MY FOREST IS GREEN
Written by Darren Lebeuf
Illustrated by Ashley Barron
With art supplies in tow, a young boy explores the urban forest near his home, then interprets what he sees with his art. The boy is a keen observer who uses poetic, rhythmic language to describe the diversity he finds through all four seasons. His forest is both “fluffy” and “prickly,” “dense” and “sparse,” “crispy” and “soft.” It’s also “scattered and soggy, and spotted and foggy.” His forest is made up of many colors – but he decides that “mostly it’s green.” Each aspect of the forest inspires the boy to create a different kind of art: charcoal rubbing, rock art, photography, sponge painting, snow sculpture, cut-paper collage. To this artist, there’s always something new to discover, and to capture!
In this delightful picture book, Darren Lebeuf, an award-winning photographer, encourages small children to look closer at and appreciate the nature that surrounds them. And by providing such a broad range of ideas for artistic expression, it’s sure to awaken the nature artist in every child. Bright, deeply textured illustrations by Ashley Barron bring the forest and the boy’s artworks to vivid life. This story provides an excellent depiction of nature-based education in an outdoor classroom. The specificity of the concrete and abstract adjectives used in the text works as a perfect complement to primary science lessons on investigating, comparing and identifying the physical characteristics of plants and animals. This book also makes for an enjoyable, lyrical read-aloud.
AWARDS
2020 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children`s Book Award, Ontario Arts Council, Commended
2019 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
2019 - First & Best List, Toronto Public Library, Winner
2019 - OLA Best Bets, Ontario Library Association, Commended
MY CITY SPEAKS
Written by Darren Lebeuf
Illustrated by Ashley Barron
A young girl, who is visually impaired, finds much to celebrate as she explores the city she loves.
A young girl and her father spend a day in the city, her city, traveling to the places they go together: the playground, the community garden, the market, an outdoor concert. As they do, the girl describes what she senses in delightfully precise, poetic detail. Her city, she says, “rushes and stops, and waits and goes.” It “pitters and patters, and drips and drains.” It “echoes” and “trills,” and is both “smelly” and “sweet.” Her city also speaks, as it “dings and dongs, and rattles and roars.” And sometimes, maybe even some of the best times, it just listens.
Darren Lebeuf uses his keen observational skills as an award-winning photographer to poetically capture sensory experiences in this charming ode to city life. The rhythmic, lyrical text makes for an appealing read-aloud. Ashley Barron’s vividly hued cut-paper collage illustrations add compelling visual interest to the text’s descriptions. Though the main character is visually impaired, she travels around the city and enthusiastically enjoys its many offerings, and actively contributes to the lyrical bustle of city life by putting on a violin performance in the park. The author’s use of limited but evocative language can help children develop an aesthetic awareness and can serve as a perfect jumping-off point for children to use their senses to specifically describe, and appreciate, their own surroundings. The story and illustrations were reviewed by a blind sensitivity reader.
AWARDS
2022 - Schneider Family Book Award, American Library Association, Winner
2021 - First and Best, Toronto Public Library, Commended
2023 - IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities Award, IBBY Canada, Short-Listed
A young girl’s poetic exploration of the enchanting ocean she loves.
“This is my ocean”, the young girl begins as she heads over the dunes with her mother. Then, as they pass the whole day at the seaside, she lyrically describes her ocean in simple, sensory detail. It’s both “slimy” and “sandy,” “sparkly” and “dull.” It has wonderful sounds, as it “splashes and crashes and echoes and squawks.” And it contains so many colors, from “rusted orange” to “runaway red,” “faded white” to “polished green.” Though “mostly it’s blue.” Nothing the girl experiences escapes her careful observation and appreciation. And at day’s end, she can’t wait for her next trip to the beach.
Author Darren Lebeuf, an award-winning photographer, uses spare text and a rhythmic style to create an evocative read-aloud. The vivid adjectives, both concrete and abstract, will inspire children to try to capture in words what they notice not only at the ocean, but in any natural setting. The bright, richly colored cut-paper collage illustrations by Ashley Barron add a captivating visual texture and depth to the story. The portrayal of a girl with a physical disability enjoying and actively participating in a day at the beach encourages all children to do the same in their own lives, while also offering a character education lesson in adaptability. This book has strong curriculum ties to primary nature units and life science lessons on oceans and the seaside, and it offers a perfect focus for nature-based education and outdoor classrooms.
AWARDS
2021 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Ontario Arts Foundation, Commended
2020 - Concept (Colors) Category, Northern Lights Book Awards, Winner
2020 - First and Best List, Toronto Public Library, Winner
Bobcat Blue: Volume One
Written by Darren Lebeuf and the students of Brander Gardens School
Illustrated by Darren Lebeuf
In 2024 I had the pleasure of guiding the students of École Brander Gardens School through the creative writing process, helping them develop their storytelling skills and bring their imaginative tales to life. We brainstormed ideas, drafted stories, and refined our work together, creating a collaborative and fun learning environment. The end result of our hard work is a unique book filled with the students' very own stories, each accompanied by custom illustrations that I've created to bring their visions to life. This book is not only a memento of the workshop but also a testament to the creativity and growth of the École Brander Gardens School students.
