With Halle Bailey as the Black live-action lead, The Little Mermaid surpassed the total worldwide gross of the original 1989 Disney animated film after its first week. And Miles Morales: Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse is the second-biggest film release of 2023. Stakeholders are greenlighting more Black-centred movies and films both on the screen and on the page. And in Canada, more Black animators, comic and visual artists are turning their attention to illustrating the first books that enter the lives of young people– picture books. 

Meet Canada’s Black children’s book illustrators. Join me while I discuss with them what goes into the creation of their work.   

 

Olivia Amoah

Thunder Bay, ON

Canadian of Ghanaian/Norwegian heritage

Recent illustrated titles: 

Little People BIG DREAMS by Vanessa Nakate (Frances Lincoln Books 2023)

Here Are The Seeds (Kids Can Press, not yet published)

{https://www.instagram.com/p/CroSH2CRW_S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D}

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters?

My personal experience as a Black person is one where I didn't have much Black influence in my life because I was raised in a predominantly white city. I often felt like I didn't fit in with any group so I spent a lot of time alone with my creative outlets and in nature. Because of this, I like to illustrate Black characters who are quirky, creative, introverted and have a sense of individuality, adventurousness, and love nature. I keep in mind that Black people come from all social and economic backgrounds and that shapes who they are.

Upcoming illustrated books: Here Are The Seeds by JaNay Brown Wood (Kids Can Press, 2024)

 

Joseph Osei Bonsu

Mississauga, Ontario

Ghanaian-Canadian

Awards/Nominations: Mississauga Arts Council - Mississauga Arts Award - Visual Arts Multimedia Established

Recent Titles: Race With Me (Scholastic Canada, 2021), Dual School (Kids Point Of View Books, 2022), Mia's World Activity Book (Mia's Book Club, 2022) 

{https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ_SVjkMAYS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D}

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters?

The big thing I keep in mind is that we, as Black people are not a monolith. There should never be one type of black character used in literature. I try to display this through my illustrations, whether through the Black superheroes in Heroes Of The World to various characters I create in kids' literature. Designing characters with different shades, hairstyles, or body types is entertaining!  

Upcoming Titles: 

More comic projects with Heroes Of The World. 

Continue working with author Victoria Daley on the 3rd book in the Mia's Book Club series.

I am also developing another IP/Online comic series. Top secret for now!

 

Eva Campbell

Victoria, BC

Ghanaian-Barbadian Canadian

Recent awards: Governor’s General Award for Africville by Shauntay Grant, 2018, Lilian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration for Africville by Shauntay Grant, 2018

Recent titles: A Home for Us by Sharon Jennings (Red Deer Press, 2022), Heart Berry Bling by Jenny Kay Dupuis (Portage and Main, Highwater Press, 2023)

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters?

I like to show the confidence, humanity and resilience of the characters.

 

Janine Carrington

Toronto, Ontario

Trinidadian and Canadian

Recent titles: Em and the Cat, author illustrated (independent, 2023)

Illustrations: The Moon loves glitter (independent, 2023), Pretty Bun (independent, 2023), The lake michigan Monster (Play in a book publishing, 2023), Girl, You got it! (independent, 2023), Promise Me (independent, 2023), Harriet's Dinner Party (independent, 2023), My Little World (independent, 2023), 

{https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPZzrUuxsh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D}

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters?

I'm always very cognizant of the association of Black and Dark skin with Trauma as well as the positioning in frame of Black characters. I aggressively seek to avoid replicating these tropes and placements in my work and always add a positive spin to every depiction of Blackness that I'm put in charge of.

Upcoming books: Pretty Bun (independent, 2023), The Lake Michigan Monster (Play in a book publishing, 2023), My Nanny is a Superhero! (independent, 2023)

  

Chelsea Charles

Brampton, ON

Canadian of Trinidadian heritage

Recent Titles:

Little Black Lives Matter by Khodi Dill (Seven Stories Press, 2023)

The Hockey Jersey by Jael Richardson with Eva Perron (The Bank of Nova Scotia, 2023)

{https://www.instagram.com/p/CoJLQ3XMfGg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D}

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters?

Representation is important to me so illustrating various hair textures and skin tones are things I keep in mind as I want everyone to see themselves.

Upcoming books:  The Trailblazing Life of Viola Desmond: A Civil Rights Icon by Rachel Kehoe with Wanda Robson (Orca Book Publishers, 2023)

 

Myriam Chery

Quebec city, Québec

Canadian of Quebecoise and Haitian heritage

Recent titles:

Where Do Your Feelings Live? By Catherine Hernandez (Harper Collins, 2022)

Le Zaillemeur de Papi by Marie-Pier Meunier (Les Z’ailées Éditions, 2022)

{https://www.instagram.com/reel/CdbCULgFQTk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D}

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters?

Nothing. I simply draw them as joyful children without thinking about the differences that some people may perceive. When I draw, my main focus is on capturing the character's soul and conveying the emotion I want to portray. The choice of skin colour comes naturally and instinctively, without me having to consciously think about it.

 

Ken Daley

Tillsonburg, ON

Canadian of Dominican and Antiguan heritage

Recent titles:

The Legend of the Spirit Serpent (Reycraft Books 2022)

Granny's Kitchen (Feiwel and Friends 2022)

Black Boy, Black Boy (Sourcebooks 2022)

You Come From Greatness (WaterBrook Books 2023)

{https://www.instagram.com/p/CkB0GaqPLXy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D}

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters?

Black folks come in all skin complexions, sizes, body and hair types, and hairstyles. How we adorn and dress ourselves is such an important expression of Blackness. We're beautiful people and I love to celebrate our creativity and coolness, so I keep all those aspects in mind when I'm illustrating Black characters.

Upcoming books:

Jayden's Secret Ingredient (Free Spirit Publishing, August 2023)

Summer Island (Leap Forward Publishing, August 2023)

The Little Regent (Owlbooks, 2024)

Back Hom (Candlewick Books, 2024)

Beautiful Black Boy (Scholastic, 2024)

The Big Question (Groundwood Books, 2025)

Saturday Morning at the 'Shop (Simon and Schuster, 2024)

I Am Cherished (Scholastic Canada, 2024)

Muhammad Ali (Little Golden Book, 2024)

 

Nneka Myers

Toronto, ON

Canadian of Jamaican heritage

Awards/Nominations for your work in the last 3 years: Northern Lights Book Awards (Preschool Category) for Because You Are

Recent Books: I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything, (Flamingo Books, 2020), I Am Amazing (Flamingo Books, 2022), Because You Are (HarperCollins, 2022), Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night (Clarion Books 2022) 

{https://www.instagram.com/p/CgekLlPugvr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D}

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters? 

I always draw with the intention of what I would have loved to read as a child. I am still growing as an artist and trying my best to have my art be reflective of today's society, but I always make sure to bring vibrancy and joy to my Black characters on the page. I want Black children to be able to look at my illustrations and feel like they belong.

Upcoming books:

The Grover School Pledge, HarperCollins, June 20, 2023

  

Sahle Robinson

Toronto, ON

Canadian of Jamaican, Ethiopian Orthodox 

Recent titles:

Water Love (Plumleaf Press, 2022)

{https://www.instagram.com/p/CjUFNLrrc8c/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D}

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters?

I always remember to draw from life, my environment, the people around me, because Black characters are never cookie cut, the specific features in African and Caribbean people are beautiful and unique while wonderfully varied. Stereotypical “Black features” like wide noses and thick lips and hips don’t cut it and won’t make the characters authentic and come alive on the page. 

Upcoming books:

Patty Dreams (Owl Kids, 2024)

 

Syrus Marcus Ware

Tkaronto/Toronto, ON

Canadian of African-American and British heritage

Recent illustrated titles: 

Bridge of Flowers by Leah Lakshmi Piepsna Samarasinha (Flamingo Rampant Press, 2019)

{https://www.instagram.com/p/CsCFAfgpqQ8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D}

What do you keep in mind when illustrating Black characters?  

We need images of ALL Black people. Dark-skinned, queer, trans, fat, disabled, Deaf, Mad, short, tall, mixed- Black people, especially those on the margins, all need to see themselves reflected in these books. This is because this portrayal plants the idea for children that we all get to exist and be considered inherently valuable- that there is no one way to be Black, and that we all get to be supported in thriving. 

Upcoming books: Abolition is Love as author (Seven Stories Press, 2023)

 

New book releases by Black Canadian authors in June:

When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw (Annick Press, June 6)

Black Girl, Black Girl by Angela Bowden, illustrated by Letitia Fraser (Nimbus Publishing, June 6)

And the Walls Come Down by Denise Da Costa (Dundurn Press, June 6)

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everette (Harper Collins Canada, June 27)

The Chatham Coloured All Stars’ Barrier Breaking Year by Heidi LM Jacobs (Biblioasis, June 6)

The Grover School Pledge by Wanda Taylor (Harper Collins Canada, June 2)