Whimsical and magical qualities are evident in these children’s picture books! The illustrations are stunning and the stories delightful. All of them.
Canadian brothers Terry (left) and Eric (right) both received their formal art training at the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. Their work is a blend of traditional and contemporary techniques, using ink or graphite mixed with digital. Eric and Terry have collaborated as illustrators of other people’s work and have worked independently as illustrators. For their website: click here.
Terry was born in Illinois. Eric was born in Hawaii. After a childhood spent exploring, mapping, building forts, and fighting epic acorn battles in the ravine by their home, they now live in Toronto, Canada, near the shores of Lake Ontario, which they like to imagine is the sea. Devin joins his brothers for the The Barnabas Project, a first collaboration for the three of them. Devin is a youth worker who has a passion for nature, adventures and kung fu.
The Night Gardener was their widely acclaimed debut picture book. The elderly man who is the eponymous gardener and creator of the amazing topiary in the story is mentally modelled upon their Chinese father, Kuang Tih Fann. William and the town are changed forever by the mysterious night gardener and what he does to the trees.
The Darkest Dark was inspired by Chris Hadfield’s childhood. Imagine an astronaut with a pesky problem–he’s afraid of the dark! But when Chris went to a neighbour’s cottage to watch Neil Armstrong step onto the surface of the moon, Chris’ life changed forever. This book is such an encouragement for kids to pursue science and their dreams. There’s also an adorable pug called Albert featured on almost every page!
The Antlered Ship is a story written by Dashka Slater. When a ship with impressive antlers arrives in the harbour, an inquisitive fox joins a flock of courageous pigeons and a herd of hungry deer on a quest for adventure, tasty grass, and the answers to some of life’s most mysterious questions. The page featuring pirate animals is absolutely priceless.
Ocean Meets the Sky features a good day for sailing. Finn remembers the stories his grandfather told him about a place where the ocean meets the sky. A magical adventure finds Finn when he builds his own boat to honour his grandfather. The fantastical creatures in this book are so beautifully rendered.
The Scarecrow, written by Beth Ferry, is a tender and affectionate tale that reminds us of the comforting power of friendship and the joy of helping others. The brothers, as children, spent one lazy summer on a farm, stargazing at night, chasing fireflies, loading hay bales, and watching the season slowly give way to the brilliant colours of fall.
The Barnabas Project also includes input from Terry and Eric’s brother Devin. In a world built for perfect pets, Barnabus is a failed project: he is half mouse and half elephant, kept out of sight until his dreams of freedom lead him and his misfit friends on a perilous adventure. The brothers must have had a lot of fun together, coming up with the charming array of failed project animals! Clearly perfection is overrated!
It Fell from the Sky reminded me of that old movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. A miniature backyard wilderness comes alive when an object falls from the sky and all of the creatures in the grass wonder about what it is and what should be done with it. A lovely study on perspective.
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