My City Speaks is long listed for the 2022 Toronto Book Awards …and like, holy moly, our book is pictured alongside Miriam Toews “Fight Night”, and Sarah Polley’s “Run Towards the Danger” (which I just finished reading for book club!) 🙃
Having the freedom to inject bits of my city into these illustrations was truly a dream come true.
The pages in this book hint at places like Kensington Market, Key Gardens, and local spots (like the one pictured) and features our red rocket streetcars and Ontario Place’s cinesphere. Even Toronto’s plentiful “cat in the hat” pylons (which, I swear, used to outnumber people in my neighbourhood 😂) make an appearance.
The shortlist will be announced in September, but man, that’s not even on my radar. I’m just super surprised and happy to have made this far. Many thanks to the Toronto Book Awards Committee. 🇨🇦
The picture book, My City Speaks, is up for a 2022 Toronto Book Award. Published by Kids Can Press, Written by Darren Lebeuf and Illustrated by Ashley Barron.
