Serving the Children's Literature Community of Vancouver
Please join us for our annual Mad Hatter’s Tea party on March 22, 2026 at the University Golf Club. This event is open and free to all CWILL and VCLR members – renew your membership today!
Registration will be required for our head count. Eventbrite tickets will release on February 1. Click here to sign up and renew your membership.
Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable focuses on and celebrates Canadian children’s literature. We are asking folks to complete this short survey so that we can plan future events and stay relevant. You will be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Vancouver Kidsbooks. The last day to complete the survey will be Friday, December 5. Anyone who considers themselves part of the local kids lit community is welcome to complete the survey.
Thank you for your feedback!
We had a wonderful time with VCLR members, MACL students and longtime supporters at our Fall Tea on November 15, 2025. Thank you to everyone who came out to our event.
Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picture Book Award
Julie Flett joined us virtually and we loved celebrating the 2025 Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picture Book, Let’s Go! / haw êkwa! (Greystone Books). This special video shares the influence of her father and son on the book and is a great example of urban Indigenous representation through the skateboarding community.
Thank you and congratulations again, Julie!
Dr. Ronald Jobe Scholarship
It was also a pleasure to have Dr. Ronald Jobe at our event to award the Ronald Jobe Children’s Literature Scholarship from the UBC MACL program. This year we have two outstanding winners, one from England and one from Australia. Congratulations to Nicola Kirk and Cath Ayres on your achievements! For more information about each recipient, please click on the announcement below.
Remembering Norma Charles
Many thanks to Debbie Hodge and Linda Bailey for their stories and fondness for beloved author, former VCLR treasurer and book friend to many, Norma Charles, as well to everyone who contributed their tributes in the booklet that was available at the tea. Norma is dearly missed, but we are grateful that her legacy lives on in her numerous books and the lives that she has touched. We have shared a copy of these booklets to each of her publishers. If you did not receive one or would like a copy, please contact us at vancouverroundtable@gmail.com.
The Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable is looking forward to gathering with our members on November 15, 2025 to celebrate the 2025 Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picturebook of the Year Award and pay tribute to our dear friend and longtime colleague, Norma Charles.
EVENT DETAILS
The annual VCLR Fall Tea will be hosted at the University Golf Club on Saturday, November 15, 2025. The event will begin promptly at 1:00pm.
The event will include a silent auction fundraiser, book sales of the Sheila Barry Award finalists and titles by Norma Charles, and a special recorded video presentation by Julie Flett, about her winning book, Let’s Go! / haw êkwa!, published by Greystone Books. We will also be awarding the Ron Jobe Scholarship and share memories and words about our former treasurer and children’s literature friend, Norma.
EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
Early bird tickets are available now until October 31, and ticket sales close on November 10. You will have the opportunity to renew your VCLR membership through Eventbrite and also donate to our organization to defray fees for students.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Congratulations to Julie Flett for Let’s Go! / haw êkwa! (published by Greystone Kids), the winner of the 2025 annual Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picturebook of the Year Award! There will be a celebration of this award’s winner and finalists later in the fall.
Let’s Go! haw êkwa! by Julie Flett reveals its theme in the cover image. A boy watches from his window as a skateboarder passes by. He longs to become one. With support from family and community, persevering after setbacks, he succeeds. He becomes the boy skateboarding past a window as another child watches.
The spare text integrates English and Cree words. They are onomatopoeic: sounds of a skateboard on the sidewalk, of falling on hard pavement, the joyful sound of success.
Illustrations add details that enhance the narrative. Learning takes time as shown in images of trees changing colour. Family supports his learning. His mother watches, his aunt extends a helping hand.
The use of colour adds depth to the story. The sidewalk is hard edged and gray as he tries and falls. Then swoosh! The pages flow in swirls of colour: a waterfall of skateboarders, bright sun shining as his confidence grows, swaths of blue winding like a river. The image of the boy with other skaters captures the joy of skateboarding and of community, skating ‘down the street, like a little river, together.’ Let’s Go! haw êkwa! beautifully integrates text and illustration, a picture book to celebrate.
Our two finalists for this year’s Sheila Barry Best Picture Book Award are: The Weedflower by author, Elizabeth Davaze, and illustrator, Marianne Ferrer (Owlkids Books) and This Land is a Lullaby by author, Tonya Simpson, and illustrator, Delrée Dumont (Orca Books).
The Weedflower is a heartwarming story that records adorable moments in the schoolyard. Through a school girl’s eyes, readers see an unnoticeable yellow bud that sprouts and slowly turns into a gigantic fluffball with the love and care from school children.
Davaze is undoubtedly a skillful storyteller who can turn everyday stories into great adventures. The story invites readers to pay attention to a tiny, yellow bud that is often neglected in daily life through Sam’s eyes. No one notices the flower sprouting at the corner of the cement schoolyard except Sam. Other children join, and under their love and care this delightful flower “illuminate(s) every dark corner of the playground,” finally turning into a “perfect, dreamy fluffball”. The simple yet encouraging plot allows readers to discover beauty in trivial moments, conveying the importance of noticing and nurturing the overlooked wonders around us.
The warm, golden palette used in Ferrer’s watercolour illustrations echoes the dandelion’s journey from humble sprout to glowing fluffball. The strategic use of bright yellow draws readers’ attention to the centre of the book – the weedflower. Coupled with the muted, earthy palette dominated by sage greens and warm browns, Ferrer’s dynamic playground scenes capture the organic way Sam’s initial discovery spreads to inspire others. The varied typography also enables readers to have a better understanding of the emotions that build throughout the narrative, enhancing the story’s emotional impact.
Told from a child’s perspective, The Weedflower reminds readers to rediscover the beauty of small things in today’s cities, where nature is often overlooked amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life. Although the fluff of the weedflower floats away, the flower does carry power that stays – the power of hope, love, and vitality – as light blooms in the grey.
This Land is a Lullaby is a melodious rhyming letter to a child as a mother carries her baby across Cree territory. Tonya Simpson serenades readers with vivid imagery of the Alberta plains, weaving teachings from the land and the ancestors into a mother’s gentle song. With evocative language that engages sight, sound, and touch, the lullaby nurtures an early spiritual connection to plants, animals, and more-than-human kin.
Delrée Dumont’s pointillism art conveys distinctly prairie notes to complement the lyrical text. Golden wheat fields are in the backdrop of crackling lightning above wild horses. Indigo skies are speckled with glistening stars. Soaring geese, heron, fireflies and dragonflies burst from bright green grasslands. Each scene seamlessly blends human and nonhuman life, reinforcing the sacred interconnectedness of beings at the heart of the story.The meticulous dot patterns advance the story across a single day by capturing its shifting light — from the gentle glow of dawn to the blaze of sunset, and torrential rains leading to the guiding light of the moon.
The book closes by repeating the opening stanza, sharing a tender reminder that the land holds history, art, and spiritual meaning in First Nations culture and, ultimately, shaping a profound sense of home and belonging.
Very sad news to report to all Roundtable members. Norma Charles, who has been such an important, integral and beloved member of our BC children’s book-writing community for so many years, passed away on August 19 after an illness this past year. She is already deeply missed by so many, and we will find ways to remember her in the coming months. Cards may be sent to her family c/o her daughter Melanie Charles at 1844 Acadia Road, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1R3.
The Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2025 Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picturebook of the Year Award.
Congratulations to the following authors and illustrators for your outstanding storytelling in the picture book format:
The winning book will be announced in late August 2025. The creator(s) of the book will be invited to our annual Fall event, celebrating this year’s winner and honour books.
Congratulations to Sydney Smith for Do You Remember? winner of the 2024 annual Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picturebook of the Year Award.
You don’t have to guess if you are reading a picture book by Sydney Smith. The first clue is his artistic ability to create lustrous illustrations that play with light in a way that makes you stare at the page for far too long. Secondly there is his simple poetic text, but his choice of words leave a lump in your throat and you wonder how this author manages to evoke so much emotion in his readers. Do You Remember? is no different. A poignant story told in a series of vignettes, with themes of change and loss that will make you think about your own family memories long after the book is closed.
Smith takes us on a visual, sensory journey through the eyes of a young boy, presumably himself, and shares a story that is touching and ambiguous. The reader is left to reach their own conclusion about whether the book is about death or divorce. The mother and son in the story exchange memories, a back-and-forth pillow talk, remembering good times: a family picnic and a new bike. These memories are juxtaposed with ones from a more painful time. An illustration of a father giving his son a teddy as the mother drives away to the city, with the words “We were lost,” signal a change to the reader.The illustration of a small apartment with the teddy and bike at the foot of the bed, are reminders of a previous place and time, but the future looks hopeful.
The story is told in rich illustrations, with smaller images outlining the mother’s and child’s memories. Smith uses close-ups of faces to evoke more emotion and plays with light and dark to strengthen prevailing themes. Fuzzy illustrations represent the concept of memories that are not crystal clear. The use of shading, texture and a muted colour palette create a simple child’s world and Smith highlights the artifacts that are important in a child’s life.
Sydney Smith in Do You Remember? has created a timeless story, that explains the concepts of change and loss, in a nuanced and sensitive manner appropriate for children. Linking the past and the future in this sensitive picture book is aptly handled by Smith’s skill with words and pictures.
We are pleased to announce this year’s honour books, Maybe a Whale, Jeffery Loves Blue and Wings,Waves, Webs.
Maybe a Whale
Words by Kirsten Pendreigh, pictures by Crystal Smith, Groundwood Books, 2023
Maybe a Whale is a heartwarming tale about love, loss, and the healing power of nature to process grief. A young girl sets off on a kayaking trip with her mother to find her late grandfather’s beloved whales, learning that some things remain with us even when unseen.
While Kirsten Pendreigh’s poetic text reveals the little girl’s evolving thoughts and emotions as the adventure progresses, Crystal Smith’s layered illustrations visually expand the depth and contrasting nature of these emotions. Smith’s digital artwork adds layers of detail that subtly enrich the story, reminding us of the power of words and images to work together to convey meaning and move the narrative forward.
As the mother and daughter bond with each other and their natural surroundings, sadness and frustration slowly give way to laughter and sparks of joy. Smith’s illustrations also gain in texture and colour, changing from black and dark grays, to dep purples, blues and hues of green, to the warmth of a fire and a rising sun. Smith’s illustrations transition from dark hues to vibrant colors, mirroring their emotional journey. The realistic Pacific Northwest setting beautifully showcases its marine wildlife and campers’ lifestyle, but Smith cleverly manages to create a parallel visual narrative–above, below, inside–that also reveals what lies hidden in the girl’s heart and mind.
This thought-provoking picturebook addresses complex themes with honesty and a tender, matter-of-fact simplicity. Its short texts, unique onomatopoeias, and colorful illustrations make it perfect for reading aloud or sharing together.
Jeffrey Loves Blue
Written by Loretta Garbutt; Illustrated by Lily Snowden-Fine; Published by Owlkids
Jeffrey Loves Blue is an endearing story that explores the themes of empathy and the courage to change. With a witty combination of words and illustrations, the book follows a boy’s inner journey as he steps out of his comfort zone to paint in red instead of his favorite colour, blue.
Garbutt’s skillful use of the conversation between Jeffrey and his caregiver authentically depicts Jeffrey’s love for the colour blue and his struggles with using another colour in his painting class. Painting in a different colour may seem simple to many people, but not for Jeffrey, as blue is the perfect colour for him. Under the encouragement of his patient caregiver, Jeffrey changes his mind from saying “Blue is MY colour” to “Just for today”, finally compromising as he cares about his friend, Keiko, who is upset about not being able to use blue paint for her artwork. The dialogue presented in black and blue fonts perfectly captures the interaction between the caregiver and Jeffrey, highlighting the gentle persuasion and understanding needed to help Jeffrey adapt to change while respecting his preferences and emotions.
Snowden-Fine’s simple yet captivating gouache-styled illustrations invite readers into the child’s perfect world in blue – blue pajamas, blue socks, blue hat, blue underwear, and blueberries – everything about Jeffrey has to be blue. Despite the limited color palette, Snowden-Fine adeptly uses different shades of blue to demonstrate the richness of Jeffrey’s world, featuring blue flowers, birds, whales, and sky. As the story progresses, the gradual addition of other colours – green, yellow, and finally red – subtly guides readers through Jeffrey’s thought process of embracing another colour for his painting. The childlike illustrations harmonize with the text, granting readers a tender glimpse into the boy’s inner world as he grapples with a challenging decision.
Accepting change may be difficult for people, but Jeffrey Loves Blue enables readers to see the rewarding side of the process. It offers a gentle, accessible exploration for readers to appreciate the virtue of empathy and be brave in facing change.
Wings, Waves & Webs
Written and illustrated by Robin Mitchell Cranfield; Published by Greystone Kids. 2023.
Wings, Waves & Webs is a stunning concept picture book about patterns in nature. Robin Mitchell Cranfield’s drawings are a mixture of simple, yet often sophisticated patterns, which will enthrall children and adults. The patterns that are illustrated in the book are often unexpected: stripes on sunflower seeds, cracks on a mushroom cap and spots on feathers. These unusual observations coupled with almost full-page illustrations of each pattern provide a jumping off point for children to share what they have observed and then to go and explore their own surroundings.
Mitchell Cranfield’s poetic text encourages a contemplation of the beauty of nature. The observations of natural patterns are captured and enhanced by her word choices, “snugly tiled hexagons” and “white foamy crests” to describe honeycomb and wave patterns. These varied, yet often similar patterns, shared between creatures and plants, are right in front of our eyes if we take the time to observe them. This picture book allows for connection building and would be useful in a classroom setting.
The pencil and ink drawings are stunning and drawn in a clean, yet whimsical manner. Mitchell Cranfield’s graphic design background is obvious in the design and visual aesthetic of this picture book. Each page has a pattern that is displayed on a bright, solid-coloured background and is a feast for the eyes. The book also has detailed end papers which display an illustrated grid of natural patterns, which will help to expand learning. These details will encourage pattern-seeking behaviour among the younger crowd.
Mitchell Cranfield’s rich text and stylized illustrations create a perfect union to inspire young minds. This carefully curated picture book about patterns is a joyful celebration on the wonder of nature.
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2024 AT NOON FOR OUR FALL BRUNCH. YES, IT IS LATER IN THE DAY
Save the date!
When: Sunday March 9, 2025, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: University Golf Club, 5085 University Blvd, Vancouver (Free parking available as well as close stops for bus lines 9 and 14.)
Please join us as we celebrate our award winning BC Writers and Illustrators. This wonderful event is free to all VCLR and CWILL members, so please make sure your membership is up to date.
There will be door prizes and an eclectic silent auction.
Registration is required. Please register online so we know the attendance for our food and beverage order.
Now you can sleep in. New time! Doors open at 1 pm. Join us at the University Golf Club for a tasty tea and the announcement of the Sheila Barry Best Canadian Picturebook of the Year award.
We are delighted to announce that our speaker will be Robin Mitchell Cranfield, the creator of the honour book, Wings, Waves & Webs.
You can take part in the famous VCLR silent auction, presentation of the Ron Jobe Scholarship, great conversations, delicious food, and more…
Early bird ticket pricing ends on October 31st! Registration will close on November 12th.
Renew your membership and sign up for the newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming events, including details about exciting new workshops coming up in the first half of next year, and the fabulous March Tea next spring.