Joanne Fitzgerald
| Joanne Fitzgerald | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
16 February 1956 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Died |
14 August 2011 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Illustrator, writer |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Genre | Picture books, children's literature |
Joanne Fitzgerald was a Canadian artist, illustrator and writer. Twice-shortlisted for the Canadian Governor General’s Award for Children’s Illustration, her book Dr. Kiss Says Yes won the award in 1991.
Background
Fitzgerald was born in Montréal, showing promise as an artist from an early age. She studied fine art at Mount Allison University, graduating with a Baccalaureate in Fine Arts in 1977.
Early in her career, Fitzgerald was a staff illustrator at the Royal Ontario Museum. Her subsequent work as a magazine illustrator brought her a following among children’s magazine publishers, and drew her into children’s textbook illustrations. In turn, she began to illustrate and then write children’s books.
Later in life, she returned to fine art, studying and painting at the Art Students League of New York.
Works
Illustrated Children’s Books
Plain Noodles (a/p/a Baby Boat) (1989); story by Betty Waterton
Emily's House (1990); story by Niko Scharer
Doctor Kiss Says Yes (1991); story by Teddy Jam a/k/a Matt Cohen
Ten Small Tales (1993); story by Celia Lotteridge
Jacob's Best Sisters (1996); story by Teddy Jam a/k/a Matt Cohen
The Little Rooster and the Diamond Button (2001); story by Celia Barker Lotteridge
When You Get A Baby (2002); story by Sharon Jennings
Circus Play (2002); story by Anne Laurel Carter
This is Me and Where I Am (2004); story by Joanne Fitzgerald
The Blue Hippopotamus (2007); story by Phoebe Gilman
Yum! Yum! (2008); story by Joanne Fitzgerald
Awards & Recognition
- Dr. Kiss Says Yes (1991) – Governor General's Award for English Language Children's Illustration
- Ten Small Tales (1993) – IODE Jean Throop Award[1]
- The Little Rooster and the Diamond Button (2001) – Mr. Christie's Book Awards Diamond Pin
- The Blue Hippopotamus (2007) – Finalist: Governor General’s Award for English Language Children's Illustration
The Joanne Fitzgerald Illustrator in Residence Award and Program is awarded annually to recognize Fitzgerald's legacy.
Other work
Fitzgerald was an early organizer of the Lymphedema Association of Ontario, and served as president and spokesperson in establishing the organization in the period 2002-2004.