Biography
Born in Toronto, Pat Stephens came to illustration after having been a fine artist, signwriter, paste-up artist, calligrapher and magazine art director. Her childhood hours — and hours! — spent drawing horses made it easy to illustrate the many animal books she’s done for KCP.#While majoring in modern languages at the University of Toronto, Pat took a fine art studio course “just for fun”. Several years of serious painting and a few gallery shows followed. At 28 she returned to school to study Graphic Design at George Brown College, after which she worked primarily as a paste-up artist, doing magazine illustration on the side.#When manual paste-up became obsolete, Pat turned to illustration in earnest. A book she wrote and illustrated about her cat, Nickie, led to her association with Kids Can Press in the mid 1990s.~ ~Pat had her first child at the ripe old age of 48 and they live in Durham, Ontario, a town small enough that they can be biking along country roads or walking in the woods in minutes. They share their home with several pets and enjoy cooking, woodworking, gardening and reading in front of the fireplace.
Awards
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Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals
2009 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Who Lives Here? Polar Animals
2009 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Who Lives Here? Desert Animals
2009 - Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Animal Groups
2005 - Outstanding Children's Book Award, Animal Behavior Society, Short-listed
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Deer, Moose, Elk and Caribou
1999 - Best Books for Children, Science Books & Films, Winner
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Bears
1998 - Best Books for Children, Science Books & Films, Winner
1997 - Parents’ Choice Approved, American Bookseller, Winner
1997 - Pick of the Lists, , Winner
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Beavers
2001 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2001 - Red Cedar Book Award, , Short-listed
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Animal Defenses
2000 - Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, National Science Teachers Association and the Children’s Book Council, Winner
2000 - Silver Birch Award, Ontario Library Association, Commended
2000 - Teachers’ Choices, International Reading Association, Winner
1999 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
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Animal Senses
2000 - Teachers Choices, International Reading Association, Winner
1999 - Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
1999 - Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council®, , Winner
1998 - Ann Connor-Brimer Award, , Short-listed
1998 - Parents’ Choice Approved, , Winner
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Animals Eating
2003 - Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Short-listed
2002 - Alberta Children’s Choice Rocky Mountain Book Award, , Short-listed
2002 - Our Choice, , Winner
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Animals in Motion
2000 - International Best Book, Society of School Librarians, Winner
2000 - Silver Birch Award, Ontario Library Association, Short-listed
Non-fiction
Who Lives Here? Forest Animals, 2009
Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals, 2008
Who Lives Here? Polar Animals, 2008
Who Lives Here? Desert Animals, 2008
Animals Hibernating, 2005
Animals and Their Mates, 2004
Animal Groups, 2004
Animals Eating, 2001
Animals in Motion, 2000
Animal Defenses, 1999
Deer, Moose, Elk and Caribou, 1998
Beavers, 1998
Animal Senses, 1998
Whales, 1997
Bears, 1996