Biography
Irene Luxbacher graduated from Queen’s University in 1992 with a degree in Art History before studying at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, British Columbia. Since returning to Toronto in 1994, Irene has exhibited her work while teaching art at the Avenue Road Arts School and consulting at the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Learning Through the Arts Program. In 2002 and 2003, Irene curated several well-received children’s art exhibits at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and BCE Place on behalf of Arts for Children of Toronto, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness of the value of art education. Irene is the author and illustrator of The Jumbo Book of Art, which won the 2003 National Parenting Publication Award, and The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art. Her latest project for Kids Can Press is the Starting Art series, which includes the titles 123 I Can Paint! and 123 I Can Draw!
Awards
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The Not-So-Faraway Adventure
2016 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre, Winner
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The Imaginary Garden
2011 - Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2011 - Great Lakes Great Books, Michigan Reading Association, Commended
2011 - Shining Willow Award, Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Award, Commended
2010 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award, Canadian Library Association, Commended
2010 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2010 - Outstanding International Book, USBBY, Winner
2010 - Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Foreword Magazine, Commended
2009 - Book of the Year, Canada Council for the Arts, Commended
2009 - Governor General’s Literary Award, Children’s Illustration, , Commended
Picture Books
The Not-So-Faraway Adventure, 2016
The Imaginary Garden, 2009