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Children's Nonfiction Post-confederation (1867-)

A Boy Named Tommy Douglas

by (author) Beryl Young

illustrated by Joan Steacy

designed by Ken Steacy

Publisher
Midtown Press
Initial publish date
Apr 2022
Category
Post-Confederation (1867-), Social Activism & Volunteering
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781988242415
    Publish Date
    Apr 2022
    List Price
    $24.95

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Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 6 to 8
  • Grade: 1 to 3
  • Reading age: 6 to 8

Description

A childhood illness inspired the boy who was not big for his age and not from a wealthy family to grow up to make an important difference in the lives of every child and adult in Canada.

Here is the little-known story of Tommy Douglas and his dream. When Tommy was a boy in Winnipeg his knee injury led to osteomyelitis, and doctors made the frightening decision to amputate his leg. His leg was saved by a specialist who performed surgery at no cost so Tommy could run and play games again. Growing up, Tommy never forgot that other children whose parents didn’t have money to pay surgeons were not so fortunate. He became a fiery politician and his dream to have good medical care for all Canadians came true.

Tommy Douglas is known as the Father of Medicare.

About the authors

Beryl Young is the author of the best-selling young adult novel Wishing Star Summer (Raincoast, 2001). The book was on the Victoria Times Colonist BC Children’s Bestseller list for twenty-six weeks, was named to Our Choice book by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, and received nominations for the Red Cedar Award (BC), the Chocolate Lily Award (BC) and the Diamond Willow Award (SK). Young is a member of the Federation of BC Writers, the Children’s Writers and Illustrators of BC, the Writers Union of Canada, and the Canadian Society of Authors, Illustrators and Performers. In the autumn of 2009, she published, to great acclaim, Charlie: A Home Child’s Life in Canada (Key Porter). She has a passion for elephants and for India, where she has travelled three times in an unsuccessful search for her real life pen pal. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. Beryl has three children and four grandchildren.

Beryl Young's profile page

Joan Steacy grew up in southern Ontario, and is a graduate of Sheridan College, The Ontario College of Art & Design University, and The University of Victoria. With her husband Ken Steacy she co-created the Comics and Graphic Novels program at Camosun College in Victoria, BC, where she taught from 2012 to 2020. Her first graphic novel Aurora Borealice: a Graphic Memoir, was published by Conundrum Press in 2019, and was listed as one of “Ten Canadian Comics to Read Right Now” by the CBC, and won the sequential magazine award for best graphic novel of 2019. Joan also produced the illustrations for a biography of our greatest canadian, titled A Boy Named Tommy Douglas which is published by Midtown press as well.

Joan Steacy's profile page

Ken Steacy's profile page

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