Mary Jane Muir

Readings

My presentations will include a reading from one of my books and also will include a sketch or drawings. I talk about how Stephen Muir wrote his story about Albert when he was in high school and how I found the story in a pile of his homework papers while tidying his messy room. I talk about the process of creating the illustrations and about different ways to make pictures for stories. I show a few of the original rough drawings and final art. Then I read the story. Afterwards there is time for questions and some on the spot drawing of Albert or Bill, the favorite characters in the book.

Children seem to understand Albert and his dilemma of feeling as if he is on the outside of things. They relate to Albert and they understand how he feels when he is bullied by Bill. And then there is always the happy ending which is satisfying all around. The Albert story is always well received by children from kindergarten to grade three and four. The children seem to particularly enjoy the part of the presentation when I draw for them.

My book Gynn, now out of print, is about our family guinea pig and how Robby wanted a Guinea pig more than anything else in the world. It is a gentle story about the life of a pet and the loss felt when it dies. While sad this story always touches the hearts of children and many have their own stories about loss and they always want to talk about their own personal losses. There is never enough time to cover the subject of pets they loved but teachers often take it further and children write stories of their own.

Special Equipment:

Big pad of paper on an easel is helpful for quick drawings I will do for the children if there is time. Fresh (not dried out) Coloured markers come in handy. I like to present in a school library with children sitting on the floor around me and a few teachers or parents in the room just to help in case any children need a little assistance while I present.

Book Sales:

n/a

Biography

Mary Jane Muir has been an illustrator, graphic designer, writer, painter, film maker, and fabric artist all of her life. She has raised a family and has grandchildren. She lives with her small dog and her very fat cat in Vancouver.

She illustrated learning materials, presentations, displays, cards, books and advertising posters for the Vancouver School Board programs. She created banners, organized workshops in silk painting with church groups, organized sewing and quilting groups, designed banners and liturgical fabric pieces for local churches and the World Council of Churches. She has written, produced and directed pageants for church pageants in the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster. She was the Liturgical Arts Coordinator at Christ Church Cathedral for three years. She was a career information advisor in Vancouver School Board high schools for eight years. She was a member of the steering committee of the Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable for over eighteen years and was responsible for designing logos and flyers and Information Book Award Certificates and publicity for most major Roundtable events since 1987.

She gave many presentations about Albert and Gynn to hundreds of children in B.C. schools in the nineteen eighties and nineties. Mary Jane is now retired and she is once again available to give her presentations.