Bill Comes to KW|AG!

A full house of grade three and four students from St. Agnes and John Sweeney had a blast with Bill Slavin when he visited us at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery on November 1st. Bill entertained the audience with the story Stanley’s Little Sister, accompanied by his original illustrations. He spoke on how he became an illustrator, shared artwork from his early years, and passed around original illustrations from his graphic novel Big City Otto for the kids to see, up close and personal. Bill even gave a live drawing demonstration on light and shading using his beloved character Otto the elephant as an example, which is now on display in our Art Studio! The kids were full of great questions and eager to get their copies of The Farm Team autographed by Bill at the end of his presentation.

Bill Slavin speaking to a captive audience at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery.

Bill kindly shared with us why he loves his job:

"I was asked the other day what my age was when being interviewed by our local paper for my launch of my new graphic novel, Big City Otto. “What a strange question!” I thought to myself, did the quick math and came up with 52 – going on 14!

So this question got me wondering. “Does the interviewer think I’m too old to be starting comics?” It hadn’t really occurred to me earlier.

I really do have the best job in the world as an illustrator of kids’ books, and there is nothing I would rather be doing. Or at least, that was the case until I began working on my graphic novel – a lifelong dream long postponed. What I love about illustrating in general and comic-making in particular is the opportunity to combine my two favourite things, story-telling and drawing, into a single entity. And in comic-making there is even more drawing, more graphic story-telling than in picture books. Being an illustrator is all I have ever wanted to be – other forms of art have never really appealed. Illustration wasn’t simply a commercially expedient way to make a living from my art. It is my life.

And after more than thirty years of doing it I still roll out of bed each morning and into my work chair excited as the day I was 14 to be putting pencil to paper. I take an unabashed joy in what I do, and I expect I will never reach an age where I have outgrown the pleasure of drawing stories from my imagination."

Bill Slavin's graphic novel Big City Otto.

Bill Slavin and Linda Bailey at WPL

The Farm Team Illustrator Bill Slavin and author Linda Bailey entertained a packed auditorium at the Main Library on November 3rd. Attendees were treated to excerpts from the book, learned more about the creative process and learned how to draw a hockey-playing pig!

Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin are coming!

Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin, the author and illustrator of The Farm Team, are coming to Waterloo Region from November 1 - 3. If you would like to attend one of the author/illustrator visits contact the appropriate venue.


Tuesday, November 1st at 1:00 - Bill will be visiting the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery



Wednesday, November 2nd at 9:30 - Bill and Linda will be visiting the Linwood Branch of the Region of Waterloo Libraries


Wednesday, November 2nd at 1:00 - Linda and Bill will be at the Queen's Square Branch of the Cambridge Libraries



Thursday, November 3rd at 10:00 - Bill and Linda will be visiting the Grand River Branch of the Kitchener Public Library http://www.kpl.org/


Thursday, November 3rd at 1:00 - Linda and Bill will be at the Main Branch of the Waterloo Public Library http://www.wpl.ca/



We are going to keep our author and illustrator very busy! Don't forget to contact your library if you are interested in attending an author/illustrator event.


Linda and Bill have promised to share the secrets behind the creative genius that went into the creation of not only The Farm Team but also the Stanley books as well.


We hope to see you there!

And we're off!

The official launch of the 2011 Let's Read program was on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at Word on the Street in Victoria Park. Hundreds of kids and their families join us to make buttons and hear about the program.

In the afternoon, members of the Waterloo Siskins hockey team and their mascot, Captain Crunch, helped us to officially launch the program.

We gave away lots of treats, read some of the book and handed out free tickets for a Waterloo Siskins hockey game. Thanks Siskins!

We all had a great time at the launch and we hope you enjoy the book as much as we do.

2011 Let's Read Launch

Join us on Saturday, September 25th from 11:00 - 5:00 at Victoria Park in Kitchener at the Word on the Street Festival for the launch of our 2011 Let's Read title - The Farm Team written by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Bill Slavin. Let's Read will be launched at 3:00. Come and hear us read the book, hang out with some Waterloo Siskins hockey players and enjoy a sweet treat on us!


Check back here throughout the fall as we announce programs and events at your local library.

Fundraiser for Let's Read

A BIG THANKS to JM Drama, a local community theatre group.

Last night's proceeds from their current production - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - were donated to Let's Read.
Founded in 1983, JM Drama encourages and supports the arts in Waterloo Region. A group of us attended opening night last night and it was great fun. The show runs from August 11 - 13 and August 18 - 20. Tickets are available in advance at the Center in the Square box office or at the door.

Registry Theatre
122 Frederick St.

http://www.registrytheatre.com/

Grand River Rafting Adventure Winners!

Simply by checking out and reading "Chocolate River Rescue" from the Cambridge Libraries, children were entered into a draw for the amazing prize of a rafting adventure for a family of six down the Grand River, Cayuga Run, generously donated by Garth Potruff, owner of Grand River Rafting Co. The draw was held in March and our winner, Noor Aburaneh, 9, brought her family to share in all the excitement. Pictured from left to right, top row down, is Hiba, Aya and Khaled Aburaneh, Karen Murray-Hopf (Let's Read coordinator for Cambridge) Garth Potruff, Ibrahim, Aburaneh, Tamer Abuhweleh, winner Noor, and Abdullah Aburaneh.