Small in the City - Written and illustrated by Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith knows that children are the ultimate observers. In “Small in the City,” he shows us how a young child navigates a city — it’s unmistakably Toronto — with deep knowledge of all its nooks and crannies. If we can find them and are lucky, there is shelter, kindness and hope. Smith renders an elegant urban winterscape precisely, yet with an astonishing looseness.
Sydney Smith knows that children are the ultimate observers. In “Small in the City,” he shows us how a young child navigates a city — it’s unmistakably Toronto — with deep knowledge of all its nooks and crannies. If we can find them and are lucky, there is shelter, kindness and hope. Smith renders an elegant urban winterscape precisely, yet with an astonishing looseness.
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The Lost Cousins - Written and illustrated by B.B. Cronin
All great picture books make you see the world in a new way, but B.B. Cronin’s “The Lost Cousins” really pushes the envelope. It’s a tour de force work of psychedelia for kids, playfully dense and almost radical in its juxtapositions of eye-popping fluorescent colors. Of course, seeing is very much the subject of this book, the fourth in Cronin’s Seek & Find series.
All great picture books make you see the world in a new way, but B.B. Cronin’s “The Lost Cousins” really pushes the envelope. It’s a tour de force work of psychedelia for kids, playfully dense and almost radical in its juxtapositions of eye-popping fluorescent colors. Of course, seeing is very much the subject of this book, the fourth in Cronin’s Seek & Find series.
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Just Because - Written by Mac Barnett Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Isabelle Arsenault’s richly graphic illustrations for “Just Because” perfectly meld the fanciful and the literal — just the way a child’s imagination does, the judges felt. To paraphrase an old movie ad: After spending time with this beautifully designed book, you will believe that fish sing the blues and trees set their leaves on fire.
Isabelle Arsenault’s richly graphic illustrations for “Just Because” perfectly meld the fanciful and the literal — just the way a child’s imagination does, the judges felt. To paraphrase an old movie ad: After spending time with this beautifully designed book, you will believe that fish sing the blues and trees set their leaves on fire.
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Child of Glass - Written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna
Concept and form are mirrored in Beatrice Alemagna’s “Child of Glass,” as she uses both transparencies and traditional pages to tell the story of a fragile yet resilient girl. Alemagna’s layered and highly textured drawings create a powerful sense of fluidity between the interior and exterior worlds. To turn the pages of this book is to witness transformation in real time.
Concept and form are mirrored in Beatrice Alemagna’s “Child of Glass,” as she uses both transparencies and traditional pages to tell the story of a fragile yet resilient girl. Alemagna’s layered and highly textured drawings create a powerful sense of fluidity between the interior and exterior worlds. To turn the pages of this book is to witness transformation in real time.
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The Farmer - Written and illustrated by Ximo Abadia
Ximo Abadia has saturated the pages of “The Farmer” with color. Rows and dots of red slash against yellow, blue drips and fills, while water vessels mirror the village topography. The farmer’s red balloon pants and animal friends add playfulness to the seriousness of his task and the potency of the landscape. We chose this book for how hard work, brutal sun and the search for water are rendered through spare designs that boldly stretch across the pages, depicting and encouraging self-reliance and determination.
Ximo Abadia has saturated the pages of “The Farmer” with color. Rows and dots of red slash against yellow, blue drips and fills, while water vessels mirror the village topography. The farmer’s red balloon pants and animal friends add playfulness to the seriousness of his task and the potency of the landscape. We chose this book for how hard work, brutal sun and the search for water are rendered through spare designs that boldly stretch across the pages, depicting and encouraging self-reliance and determination.
Monkey on the Run - Written and illustrated by Leo Timmers
Warning, Leo Timmers’s “Monkey on the Run” may encourage bouncing and giggles — and thoughtful study, too. It is a playground of transportation that will satisfy the vehicle lover as well as the animal lover, as we race along with a little monkey who has jumped from his papa’s banana-shaped motorcycle to travel the parade ahead on the road. The judges were drawn to this book because the illustrations are both exciting and contemplative. The silly antics of the little monkey provide forward momentum, but the details in each illustration kept calling us back for a more thorough examination. The moose’s tongue is blue from licking gelato! The chicken has lost his steering wheel!
Warning, Leo Timmers’s “Monkey on the Run” may encourage bouncing and giggles — and thoughtful study, too. It is a playground of transportation that will satisfy the vehicle lover as well as the animal lover, as we race along with a little monkey who has jumped from his papa’s banana-shaped motorcycle to travel the parade ahead on the road. The judges were drawn to this book because the illustrations are both exciting and contemplative. The silly antics of the little monkey provide forward momentum, but the details in each illustration kept calling us back for a more thorough examination. The moose’s tongue is blue from licking gelato! The chicken has lost his steering wheel!
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STEPHAN LOMP
Stephan Lomp was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, where he studied visual communications at the University of Applied Sciences. He published his first children’s book in 2011, which became the starting point for his newfound passion: to write and draw his own stories. You can visit him at Lomp.de. |
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Charlene Chua
Charlene was born and grew up in Singapore, and moved to Canada in 2007. She started work in 1998 as a web designer, and went on to become a senior designer, web producer and interactive project manager. However, what she really wanted to do was draw pictures all day. In 2003, she decided to give it a go, and after a few years, she became a full-time illustrator. When she is not making art, she enjoys cooking, reading, and playing with her cats. She now lives with her husband (and cats!) in Hamilton, Ontario. https://charlenechua.com/ |
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Zeke Peña
Zeke Peña makes comics and illustrations to reclaim stories and remix history. His work is a mash-up of political cartoon, border rasquache and Hip Hop culture. He was born in Las Cruces, NM and grew up in El Paso, TX. While drawing doodles in his notebooks he received a degree in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin. He recently received the 2020 Ezra Jack Keats and Pura Belpré Illustrator Honors for My Papi Has A Motorcycle and the 2017 Horn Book Award for Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide. Zeke is currently digging into family history and writing stories for future books. https://www.zpvisual.com/ |
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Gaia Cornwall
Most of my pieces start with good ol’ pencil and paper, and are then finished digitally. I approach each project like an intricate puzzle made up of many, and ever-shifting, pieces: Who’s the audience? How can I make this visually exciting? What does the client want?– It’s a trick to get all the moving parts to fit. But it’s a process I love. My work has been featured online, in interactive games, on assorted products, in films, as murals, and in various forms of print. |
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KETURAH A. BOBO
Self-described "artrepreneur" Keturah A. Bobo is a New York Times best-selling illustrator whose first children's title was I Am Enough (2016), penned by Grace Byers. The Ohio native has illustrated a handful of other children's books since them, including I Am Enough's powerful follow-up, I Believe I Can, which came out earlier this year. "As an artist it is my duty to make art that inspires, uplifts, and advocates for my community," she recently told The Brown Bookshelf. "Nothing is more important in my art than this." |
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David Roberts
David Roberts began his career in fashion illustration. He has since illustrated numerous children’s books, for which he has won and been shortlisted for awards. His work ranges from Pavilion Books’ fairy tale retellings, to his brilliantly funny books with Julia Donaldson such as Tyrannosaurus Drip, The Troll and The Cook and the King. He has also earned great success through his books with Andrea Beaty (Ada Twist, Scientist and others) and his self-authored title Suffragette. |
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Jaime Kim
Jaime Kim was born and raised in South Korea before moving to the USA when she was 18. Although she was a timid child who was afraid of just about everything, she discovered a sense of serenity in drawing. As a grown-up, Jaime finally stopped being afraid of everything, but kept on drawing and painting. She works with gouache, watercolors and acrylics to create nostalgic and dreamlike illustrations, inspired by childhood memories of her family, as well as movies, art, and the outside world. Her favorite things are the sun, the moon, the sky and stars – which is why they always creep into her artwork. Her debut illustrated picture book, Take Heart, My Child, was a #1 New York Times-bestseller. |
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Extra Resources
THE SUMMATIVE ASSIGNMENT
Todays children's books tackle a much wider range of topics than they ever did when I was a child ranging from social anxiety and race to more traditional topics like sharing and learning to use the potty. For this assignment you are to approach your sustained investigation topic from a different angle. How would you explain your topic to a small child? What visuals would you use to help get the message across? Would you be literal or metaphorical with your imagery. How do you visually adapt your ideasto child friendly imagery?
Requirements
Todays children's books tackle a much wider range of topics than they ever did when I was a child ranging from social anxiety and race to more traditional topics like sharing and learning to use the potty. For this assignment you are to approach your sustained investigation topic from a different angle. How would you explain your topic to a small child? What visuals would you use to help get the message across? Would you be literal or metaphorical with your imagery. How do you visually adapt your ideasto child friendly imagery?
Requirements
- Minimum 9in x 12in or a format covering a minimum of 108 square inches
- Must include color (color pencil, marker, water color, etc)
- Can either be a book cover with title or a full page layout with a minimum of 20 words
- must be child friendly
