FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Toronto (May 1, 2023) — Choosing a piece of art can be a big decision, but it’s also a striking way to show off your taste and transform your space into something you’ve created to reflect your personality. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is excited to present our virtual Picture Book Gallery, the perfect destination if you’re looking for unique gifts for yourself or someone else this spring! Whether you know someone graduating or retiring, we have something suitable for every occasion. You’ll find the ultimate group baby shower gift for the book-loving coworker or loved one in your life. Perhaps you’re in search of a wedding gift, or on the hunt for something special for Mother’s Day. Maybe you want to freshen up your office space or liven up your home with something long-lasting and eye-catching. Whatever your needs, you can find a piece of unique art for every type of celebration and location in our online gallery.
Award-winning Canadian illustrators are selling their original art to support the CCBC’s annual Canadian Children’s Book Week program, and they donate 60 percent of the value of the art back to the CCBC. All funds raised contribute to connecting authors, illustrators and storytellers with young audiences across Canada, from Labrador to the Yukon. Canadian Children’s Book Week is the single most important national event celebrating Canadian children’s books and the importance of reading. Each spring, hundreds of readings are given to thousands of children, teens and adults in over 100 communities across the country as we make every possible effort to reach children in more remote regions and communities. The upcoming tour will take place from April 30–May 6, 2023.
“As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and the illustrations from our favourite picture books are no different,” says Sarah Sahagian, Executive Director of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. “Our online Picture Book Gallery offers a selection of one-of-a-kind art pieces by Canada’s favourite illustrators. These works of art would be perfect for use in libraries, schools, and workplaces. The pieces found in the Picture Book Gallery also make meaningful holiday gifts that are sure to be enjoyed for decades to come! Ultimately, each piece in this curated collection was chosen because it is both beautiful and inspirational. When patrons purchase one of these iconic works, they will receive the added satisfaction of knowing a portion of the proceeds go directly to the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, funding Book Week, a program that was founded in 1976, and which brings Canadian authors illustrators, and storytellers to schools and libraries across the country.”
The Picturebook Gallery features the work of Barbara Reid, Michael Martchenko, Marie-Lousie Gay, Qin Leng, Kevin Sylvester, Gary Clement, François Thisdale, Sue Todd, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Michele Nidenoff, Anne Villeneuve, Jeremy Tankard, Soyeon Kim, Rebecca Bender, Jamileh Salek, Celia Godkin, Peggy Collins, Sahar Abdallah, Jeni Chen, and Loris Lesynski.
Two of the illustrators recently added to the gallery, Peggy Collins and Jeni Chen, will be touring as part of Book Week 2023.
Purchases can be made at thepicturebookgallery.com. More information about Canadian Children’s Book Week and the 2023 tour can be found at bookweek.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Tara Mandarano
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
416 975-0010 ext. 2
tara@bookcentre.ca
About the Canadian Children’s Book Centre
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1976. We are dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers. Our programs, publications, and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers. For more information, please visit our website.