Richard Van Camp is a proud member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation from Fort Smith, NWT.He is a graduate of the En'owkin International School of Writing, the University of Victoria's Creative Writing BFA Program, and the Master's Degree in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. He is an internationally renowned storyteller and best-selling author. His novel, The Lesser Blessed, is now a movie with First Generation Films and premiered in September of 2012 at the Toronto International Film Festival. He is the author of four collections of short stories, Angel Wing Splash Pattern, The Moon of Letting Go, Godless but Loyal to Heaven and Night Moves, as well as two children's books with Cree artist, George Littlechild: A Man Called Raven and What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses?His first baby book, Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns, was the official selection of the Books for BC Babies program and was given to every newborn baby in British Columbia in 2008. Richard followed this up with another board book: Nighty-Night: A Bedtime Song for Babies. His third book for babies, Little You, is now out with Orca Book Publishers. The amazing Julie Flett is the artist. Little You is published in Bush Cree, Dene and South Slavey, courtesy of the South Slave Divisional Board of Education. His new book for babies with Julie Flett is called "We Sang You Home" and it is gorgeous!All of Richard Van Camp's children's books are available in Braille for free, anywhere in the world, courtesy of the Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI) and Accessible Resource Centre-British Columbia (ARC-BC)Richard has six graphic novels and comic books out: his first comic book on deterring youth away from gangs, Path of the Warrior, is published with Cree artist, Steve Sanderson, through the Healthy Aboriginal Network. His second comic book on sexual health is Kiss Me Deadly, with Haida artist Chris Auchter. His four graphic novels are Three Feathers (published in Bush Cree, Dene, South Slavey and English, illustrated by Krystal Mateus, on restorative justice; The Eisner Award Nominated A Blanket of Butterflies, on the theme of peace making, illustrated by Scott Henderson, The Blue Raven, illustrated by Steve Sanderson on mental health, and Spirit, a suicide prevention comic book illustrated by Emily Brown (which is also published in Bush Cree, Dene, and South Slavey and English).

Richard Van Camp's profile page

Julie Flett is an award-winning Cree-Metis author, illustrator and artist. She has received many awards, including the 2016 American Indian Library Association Award for Best Picture Book for Little You, written by Richard Van Camp (Orca Books), and the Canadian Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Award in 2015 for Dolphins SOS, written by Roy Miki (Tradewind Books) and in 2017 for My Heart Fills with Happiness, written by Monique Gray Smith (Orca Books), and was nominated for the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature for her book Owls See Clearly at Night (Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer): A Michif Alphabet (L’alphabet di Michif). Her own Wild Berries (Simply Read Books) was chosen as Canada’s First Nation Communities Read title selection for 2014-2015.

www.julieflett.com

 

Julie Flett's profile page

• Winner, American Indian Library Association (AILA) American Indian Youth Literature Award (AIYLA) - Picture Book
• Winner, The Writers’ Guild of Alberta (WGA) R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature
• Commended, Today’s Parent 100 best Canadian kids’ books of all time
• Short-listed, Canadian Library Association (CLA) Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
• Nominated, Alcuin Book Design Awards - Picture Books
• Commended, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Our Choice
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Commended, Ontario Library association (OLA) Best Bets
• Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books

"A celebratory homage to newborn children and the joy they bring to their families. In a sensitive three-verse poetic text, author and storyteller Richard Van Camp evokes the love and commitment parents have for their offspring. The writing is meditative in nature...Julie Flett's unique pencil, watercolour and gouache collage illustrations are an exquisite partnering with the text...The colourful patterns on the parents' and child's clothing add visual interest in the artwork, which is otherwise striking in its simplicity.This beautiful board book will particularly resonate with parents, grandparents and caregivers of newborns as they begin their life's journey together."

Canadian Children's Book News

"A sweet little board book...Richard Van Camp has written a beautiful poem that describes the feelings of parenthood...The illustrations, done by Julie Flett, are both simple, and bold at the same time...and helped bring such beautiful words to life. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys curling up with their little one with a good book. It's a nice quick little read, that captured my little one's attention right away. It's got a great message that I hope she'll remember for the rest of her life."

Just Trying to Let it Be blog

"Both the language and artwork is sophisticated in this board book that welcomes a new child into the world and explains how important he or she is to their parents...There is a smoothness and softness to both the message and the rhythm of the text, to which little ones will respond...The collage-style art featuring an Asian family has a warm elegance that parents will enjoy and whimsical touches that will appeal to children."

Booklist Online

"This tender celebration of babies features gentle rhymes and warm, understated illustrations...The art has the look of cut paper, with distinct lines and pleasingly curved shapes...Eschewing the overt cuteness often seen in board books, the artist captures the toddler’s joy in subtle, but tangible images...The family feels real and specific, and the message...will resonate with all readers."

School Library Journal

"Charming and fluid, Richard Van Camp has unlocked the keys to the heart, beautifully expressing how parents feel about their own baby...This touching and joyful tale Little You takes us on a heartfelt and peaceful journey of raising baby...Encapsulating the serenity and enchantment of Van Camp's words, Julie Flett illustrates...in an elegant monochromatic autumnal palette...Simple clean lines, geometric shapes and the beautiful use of negative space are a delight at each turn of the page. Taking us on a journey of the pure love from season to season, daytime and evening, indoors and outdoors...A little book with a bigger heart, much, much bigger than little!"

Resource Links

★ "Van Camp composes a lyrical ode to a newborn child, which is matched in its loveliness by Flett's exquisite, collage-like images of a young one with his or her parents. Both collaborators are of aboriginal Canadian descent, and the book will have particular appeal for families looking for nonwhite representations of tender family moments. But families of every size, shape, and background can appreciate sentiments like, 'You are life and breath adored/ You are us and so much more/ Little ember with growing light/ Feel our love as we hold you tight.'"

Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A contemporary Metis child and his family are shown as the child grows from infancy to toddlerhood. Joy in life and the world about them are lovingly depicted in spare, but evocative text that is paired with Flett’s exquisite mixed-media illustrations."

Debbie Reese for School Library Journal

"This board book is meant for the very youngest "listeners" as well as a good gift idea for new parents or soon-to-be parents. The quiet verses are warm, cozy and heartfelt. The illustrations show a family of people with darker skin (the author and illustrator are Canadian aboriginals) which would make this book appealing to people who are non-Caucasian, thus widening its appeal. A wonderful addition for public libraries."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group

"The spreads lovingly depict a young child growing from infancy to toddlerhood...The text has the gentle cadence of a lullaby...Flett, who is of Cree Métis heritage, gives each character tawny skin, almond-shaped eyes and dark hair. This, combined with her sophisticated and simple style, allows her featured family to represent relatively broad branches of the human family. The art, with the look of cut-paper collage, uses curved forms and playful prints to flesh out the affectionate tableaux...The soothing rhythms of the language and the affection of the scenes are right on target. A poetic and joyful celebration."

Kirkus Reviews

"The brief poetic text speaks to the delight that a child has brought into its parents' lives...Flett's illustrations of a Metis or First Nations family, consisting of mother, father and child, capture their close physical and emotional bonds. Little You is an excellent purchase for public libraries as well as being a good gift for new parents! Highly Recommended."

CM Magazine

"[Has] a quiet lyricism and poetic flair...Thunder, star, breath and ember provide images for the parents' love of this small baby—small in body but great in wonder. The clean lines and subtle colour contrasts in Flett’s illustrations are an apt complement to Van Camp's evocation of love, festivity and natural wonder."

The Toronto Star

Little You

Richard Van Camp, internationally renowned storyteller and bestselling author of the hugely successful Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns, has partnered with award-winning illustrator Julie Flett to create a tender board book for babies and toddlers that celebrates the potential of every child. With its delightful contemporary illustrations, Little You is perfect to be shared, read or sung to all the little people in your life—and the new little ones on the way!

A simple board book that celebrates a baby and its family, this book uses pictures and short sentences to express the joy the baby brings to their lives. The images and words can be used to promote personal narratives connected to family relationships and the universal celebration of babies and families. Art lessons can explore the use of colour and positive and negative space.

Also available: Welcome Song for Baby by Richard Van Camp

Author available for school visits @richardvancamp

Little You

Th is is a board book with short poetic text and brightly coloured, simple illustrations showing a mother, father and toddler. It celebrates the individuality of children and the joy they bring to families. Th e Japanese-style pictures lend a multicultural feel.

Useful in school libraries that support Roots of Empathy and preschool programs, it may also be used as a pattern book and a basis for discussion of families and new babies.

Van Camp is an internationally renowned storyteller and author of many books. A member of the Dogrib (Tlicho) Nation from Fort Smith, NWT, he has taught creative writing at UBC and Emily Carr Institute and was Writer in Residence at the University of Alberta.

Flett is a Métis and Cree artist and illustrator who has been nominated for several awards for her picture books.