CANSCAIP Members

Maryann Kovalski

Author/Illustrator

80 Belmont St.
Toronto, Ontario
M5R 1P8
Phone: (416) 923-6542
Email: maryannkovalski@gmail.com
Website: www.maryannkovalski.net

Born: June 4, 1951. Bronx, New York
Married to Gregory Sheppard, commercial film director; children: Genevieve (Jenny) Sheppard and Joanna Sheppard.

Biography

I love telling stories with words and pictures. I'm often asked which of those two I like best and I have to say that they really are very similar. A sentence in a picture book may not be illustrated but it can paint an incredible picture in the mind of the reader. Illustrations in a book can tell wonderful stories that the manuscript never addresses. Marrying words and pictures to tell a story is one of the most satisfying things in the world to do and something nobody is too old to appreciate. When I go to schools I try to get to speak to older students whenever I can. I try to make them see how drawing can be broken down to the simplest of geometric shapes and how the simplest stories are the hardest to tell.

Published Works

Written & Illustrated:

Brenda And Edward, Kids Can Press, 1984
The Wheels On The Bus, Kids Can Press, 1987, U.S.: Little Brown, 1987
Pizza For Breakfast, Kids Can Press, 1991, U.S.: Morrow, 1991
Take Me Out To The Ballgame, Scholastic, 1993
Queen Nadine, Orca Book Publishers, 1998
Jingle Bells, (A First Flight Level Two Reader) Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1998
Rain, Rain, (A First Flight Level Two Reader) Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1999
Omar On Ice, (A First Flight Level Two Reader) Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1999
Omar On Ice, (The Picture book version) Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1999

Illustrated:

Rose Robart, The Cake That Mack Ate, Little Brown, 1986
Tim Wynne-Jones, I'll Make You Small, Douglas & McIntyre, 1986
Paulette Bourgeois, Grandma's Secret, Kid's Can Press, 1989 U.S.: Little Brown, 1989
John Green, Junkpile Jennifer, Scholastic, 1991
Rhea Tregebov, The Big Storm, Kid's Can Press, 1992, U.S.: Hyperion, 1992
Rita Golden Gelman, I Went to the Zoo, Scholastic, 1993
David Booth, Doctor Knickerbocker and Other Rhymes, Kid's Can Press, 1993
Sheree Fitch, Mable Murple, Doubleday Canada, 1995
Margaret Atwood, Princess Prunella and the Purple Peanut, Key Porter Books, 1996, U.S.: Workman, 1996
Helen Lanteigne, The Seven Chairs, 1998, Key Porter Books, U.S.: Orchard Books

Other Memberships

Amercian Writer's Guild, CCBC

Available For

I am available for school, library readings and drawing workshops.


Frequently Asked Questions	Join CANSCAIP	CANSCAIP Meetings	Buy CANSCAIP	Contact Us