Biography
Ashley Barron is a multimedia artist who is best known for her paper collage work. She is the illustrator of several children’s books, including Kids Can Press’s Birthdays Around the World and My Forest is Green.#Ashley grew up in the Oshawa/Whitby region of southern Ontario with her parents, younger sister and their many pet dogs and rabbits. Ashley’s love for books was ignited at an early age thanks to her mother, a preschool teacher, who kept an extensive collection of children’s literature in their spare bedroom. Although Ashley was very much an outdoorsy kid, she savored rainy indoor days, which allowed her the freedom to daydream, read and draw pictures to her heart’s content.#Ashley’s love for art and literature followed her into adulthood. She graduated from the illustration program at Ontario Collage of Art & Design in 2007 and has been working as a freelance illustrator ever since.#Ashley lives in Toronto with her cinematographer partner, Kevin. Together they share a bright, plant-filled studio with their three cats.~Instagram: @_ashleybarron
Awards
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My City Speaks
2022 - Schneider Family Book Award, American Library Association, Winner
2021 - First and Best, Toronto Public Library, Joint Winner
2023 - IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities Award, IBBY Canada, Short-Listed
2022 - Toronto Book Award, City of Toronto, Long-Listed
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My Ocean Is Blue
2021 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Ontario Arts Foundation, Commended
2020 - Concept (Colors) Category, Northern Lights Book Awards, Winner
2020 - First and Best List, Toronto Public Library, Winner
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My Forest Is Green
2020 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children`s Book Award, Ontario Arts Council, Commended
2019 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, starred selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
2019 - First & Best List, Toronto Public Library, Winner
2019 - OLA Best Bets, Ontario Library Association, Commended
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Birthdays Around the World
2018 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
2018 - Best Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street College, Winner
Picture Books
Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship, 2023
My City Speaks – Braille Edition, 2021
My City Speaks, 2021
My Ocean Is Blue, 2020
My Forest Is Green, 2019Non-fiction
Birthdays Around the World, 2017