World Literary Awards

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Sydney Smith

シドニー・スミス

Shidoni Sumisu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
Canada
Nationality
Canadian
Languages
English
Residence History
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Career

Occupations
Illustrator, Children's book illustrator, Author
Active Years
2010-2024
Affiliations
Nimbus Publishing, Groundwood Books
Nominations
Goodreads Choice Awards Best Picture Books 2015 (Sidewalk Flowers), Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration 2024 (Do You Remember?)

Education

NSCAD University
drawing and printmaking
Country: Canada

Awards

Hans Christian Andersen Award
2024
Category: Illustration
Organization: IBBY
Result: Won
Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration
2015
Work: Sidewalk Flowers
Organization: Governor General of Canada
Result: Won
CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal
2018
Work: Town Is by the Sea
Organization: CILIP
Result: Won
Kate Greenaway Medal
2021
Work: Small in the City
Organization: CILIP
Result: Won
Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration
2015
Work: Music Is For Everyone
Organization: Canadian Children's Book Centre
Result: Won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Sidewalk Flowers

2015 Wordless picture book

A wordless picture book about a girl and her father discovering flowers in the city.

NatureDiscoveryFamily

Town Is by the Sea

2017 Picture book

A picture book depicting the daily life of a boy and his father working by the sea.

FamilyLaborSea

Small in the City

2019 Picture book

A boy's story of feeling small in the city. Author-illustrated.

LonelinessUrban lifeEmpathy

Do You Remember?

2023 Picture book

A picture book reflecting on memories. Author-illustrated.

MemoryFamily

Bibliography

  • Mabel Murple
  • There Were Monkeys In My Kitchen
  • Toes In My Nose: And Other Poems
  • Jewel of the Thames (A Portia Adams Adventure Book 1)
  • Music Is For Everyone
  • Grant and Tillie Go Walking
  • Sidewalk Flowers
  • Look Out for the Fitzgerald-Trouts
  • The White Cat and the Monk
  • Town Is by the Sea
  • Small in the City
  • I Talk Like a River
  • Do You Remember?
  • My Baba's Garden

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Unique watercolor and ink illustration styleDynamic use of light and color
Recurring Motifs
Urban landscapesFamily bondsElements of nature

Legacy

Renowned Canadian children's book illustrator who has won the Hans Christian Andersen Award and numerous international awards for his contributions to children's literature.

Trivia

  • Currently resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
  • Discovered his interest in children's book illustration while studying at NSCAD University.
  • Has done graphic design for Canadian bands like Hey Rosetta! and Old Man Luedecke.