Transatlantic is proud to announce that Rachel Wada has been shortlisted for the 2020 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award for her illustration work on THE PHONE BOOTH IN MR. HIROTA’S GARDEN, which was written by Heather Smith and published by Orca Book Publishers.
IBBY Canada is one of more than 70 National Sections of the International Board on Books for Young People, and administers several awards for children’s literature. From their website:
“The Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award was established in 1985 following the death of Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver, one of Canada’s pre-eminent book illustrators. The recipient is a Canadian illustrator of a picture book published in Canada in English or French, and receives a cheque for $1,000 dollars and a certificate.”
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden is inspired by the true story of the wind phone in Otsuchi, Japan, which was created by artist Itaru Sasaki. He built the phone booth so he could speak to his cousin who had passed, saying, “My thoughts couldn’t be relayed over a regular phone line, I wanted them to be carried on the wind.” The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011 destroyed the town of Otsuchi, claiming 10 percent of the population. Residents of Otsuchi and pilgrims from other affected communities have been traveling to the wind phone since the tsunami.
Rachel Wada is a freelance illustrator whose work is defined by heavy texture, bold color and intricate details that capture the nuances of people, places and ideas, real and surreal. Rachel’s identity as Japanese-Cantonese, an immigrant and a woman informs her artistic practice. She loves to put her own spin on traditional techniques, motifs and symbolism inspired by her cultural background. This duality of old and new is also apparent in her use of both traditional and digital mediums, and she draws inspiration from a variety of sources, from Japanese woodblock prints, Chinese pottery and ceramics, food packaging design to traditional folk art. She has a special love for the ocean, tea and noodles of all kinds. Rachel lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Rachel and Heather Smith are represented by Amy Tompkins.
To see the full list of nominees, please follow this link: https://www.ibby-canada.org/announcing-the-2020-elizabeth-mrazik-cleaver-canadian-picture-book-award-finalists/?fbclid=IwAR1t9IdzGIvZoNOjwiFBLlMdpKNdd_w2l0QC3RGL-bNUoX8W3cy1YO5-jRA