• Age: 4 to 8
• Grade: k to 4

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 legacy
• Notes from the author and illustrator about how Maud has impacted their lives

Uplifting and visually compelling, Maud’s story will inspire young readers to find and focus on the beauty in their worlds.

Kathy Stinson is a familiar name in children’s literature. She wrote the award-winning Red is Best and Big or Little?—two of the first picture books for preschoolers in Canada. Both were a huge success and have since achieved international acclaim. Red is Best 25th Anniversary Edition was released in 2006 a newly illustrated Big or Little? was published in 2009. Kathy’s latest book, The Man with the Violin (2013), was greeted with rave reviews, including starred reviews in Kirkus and uill & uire. Illustrated by Duan Petricic, this beautifully evocative picture book tells the true story of world-renowned violinist, Joshua Bell, who conducted an experiment by anonymously playing his priceless violin in the Washington D.C. subway station. Kathy grew up in Toronto. “My love affair with books began as a child,” she says. “I remember regular visits to the library, getting stacks of books to read.” She still has a notebook of stories that she wrote when she was in grade four. She believes that reading a lot is the key to becoming a good writer. In the early 1970s Kathy attended university while teaching elementary school. In 1981, she took a course called “How to write and get published.” The titles she has published in the years since range from picture books to young adult novels, from historical fiction chapter books to short stories in the horror genre. 2008 sees the publication of her first brand-new picture book in sixteen years! Kathy enjoys visiting schools across Canada, and especially talking with fellow writers. In 1987 she traveled to England as part of an exchange of Canadian and British children’s authors. She has helped students across Canada pursue their own creative projects through the Writers in Electronic Residence program, and in many communities has conducted writing workshops for children and for adults. When she’s not busy writing or reading, Kathy is a self-proclaimed jigsaw puzzle addict. Her children now grown, she lives with her partner, editor Peter Carver, in a hamlet not far from Guelph, Ontario.

Kathy Stinson's profile page

Lauren Soloy's profile page

• Short-listed, IBBY Outstanding Bks Young People w/Disabilities
• Winner, CCBC Choices 2024
• Short-listed, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award
• Short-listed, Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards
• Short-listed, Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver CDN Picture Book Award

"An inspiring picture book aimed at ages four to eight, but with a message for all ages."
—Montreal Gazette

"It's eminently challenging to distill an entire life into a picture book. . . Soloy's illustrations rise to the occasion, emulating the naïve style and cheery palette of Lewis' art, while highlighting key moments in Stinson's tight narrative. . . In a word: beautiful."
—Kirkus STARRED Review

"Anyone who's faced a challenge—that's everyone!—will appreciate Maud's tenacity and Soloy's lively art that bursts with color. . . A great choice for biography and art shelves."
—Booklist

"A touching and uplifting tribute, this book emphasizes the importance of finding beauty in the everyday and persevering through life's challenges."
—Horn Book

Praise for The Man with the Violin, by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Dusan Petricic

"Imaginatively illustrated and beautifully written, this offbeat ode to the power of music is a winner."
—STARRED Kirkus Review

"The art bursts forth, creating a stunning visual expression of Stinson's text."
—STARRED Review, Quill & Quire

Praise for the I's the B'y by Lauren Soloy

"Clap your hands and dance along to a traditional Newfoundland folk melody... an inviting version of a Canadian song that will resonate—and reverberate."
—Kirkus Reviews

"An exuberant book that captures and celebrates the character and culture of Newfoundland and is sure to get you and the little ones tapping your feet."
—Hakai Magazine