CBC Books to present the Fan Choice Award.  The CBC’s Fan Choice Contest invited readers between the ages of five and 12 years old from across Canada to cast a vote for the book they thought should win the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award — Canada’s richest prize for kids lit.  The book that received the most votes was Picture the Sky. I was surprised speechless!

I did perform an impromptu happy dance, but here are a few of the words I wished to say: ALL of the creators of the nominated and winning books have made stories celebrating connections of one kind or another – to family, place, traditions, and emotions, as well as recognizing broken connections and helping to mend them. Tremendous thanks to TD Canada Trust, trust, CBC Books, The Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Scholastic Canada and the inspiring Canadian children’s literature community for helping to further connect these stories with young readers. And thank you young readers! It’s a great honour to create for this audience.  Congratulations all round, and happy reading. Now, back to dancing…

Art for the Sky at Barbara Reid Public School

Posted on November 13th, 2018 by Barbara

On a chilly November day aerial photographer and artist Daniel Dancer worked with students and teachers at Barbara Reid P.S. to create a fabulous sky painting: “Tree of Change”.  Teams had begun the day before to create a grid in the schoolyard and laid down the design using topsoil.

On the day of the photo shoot a light dusting of snow had to be cleared off the outline,  and then the Whitchurch Stouffville Firefighters arrived with the ladder truck.  The whole school population came out onto the tarmac. Primary students dressed in grey, black or brown to form the roots, trunk and branches. Junior students wore red, yellow and orange to become the leaves. People are the paint in this art form!

Daniel, Principal Lynne Cohen and Sky Captains helped guide everyone into position. On the count of three a Firefighter took the photo from HIGH above. It was cold and windy, but as promised, students held their positions for a minute of silence. A second countdown signalled the leaves to stand and swirl off the field, followed by the branches roots and trunk. You can watch a video of the whole process here.

The image is of a tree, with the word RUSH and the number 412. RUSH is the school emblem and stands for Respect, Unity, Strength and Heart. 412 is the average level fo CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere, the highest in the last 20 million years. Learn more about Daniel Dancer’s stunning art and environmental message here.

It was a huge honour and a privilege for my husband Ian Crysler and me to take part in this inspiring event. I was a red leaf in the photo – can you spot me? Sky, a tree and a schoolyard full of happy kids creating art – it doesn’t get much better! Thanks to everyone at BRPS for inviting us, and for your high spirits and energy.

Picture the Sky a finalist for the TD Children’s Literature Prize!

Posted on September 6th, 2018 by Barbara

I couldn’t be more thrilled that Picture the Sky is a finalist for The TD Children’s Literature Prize for the most distinguished book of the year. It is truly an honour to be among the creators on this shortlist, including friends and fellow illustrators Sydney Smith and Matt James. BIG congratulations and cheers to all the finalists!

The TD Award is one of eight major awards given by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, sponsored by the TD Canada Trust.  Winners will be announced on October 29. To see a complete list of awards and finalists visit The Canadian Children’s Book Centre http://bookcentre.ca/news/2018-book-awards-announced

Picture the Sky, by Barbara Reid. Published by Scholastic Canada.

This year, TD and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre are once again working with CBC/Radio-Canada to present the Fan Choice Award/Choix du public littérature jeunesse. Young readers are invited to choose their favourite book from the titles shortlisted for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award and the Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse. Find out more at the CBC website; the voting period will run from September 6 to October 25.

New for fall! The Night Before Christmas board book.

Posted on August 26th, 2018 by Barbara

The mice are stirring again in this new board book edition of The Night Before Christmas, available on October 1st.

City Parent suggests: “Sharing the mouse family’s Christmas in this version of Clement Clarke Moore’s tale will become a family read-aloud tradition.” Happy Christmas, happy reading!

The Night Before Christmas board book

The Mazza dazzles!

Posted on August 22nd, 2018 by Barbara

I’m still buzzing from all the energy at the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum Summer Conference in Findlay Ohio. The Mazza Museum is the most diverse collection of original artwork by children’s book illustrators in the world. The museum’s goal is to promote literacy and enrich the lives of all people through the art of picture books.

I was honoured and delighted to add 3 original illustrations to the collection: The bird’s eye view from Perfect Snow; the Ferris wheel scene from Picture the Sky and a lively spread from The Night Before Christmas. Big thanks to Director Ben Sapp, Kerry Teeple and the many keen volunteers and docents who share this amazing collection with readers of all ages. I hope you can visit!

Outstanding presentations by Vincent X. Kirsch, Katie Kath, Lori Richmond, Hannah Harrison, Ethan and Vita Murrow, Ryan T. Higgins and Floyd Cooper will continue to inspire my work.

 It was great fun to create a hand mold with Mazza Curator and artist Dan Chudzinski. Dan is collecting molds of all the visiting artists for a future “Show of Hands”.  I’m sure it will be fascinating, and a great reason to plan another road trip… 

 No visit to Findlay is complete without a visit to the famous Dietsch’s Ice Cream. Mission accomplished, brain freeze included!

Barbara Reid Public School is officially open!

Posted on May 3rd, 2018 by Barbara

May 25 was the official opening of Barbara Reid Public School, and what a wonderful celebration it was! Students, teachers and families worked for many weeks creating projects with the theme “Picture a School”. The halls were filled with inspiring words and art, and the gym was also full as the entire school enjoyed fabulous music, singing and dance presentations, including an original composition.

Scholastic Canada generously presented each student with a copy of my book Picture a Tree. My gift to the school was an original illustration from Picture the Sky.  It shows a girl and boy in a hammock looking up at the clouds. It reads: “you can watch the passing parade”. I chose this picture because it is about observation, daydreaming and imagination. I can’t think of a better home for this artwork.

Of course, the name on the outside of a school is not as important as what is inside.  I was amazed at how much BRPS has already grown as a community in the few short months since the doors opened in September.  I am delighted at all they have created as they pictured a school in so many ways.  This school opened as a fresh page. Each member of the community brought their own stories and started new ones, filling more pages. I look forward to watching the story continue. Congratulations students, families and teachers – everyone!

Closing time!

Posted on April 19th, 2018 by Barbara

The art has left the building and is on its way to new homes, from Toronto to as far away as Nunavut and Hong Kong. It was an honour and a delight to exhibit the artwork from Picture the Sky at Evergreen Brick Works. A skyful of thanks to all the friends, family, fellow artists, students and Patrons of the Plasticine Arts who came to visit. I especially enjoyed a morning walk in the park followed by a hands on workshop with keen plasticine artists of all ages. Ever grateful to Ian Crysler for his organizational skills and heavy lifting, the multitalented Hannah Kemp and the team at Evergreen, and the gang at Scholastic Canada for their enthusiastic (and speedy) creative support.
Feeling a little sad that the 6 week party is over. What next? Time to make a new book…

Picture the Sky at Evergreen!

Posted on February 16th, 2018 by Barbara

From March 3 -April 12 the original art from Picture the Sky will be on display at the Young Welcome Centre at Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto. The exhibit opens with an art sale and story time on March 4th. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Evergreen, a national not-for-profit dedicated to making cities flourish. A percentage of the proceeds from the art sale will be donated to evergreen to support programming for arts and children.

The Brickworks feels like home. I’ve spent many hours walking in the surrounding park and Don Valley trails. Much of the artwork for my book Picture a Tree was inspired by the area, and in 2012 that artwork was also exhibited at the Yonge Centre. Looking up at trees led me to create Picture the Sky, so it feels very natural to share this new artwork at the Brickworks. I hope you can come to the show!

Learning at play – on Family Literacy Day!

Posted on February 2nd, 2018 by Barbara

Family Literacy Day 2018 was so much fun, the celebrations spread over the whole month! I had the pleasure of meeting young readers and their families at S. Walter Stewart, Malvern, Brentwood and Fairview branches of the Toronto Public Library for stories and hands-on plasticine workshops throughout January. Such talent! On Family Literacy Day I took part in a lively event at the NCFS Community Centre. The evening began with drumming, and included a book reading, kids and families creating plasticine art, all the while sharing a hearty chili dinner.  A warm and wonderful finale to a busy month. Many thanks to everyone at ABC Life Literacy and all the organizers of FLD events all across Canada. Most of all, thanks to the enthusiastic participants. Happy reading – and see you next year!

Family Literacy Day 2018

Posted on January 3rd, 2018 by Barbara

January 27 is Family Literacy Day! I had some fun with the letters in the word PLAY to illustrate some activities for this year’s theme: “Learn at play, every day”. You can download the activities in English or French here.

Family Literacy Day® is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 and held annually on January 27 to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family.

As Honorary Chair of FLD I will be celebrating the fun of reading together all month long, with events at libraries in Toronto. How will you celebrate?

Special activities to Learn at Play