Hugh Brewster

Displaying Enteries: 1 - 5 of 9.

'Carnation,Lily' On the Stage - Apr-16-08 - 02:04

In other 'Carnation,Lily' news, I am rewriting the play produced for the garden party book launch (see photos below) as a school production for Branksome Hall, a Toronto private girl's school to be performed next year. And then there's a chance it may go to Broadway! (That's Broadway, Worcestershire, but let's not be picky!) The Cotswolds village where the book is set is interested in having the play put on there as part of a new arts festival in 2010. Stay tuned!

'At Vimy Ridge' nominated for Hackmatack Award - Apr-15-08 - 09:42

At Vimy Ridge has been chosen as one of the ten English non-fiction finalists for the 2009 Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award. This is an Atlantic Canadian book award which allows children to choose their favourite Canadian books. And like the other 'Tree' Awards, Hackmatack is a great reading motivator in schools and libraries.

'American Artist' Loves Hugh Brewster's 'Carnation,Lily,Lily, Rose!' - Jan-16-08 - 08:35

The February issue of the venerable American Artist magazine (circ.124,000) features a splendid review of Carnation, Lily,Lily, Rose by Hugh Brewster Reviewer Mark G. Mitchell, a children's author/illustrator himself, puts the book in the context of Sargent's career and describes how Sargent's time in the Cotswolds village of Broadway (where 'Carnation,Lily' was painted) restored his spirits after the 'Madame X' scandal in Paris in 1884 He concludes his review by stating:

"This is an exquisite book, gently written and beautifully produced. It's filled with Sargent's paintings, sketches, and even his cartoons and doodles in letters. There are also some photos of the painter at work and of this charming time and place. The book makes compelling, essential reading for anyone of any age who is interested in painting and loves art."

BREAKOUT DINOSAURS HAS BREAKOUT LAUNCH! - Dec-10-07 - 09:40

BREAKOUT DINOSAURS:Canada's Coolest, Scariest Ancient Creatures Return! by Hugh Brewster and the curators of the Royal Ontario Museum and illustrated by Alan Barnard had a smashing launch as part of the gala opening of the ROM's new Age of Dinosaur and Age of Mammals Galleries on December 15-16, 2007. They are the first two permanent exhibit halls to open in the museum's spectacular new Michael Lee-Chin Crystal and showcase over 750 specimens (including 50 dinosaurs) among them a ferocious T.Rex and "Gordo" a massive 24-metre Barosaurus, the largest dinosaur displayed anywhere in Canada. Despite ferocious weather, hundreds of people crowded the galleries and came to our presentation in the ROM theatre. A particularly popular feature was illustrator Alan Barnard drawing an original dinosaur sketch on the endpaper of each copy of Breakout purchased. Alan returned to give an easel talk at the ROM on December 29th.

For a Podcast pf Hugh Brewster talking about Breakout Dinosaurs and the ROM's collection go to www.rom.on.ca and click on 'Podcasts"

Hugh Brewster and Alan Barnard sign books at the ROM bookstore

Kudos for 'Carnation,Lily,Lily, Rose' - Dec-10-07 - 01:26

Carnation,Lily,Lily Rose: The Story of a Painting (Kids Can Press) has received much positive attention since it was published in August of 2007. I was delighted to receive a phone call on October 16, informing me that the book was one of five finalists chosen out of a field of 221 books for the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature (Text). This nomination for Canada's top book prize was a surprise honour, since it's unusual for the text of a picture book to be selected. The winner was Iain Lawrence for his YA novel Gemini Summer --but as a nominee I received a prize of $1,000 and silver stickers for the book.

The reviews have been most generous with the Washington Post calling it "[an] exquisite book" and featuring it on Sunday Dec. 9th as one of their Best Books For Young People. But the plaudits that thrilled me the most came from John Singer Sargent's great-nephew, Richard Ormond. Richard is a leading Sargent scholar and with writer Elaine Kilmurray is creating the multi-volume John Singer Sargent Catalogue Raisonnee, On November 6, Richard and Elaine wrote, " [The book] is delightfully done and brings the picture to life in a very imaginative way, as well as telling the story coherently. A good read for adults as well as children....Pray do another book in the same winning style."