Biography
Brenda Clark began drawing as a small child and realized by the age of 17 that she wanted to become a commercial artist. She studied Illustration at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, and graduated with an honors diploma in 1977. Shortly afterward, Brenda found that there was plenty of work for a freelancer in educational publishing and her first jobs were for elementary school books. This experience gave her plenty of published examples for her portfolio and a better understanding of how to interpret a story with pictures.#Kids Can Press was looking for new creators in the early 1980s and Brenda was ready to try illustrating picture books. She signed her first contract with KCP in 1983 for a story called Christopher and the Dream Dragon by Allen Morgan (no longer in print). All of the illustrations were created in black-and-white washes. Morgan wrote another charming story, called Sadie and the Snowman, which suited Brenda’s style and this time she was asked to illustrate in full color. #In 1985, the manuscript for Franklin in the Dark, written by Paulette Bourgeois, was offered to Brenda and by the following year it was published with rave reviews. Since then, Brenda has illustrated more than 30 Franklin titles and numerous activity books for the series. Franklin and his friends quickly became popular around the world and by 1997 the first animated episode of Franklin was televised. Brenda helped to launch a series of Franklin spin-off books. She also assisted with approvals for merchandise created from the illustrations. #One other successful collaboration with Paulette Bourgeois is the delightful Big Sarah’s Little Boots. #Brenda is still painting and lives in Port Hope, Ontario, with her husband and son.
Awards
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Franklin Says I Love You
2003 - Childrens' Choices, International Reading Association, Commended
2003 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Franklin’s Valentines
1999 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Franklin’s Class Trip
2000 - Children’s Choices, International Reading Association and the Canadian Book Association, Winner
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Franklin’s Christmas Gift
1999 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Franklin’s Baby Sister
2001 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Franklin Is Messy
1995 - Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award, , Commended
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Franklin in the Dark
2012 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
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Franklin and Harriet
2002 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2002 - Young Adults' Choices, International Reading Association, Commended
Picture Books
Storytime with Franklin, 2024
Franklin in the Dark, 2011
Franklin Says I Love You, 2002
Franklin’s Thanksgiving, 2001
Franklin and Harriet, 2001
Franklin’s Baby Sister, 2000
Franklin Goes to the Hospital, 2000
Franklin’s Neighborhood, 1999
Franklin’s Class Trip, 1999
Franklin’s Valentines, 1998
Franklin’s Secret Club, 1998
Franklin’s Christmas Gift, 1998
Franklin and the Thunderstorm, 1998
Franklin’s New Friend, 1997
Franklin Rides a Bike, 1997
Finders Keepers for Franklin, 1997
Franklin’s School Play, 1996
Franklin’s Halloween, 1996
Franklin’s Bad Day, 1996
Franklin Has a Sleepover, 1996
Franklin Plays the Game, 1995
Franklin Goes to School, 1995
Franklin’s Blanket, 1995
Franklin and the Tooth Fairy, 1995
Franklin Wants a Pet, 1994
Franklin Is Messy, 1994
Franklin Is Bossy, 1993
Franklin Is Lost, 1992
Franklin Fibs, 1991
Hurry Up, Franklin, 1989