Biography
Ashley Spires grew up in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, with her parents, her sister, a dog, eight cats and the occasional newt. As a child she was constantly making drawings, stories and small polymer clay figures, to say nothing of her cross-stitching prowess. Despite being told she wasn’t the best drawer, she set out from Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design to become a children’s book illustrator. Now, some twenty years later, she is known for creating many quirky beloved characters, including Small Saul, 2016’s TD Grade One Book Giveaway, Larf and Binky the Space Cat, who is now featured on his own animated television series. Ashley’s bestselling book The Most Magnificent Thing has been translated into nineteen languages worldwide and was recently adapted into a short animated film. She strives to make books that reflect her own struggles with making mistakes and how to learn from them. During the rare moments when she is not creating, she fosters orphaned kittens for her local animal shelter. She resides in Ladner, British Columbia, with her dog and many, many cats.
Awards
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The Most Magnificent Idea
2023 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards, Ontario Arts Council (OAC), Short-Listed
2022 - Gold Standard Guild, Junior Library Guild, Commended
2023 - Chocolate Lily Book Award, Chocolate Lily Young Readers' Choice Awards, Short-Listed
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Larf
2014 - Shining Willow Award, The Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Award, Commended
2014 - Treasure State Award, Montana University, Commended
2014 - Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award, The Washington Library Media Association, Commended
2013 - Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street Children's Book Committee, Winner
2013 - Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2013 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2012 - Best Bets, Picture Books, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Commended
2012 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, , Winner
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Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite!
2022 - Texas 2x2 Reading List, Texas Library Association, Winner
2023 - Chocolate Lily Book Award, , Short-Listed
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The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do
2018 - Best Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street College, Winner
2018 - Rainforest of Reading Award, OneWorld Schoolhouse Foundation, Commended
2017 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
2017 - OLA Best Bets, Ontario Library Association, Winner
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Gordon: Bark to the Future!
2019 - Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College, Listed
2019 - Chocolate Lily Award - Chapter Book/Early Novel Category, The Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
2018 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, , Winner
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Fluffy Strikes Back
2018 - Chocolate Lily Book Award, Chapter Book Category, Hackmatack, Commended
2018 - Hackmatack Children's Choice Award, Bank Street College, Winner
2017 - 2017/2018 Children's Book Award, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Commended
2017 - Best Children's Books of the Year, , Winner
2016 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, starred, , Winner
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Binky: License to Scratch
2014 - 2014 Libris Awards, Retail Council of Canada, Commended
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Binky Takes Charge
2013 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
2013 - Hackmatack's Children's Choice Book Award, English fiction category, , Winner
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The Most Magnificent Thing
2022 - Bolognaragazzi Crossmedia Award, Bologna Ragazzi Award (BRAW) Committee, Commended
2016 - Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award Jr. List, Florida Association for Media in Education, Commended
2015 - ALA Notables Children's Book List, Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), Winner
2015 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Canadian Library Association, Commended
2015 - Blue Spruce, Forest of Reading, Commended
2015 - CCBC Choices, Cooperative Children's Book Center, Winner
2015 - Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children List, Recommended Book, NCTE, Commended
2015 - Chocolate Lily Book Award, Picture Book Category, West Coast Book Prize Society, Commended
2015 - Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize, Korea International Schools, Commended
2015 - Morning Calm Medal, Ontario Arts Council, Commended
2015 - Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards, New York Public Library, Commended
2014 - 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2014, IBBY-Canada, Winner
2014 - Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award, A Mighty Girl, Commended
2014 - Top 2014 Mighty Girl Books For Younger Readers, , Winner
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Small Saul
2012 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Canadian Library Association, Commended
2012 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
2012 - Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2012 - Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Commended
2012 - Shining Willow Award, Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Award, Commended
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Binky Under Pressure
2012 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
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Binky to the Rescue
2011 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2011 - Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street Children's Book Committee, Winner
2011 - Best Publication for Kids, Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, Commended
2011 - Comics for Kids, Joe Shuster Awards, Commended
2010 - Book of the Year, ForeWord Reviews, Winner
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Binky the Space Cat
2011 - Silver Birch Express, Ontario Library Association, Winner
2010 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2010 - Comics for Kids Award, Joe Shuster Awards, Commended
2010 - Hackmatack Award, , Winner
Picture Books
The Most Magnificent Maker’s A to Z, 2023
The Most Magnificent Idea, 2022
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do, 2017
The Most Magnificent Thing, 2014
Larf, 2012
Small Saul, 2011Graphic Novel
Burt the Beetle Lives Here!, 2023
Binky the Space Cat: The Top Secret Collection, 2023
Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite!, 2021
Gordon: Bark to the Future!, 2018
Fluffy Strikes Back, 2016
Binky: License to Scratch, 2013
Binky Takes Charge, 2012
Binky Under Pressure, 2011
Binky to the Rescue, 2010
Binky the Space Cat, 2009