Janet Wilson, Author/Illustrator Biography:
I never planned to be a writer or an artist. When my friends were going to university and starting careers, I was raising my two boys. They were imaginative and hilarious---always writing stories and drawing in their sketchbooks. They inspired me to go to Art College. I didn’t know what kind of artist I wanted to be until I illustrated my first picture book. I loved telling stories in pictures by interpreting the words.
Inspired by the philosophy of Gandhi, “To reach Peace we must begin with the children”, I began both writing and illustrating a series of books about the power of one to motivate and empower readers to make a positive difference. One Peace: True Stories of Young Activists was followed by; Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet, Our Rights: How kids are Changing the World, and Our Hearts: How Kids are Making a Difference, and Our Future: How Kids are Taking Action. These books combine my passions for portraiture and non-fiction that is inspiring, inter-generational, culturally inclusive, and international in scope, addressing important global issues of non-violence, environment, and social justice.
While I was researching stories of young child-rights activists, I learned about Shannen Koostachin, who had been nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize. I was shocked that such systemic injustice was happening in my own country. Although I had never published a novel before, I was inspired by the actions of the children of Attawapiskat to tell this story and help raise awareness for other Canadians.
In addition to writing and researching, I still paint and draw regularly. I end my day in the studio where I do daily paintings—small studies in oil of still life, or portraits from life. Every day I learn something new!
I live with my partner in love and work, Chris, in a cozy cottage in the heritage hamlet of Eden Mills in south-central Ontario. I work in my adjoining studio on the banks of the Eramosa River in view of frolicking minks, muskrats, beavers, the occasional otter, swimming ducks, swooping Kingfishers, and tiptoeing Great Blue Herons, not to mention children scooping crayfish for summer fishing or winter skating under the moonlight. Our son, Cory, is a terrific animator and Graeme is the very best Dad, and our grandchildren Leon and Louise are adorable. Eden Mills is a small, environmentally active village, home to the Eden Mills Writers' Festival, the Eden Mills Arts Festival, and a grassroots carbon neutral initiative (www.goingcarbonneutral.ca).
Memberships:
The Writers' Union of Canada http://www.writersunion.ca/au_main.asp
I never planned to be a writer or an artist. When my friends were going to university and starting careers, I was raising my two boys. They were imaginative and hilarious---always writing stories and drawing in their sketchbooks. They inspired me to go to Art College. I didn’t know what kind of artist I wanted to be until I illustrated my first picture book. I loved telling stories in pictures by interpreting the words.
Inspired by the philosophy of Gandhi, “To reach Peace we must begin with the children”, I began both writing and illustrating a series of books about the power of one to motivate and empower readers to make a positive difference. One Peace: True Stories of Young Activists was followed by; Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet, Our Rights: How kids are Changing the World, and Our Hearts: How Kids are Making a Difference, and Our Future: How Kids are Taking Action. These books combine my passions for portraiture and non-fiction that is inspiring, inter-generational, culturally inclusive, and international in scope, addressing important global issues of non-violence, environment, and social justice.
While I was researching stories of young child-rights activists, I learned about Shannen Koostachin, who had been nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize. I was shocked that such systemic injustice was happening in my own country. Although I had never published a novel before, I was inspired by the actions of the children of Attawapiskat to tell this story and help raise awareness for other Canadians.
In addition to writing and researching, I still paint and draw regularly. I end my day in the studio where I do daily paintings—small studies in oil of still life, or portraits from life. Every day I learn something new!
I live with my partner in love and work, Chris, in a cozy cottage in the heritage hamlet of Eden Mills in south-central Ontario. I work in my adjoining studio on the banks of the Eramosa River in view of frolicking minks, muskrats, beavers, the occasional otter, swimming ducks, swooping Kingfishers, and tiptoeing Great Blue Herons, not to mention children scooping crayfish for summer fishing or winter skating under the moonlight. Our son, Cory, is a terrific animator and Graeme is the very best Dad, and our grandchildren Leon and Louise are adorable. Eden Mills is a small, environmentally active village, home to the Eden Mills Writers' Festival, the Eden Mills Arts Festival, and a grassroots carbon neutral initiative (www.goingcarbonneutral.ca).
Memberships:
The Writers' Union of Canada http://www.writersunion.ca/au_main.asp
Awards:
Shannen and the Dream for a School
First Nation Communities Read 2012-2013 Featured Selection.
finalist Book of the Year, juvenile nonfiction Forward Magazine
Nominated BC Red Cedar Award 2012/13
Our Heroes: How Kids are Making a Difference
Silver Birch short-list
Our Rights: How kids are changing the world”
2014 Silver Birch Nonfiction Award Finalist - OLA Forest of Reading
Shortlisted for the 2014 Jane Addams Peace Award
Bank Street College Children's Book Committee's "Best Children's Books of the Year, 2014" for ages 9-12
2015 Rocky Mountain Book Award Finalist - Alberta's Children's Choice Book Award
Our Earth: How Kids are Saving the Planet
Winner: The Science in Society Book Award 2010, Middle School Readers
American Library Association, Top 10 Environmental Books for Youth of 2010,
A Smithsonian Notable Book for 2010
Nominated BC Red Cedar Award 2012/13
One Peace: True Stories of Young Activists
Winner: Children’s Roundtable 2009 Information Book Award,
Finalist: Hackmatack, Rocky Mountain, Red Cedar Book Awards,
Outstanding and Inspiring title of the year list Smithsonian Institute, Washington
For Illustration:
In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem by John McCrae, written by Linda Granfield,
Winner: 1997 Red Cedar Award for Non-fiction
Winner: The Children’s Canadian Roundtable Information Book Award, 1996.
Winner: 1996 IODE Book Award
Books for the Teen Age, (selected by New York Public Library)
1997 International Reading Association Teachers’ Choice Book
White Ravens 1997 selection International Children’s Library, Munich
1996 Honour Book, Non-fiction (Canadian Library Association)
1996 The Year’s Best (Resource Links)
Our Choice selection (Canadian Children’s Book Centre)
Jasper’s Day: Mr. Christie's Book Award Silver Seal winner
Winner of the 2002 ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award and Children's Book Illustration Awards
National Association for Humane and Environmental Education 2003 KIND Children's Book Award
2004 Rocky Mountain Book Award - 2nd place
Solomon’s Tree: 2004 First Nation Communities Read Featured Selection
Selina and The Bear Paw Quilt
Winner: Elizabeth Mrazic Cleaver award for illustration
Nominated: Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Award for illustration
Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt
winner-1996, Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award,
nominated for 1996, Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Award, Honour Book,& Ruth Schwartz
Lighthouse, a Story of Remembrance: winner of- 2004, Best Book NY Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.
nominated for-2004- Ruth Schwartz Award, Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Award
No Two Snowflakes: nominated 2003, Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon, Ruth Schwartz, Silver Birch
Me and Mr. Mah: 2000: The Canadian Library Association Best Book List.
At Grandpa’s Sugar Bush: 1996, Parents Choice, CCBC Outstanding category.
How to be Cool in the Third Grade: Winner-1994, Parents’ Choice Award (USA), Childs’ Choice Award, American Library Guild selection.
Daniel’s Dog: Winner-1990, Parents Choice Award: Canadian Children’s Book Centre.