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

• Commended, Pajamas (PJ) Library Selection
• Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books
• Commended, Toronto Public Library (TPL) Ready for Reading First and Best List

"This is a board book that toddlers will want to look at over and over just to see the expressions on the little ones."

NMRLS Youth Services Book Review

"An excellent purchase for public libraries and a terrific gift for new parents! Highly recommended."

CM Magazine

"It may work its way into parents' and grandparents' hearts the way Robert Munsch's Love You Forever has."

The Vancouver Sun

"An excellent addition to a public library's collection. For new parents it would be a welcomed gift to be cherished for years to come."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group

"If you have a need to purchase a book as a gift for parents of a newborn, this is the one to get. It will be a treasure long after the baby has grown."

Resource Links

Welcome Song for Baby: A lullaby for newborns

Orca Book Publishers have produced a stunning new board book written by renowned First Nations storyteller Richard Van Camp. Welcome Song for Baby is a lullaby that welcomes a child into the world: “the sun rises for you/the earth welcomes you/we raise our hands to you.” It is a song and a chant and a celebration of the joy a new baby brings into the world. The full page, full-colour photographs are stunning. Each photo focuses on beautiful baby faces from many cultures. Like Robert Munsch’s Love You Forever, Welcome Song for Baby is a book that honours the precious bond between parent and child.