Kathy Stinson – författare

The little girl in this simple but exuberant story knows that red barrettes are best, “because they make my hair laugh.”

Top 32 Canadian Books for Children, Canadian Children's Book Centre 100 Best Canadian Kids' Books, Today's Parent Magazine "Red is Best gets it right. This is a true children's classic." --Ken Setterington, author, storyteller, Children and Youth Advocate for the Toronto Public Library "Delightful." --School Library Journal Young Kelly's mom doesn't understand about red. Sure, the brown mittens are warmer, but the red mitts make better snowballs. And the red boots aren't just for rain; they take bigger steps in any weather. And, yes! a green cup does make a difference ...juice tastes better in the red cup. No doubt about it, red is best. Kathy Stinson's classic tale of one toddler's obstinate color preference has been charming readers for 25 years now. With over 275,000 copies in print, Red is Best has steadily marched its way to become a children's book classic. Now a new generation of readers can discover Stinson's insistent young heroine, aptly captured in the simple drawings by Robin Baird Lewis, each punctuated by the right dazzle of red.With its plucky charm presented in a redesigned interior, and a special cover commemorating the book's 25th anniversary, the re-release of Red is Best is sure to be a red-letter day.

The little girl in this simple but exuberant story knows that red barrettes are best, “because they make my hair laugh.”

This timeless tale of one child's stubborn preference for the color red has been marching its way into the hearts of readers around the world for almost 30 years. Now available as a toddler-friendly board book,Red Is Best is sure to continue charming a whole new generation of readers. The text has been adapted for the board book audience.

Winner of the 2014 TD Children's Literature Award--now in paperback! Dylan is someone who notices things. His mom is someone who doesn't. So try as he might, Dylan can't get his mom to listen to the man playing the violin in the subway station. But Dylan is swept away by the beautiful music that fills the air as crowds of oblivious people hurry past. This gorgeous picture book is based on the true story of Joshua Bell, a world-renowned classical violinist who famously took his instrument down into the Washington D.C. subway for a free concert. More than a thousand commuters rushed by him, but only seven stopped to listen, most of them children. Kathy Stinson's vividly imagined text combined with Dusan Petricic's illustrations that pulse with energy and movement, expertly demonstrate the transformative power of music. With an afterword by Joshua Bell.

Who is playing that beautiful music in the subway? And why is nobody listening? This gorgeous picture book is based on the true story of Joshua Bell, the renowned American violinist who famously took his instrument down into the Washington D.C. subway for a free concert. More than a thousand commuters rushed by him, but only seven stopped to listen for more than a minute. In The Man with the Violin, bestselling author Kathy Stinson has woven a heart-warming story that reminds us all to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. Dylan is someone who notices things. His mom is someone who doesn't. So try as he might, Dylan can't get his mom to listen to the man playing the violin in the subway station. With the beautiful music in his head all day long, Dylan can't forget the violinist, and finally succeeds in making his mother stop and listen, too. Vividly imagined text combined with illustrations that pulse with energy expertly demonstrate the transformative power of music. With a postscript explaining Joshua Bell's story, and afterword by Joshua Bell himself.

Best Friends Forever. Harry may be four and three-quarters and Walter may be ninety-two and a half, but that doesn’t stop them from being best friends. Harry loves to go next door to play games with Walter and draw pictures together. And when the snow falls, Walter clears a path to Harry’s house so that they can visit every day. But one day, a For Sale sign appears on Harry’s lawn. Harry is devastated that he and Walter will no longer be neighbors. Harry’s new house is bigger and better than his old one, but without Walter to share things with, nothing seems to be much fun…until one day, Harry hears a familiar voice. Walter, too, has moved--to a nearby seniors’ residence. Now, Harry and Walter can still be best friends. Acclaimed author Kathy Stinson has created a poignant, cross-generational story that will warm the hearts of children and adults alike. With charming illustrations by Qin Leng, Harry and Walter is a perfect book for children to share with grandparents.

As a young student of the violin, Joshua Bell learns about an international competition to be held in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He chooses a piece of music, which his teacher suggests may be too difficult, but Joshua is determined. It’s a piece of music he loves. At the competition, Joshua experiences the usual jitters. Once his name is called, he strides to the stage and begins to play, but almost immediately, he makes a mistake. As he is about to walk off the stage, he asks the judges if could try again. They agree, and this time, the playing is impeccable. Dušan Petricic’s brilliant illustrations, full of movement and color, capture the sounds made by Joshua’s violin, from the missed notes to the swirling, uplifting strains of the perfectly executed piece. Children will readily empathize with Joshua’s misstep, but they will also learn that there is always a second chance.

A celebration of a beloved folk artist, and her artistic expression of joy and beauty.Known for her vibrant and cheerful paintings of landscapes, plants, and animals, Maud Lewis’ iconic folk art is celebrated around the world. Despite her beautiful art, she spent much of her life living in poverty with rheumatoid arthritis. In this stunning picture book, author Kathy Stinson and illustrator Lauren Soloy bring Maud’s world to life: how she captured in her art what she loved most, while navigating the mobility issues caused by her condition. From bright paintings of the sea and countryside, to the flowers and birds she painted on the walls of the small house she shared with her husband, Maud’s work continues to delight and inspire viewers young and old.A Tulip in Winter features:Backmatter about Maud Lewis’ life and legacyNotes from the author and illustrator about how Maud has impacted their livesUplifting and visually compelling, Maud’s story will inspire young readers to find and focus on the beauty in their worlds.

For kids ages 3-7, this lyrical picture book explores the complex emotions around missing a loved one, with stunning illustrations by Ojibwe artist Maya McKibbin.I wish I could show you…this great big meadow,like a sea of lacy clouds….In this beautiful ode to nature and mindfulness, a child sets out to explore the environment around their home, using all their senses. Yet, someone important is missing, someone the child wishes could be there on the journey.Expressive text by Kathy Stinson leaves room for readers’ own interpretations about who the child in the story might be missing, while Indigenous illustrator Maya McKibbin’s gorgeous images capture the lush beauty of the natural world and the tenderness of a child’s emotions.The perfect book for helping a child navigate loss, or missing someone that can’t be there with them.Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute

Meet Zora: a dog with a big dream and an even bigger personality. All Zora wants to do is learn how to fly so she can catch that pesky squirrel in her yard. But try as she might to prove to her friend Tully—a skeptical cat—that dogs truly can fly, nothing seems to work. Until Zora finds the right motivation, that is. Kathy Stinson’s charming story of perseverance is beautifully brought to life by Brandon James Scott’s exuberant and wonderfully expressive illustration. Touching on themes of optimism and determination in the face of failure, The Dog Who Wanted to Fly is a book anyone—even a cat—will love.

Bodies, bodies! Big and small, short and tall, young and old—Every BODY is different!The Bare Naked Book has been a beloved fixture in libraries, classrooms, and at-home story times since its original publication in 1986. Now, this revised edition is ready to meet a new generation of readers.The text has been updated to reflect current understandings of gender and inclusion, which are alsoshowcased in the brand-new, vibrant illustrations by Melissa Cho.Featuring a note from the author explaining the history of the book and the importance of this updated edition, readers will delight in this celebration of all kinds of bodies.

Bodies, bodies! Big and small, short and tall, young and old—Every BODY is different!The Bare Naked Book has been a beloved fixture in libraries, classrooms, and at-home story times since its original publication in 1986. Now, this revised edition is ready to meet a new generation of readers.The text has been updated to reflect current understandings of gender and inclusion, which are alsoshowcased in the brand-new, vibrant illustrations by Melissa Cho.Featuring a note from the author explaining the history of the book and the importance of this updated edition, readers will delight in this celebration of all kinds of bodies.

Two boats at sea, struck by a storm, are impacted very differently—a tale about economic inequality and climate change, patterned on a classic poem.Four characters go to sea in two very different boats for two very different reasons—Boogy and Tee set off in a luxury yacht for a vacation, while Twinkle and Hew set out in a tiny fishing dory in search of their next meal. When a storm blows up, the fishing dory soon breaks apart, casting Twinkle and Hew into the sea. The yacht hits a large rock, and as water pours into the hold, Boogy can do nothing but wail about losing his precious possessions. Then Tee spots Twinkle and Hew clinging to the remains of their boat and insists they go to the rescue—a decision that saves them all.Inspired by Edward Lear’s “The Owl and the Pussycat,” Kathy Stinson’s story-poem with its rollicking, sea-faring rhythm and sprinkling of invented vocabulary combines with Mark Hoffmann’s quirky, playful art to create a funnay tale that speaks to urgent issues.Includes as afterword a brief quotation adopted and retweeted by Greta Thunberg: “Stop saying that we’re all in the same boat. We’re all in the same storm. But we’re not all in the same boat.”Key Text Featuresafterworddialogueillustrationsliterary referencespoemsvignettes Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.