A new children’s book illustrated by 10 young artists launched in Okotoks earlier this month.
Book Bus Magic is part of a literary initiative managed by Okotoks teacher Jennifer Stables.
The initiative is called Seeding Readers and aims to provide original books to families and schools in need.
Selected from over 20 submissions, the book written by Patricia Atchison will be distributed for free in Calgary and surrounding areas.
Stables was the creative director for the book and led the children through multiple phases of its development, including storyboarding, character design and layout.
Stables said by leading children through the book's artistic development, she hoped to instill a sense of pride and hard work in them.
“It’s all about children having a voice,” she said. “I think it’s really beautiful to see their voices, it’s not really about the finished product.”
Ten children aged six to 11 from throughout southern Alberta were chosen to help illustrate the book, including Stables' son Myles.
She ran illustration workshops several times over the four-week artistic development phase, during which time the kids made decisions on character appearance, overall theme and more.
They landed on an art style of painted collage, similar to that of Eric Carle, author and illustrator of famous children’s books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Stables said the kids learned a lot during their workshops, including what it means to work together on a big project.
“They learned a lot about teamwork and collaboration and what really goes on behind the making of a picture book.”
The kids got to include some fun secrets and self-references in the book like self-portraits and names scribbled into the background of the artwork.
The book had a launch party at Cimarron Park in Okotoks on June 8. Atchison was there to read from the book along with Stables and a few other Calgary authors. The children got to enjoy snacks and seeing their hard work on the page, a rare opportunity at that age.
The book is being distributed to underserved schools and families in need around Calgary and surrounding areas.
Several copies of the book will be donated to the Okotoks Public Library. Those interested in getting a copy of the book can contact the Calgary Reads Big Book Sale.
