Lasso the Wind: Aurélia's Verses and Other Poems

My latest work is with Nimbus, creating the artwork for Lasso the Wind, Nimbus Publishing, text by George Elliott Clarke.  I have admired George's literature and poetry, and found the visual imagery within his work inspirational. Over several years, George an I had conversations regarding the idea of an illustrated poetry book for children.  Working with collage, drawings, paintings, and digital imaging, the following are 

illustrations from the final publication. 

 

All images © Susan Tooke

F is for Fiddlehead

With text by Marilyn Lohnes, published by Sleeping Bear Press, F is for Fiddlehead is an alphabet book based on the province of New Brunswick.  One of the Canadian Maritime provinces, New Brunswick boasts of a varied landscape, bustling cities and is the only officially bilingual province.

all images © Susan Tooke

Free as the Wind

With text by Jamie Bastedo,published by Red Deer Press, Free as the Wind gave me the opportunity to meet Zoe Lucas, resident of Sable Island.  Zoe is a brilliant observer of life on the island (http://www.greenhorsesociety.com/) and a champion for this unique environment.

all images © Susan Tooke

Full Moon Rising

With text by my dear friend, Joanne Taylor, Full Moon Rising tells of the Moon, and activities under each full moon as experienced by a Nova Scotian farm family.  Winner of the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration and the Mayors Award for Illustration.

text by Joanne Taylor, artwork Susan Tooke

Hay Moon (Full Moon Rising)

Corn Moon (Full Moon Rising)

Hunger Moon (Full Moon Rising)

Planter Moon (Full Moon Rising)

                           

A Fiddle for Angus:

A Fiddle for Angus, Tundra Books, text by Budge Wilson

Ceilidh at the Red Shoe (A Fiddle for Angus)

I'm a fiddler (A Fiddle for Angus)

Brave Jack and the Unicorn:

Brave Jack and the Unicorn, text by Janet McNaughton, Tundra Books

Feast at the Magician's Castle (Brave Jack and the Unicorn)

Queen of the Ants (Brave Jack and the Unicorn)

Climbing the Glass Mountain ( Brave Jack and the Unicorn)

The Golden Apple ( Brave Jack and the Unicorn)

Up Home, text by Shautay Grant, is Up Home (Nimbus Publishing). Up Home won the Lillian Shepherd Award for Illustration and The Best Published Book at the Atlantic Book Awards in 2009.  Many thanks to the community of North Preston, Nova Scotia:

The City Speaks in Drums, text by Shauntay Grant,
Illustrations by Susan Tooke, Nimbus Publishing.  Winner of the Lillian Shepherd Award for Excellence in Illustration, here are some of the illustrations for this romp around the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia...