Illustrator Laura Beingessner Shares Her Picture Books

Turning Pages Literary Festival is pleased that children's illustrator, Laura Beingessner, will be sharing her books and illustrations with children, as part of the day long celebration of books for children and teens on May 15th. Laura will be presenting at 11:30am at The Musem (10 King St. W. Kitchener).

LAURA BEINGESSNER has loved to draw and paint ever since she was a little girl. She is the illustrator of three books for children, including the award-winning If the Shoe Fits, a New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing pick. She lives in Toronto with her husband and son.






Our Corner Grocery Store By Joanne Schwartz, Illustrated by Laura Beingessner
Ana Maria takes great pleasure and pride in her grandparents’ corner grocery store. Every Saturday she spends the day helping to arrange fruits and vegetables, greet the customers, and keep things neat and tidy. Through her day we meet the neighbors and learn what an important part the corner grocery store plays in the community.
Nonno Domenico, Nonna Rosa, and Ana Maria supply more than goods as the steady stream of customers arrives. Lunches are made, news is shared, bargains are purchased, recipes are traded, and cheerful ciaos are called. By the end of a long day, Ana Maria has a true sense of just how wonderful the sights and smells within the store are and how much they mean to everyone.
Charmingly illustrated in great detail, Our Corner Grocery Store pays tribute to the small independent grocers who supply color and atmosphere to city streets. Young readers will particularly enjoy finding and naming the wide array of produce, breads, candies, and dry goods that abound in this friendly establishment.

PRAISE FOR Our Corner Grocery Store:
“… A quiet charmer of a picture book.” – Booklist
“Beingessner’s folksy illustrations and Schwartz’s easy text fit well together and are filled with details…. Reading this book is as appealing as spending a day in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood – both provide a gentle and welcome escape.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal “
"The artist has used bold colours for her lovingly detailed pictures and done a splendid job of evoking the urban environment….” – Highly Recommended, CM Magazine

Sail Away With Me By Jane Collins-Phillipe, Illustrated by Laura Beingessner
Jane Collins-Phillipe loves the sea – after all she has spent many years living on a sailboat – and she has collected verses old and new to share her understanding and affection. Some of the poems will be familiar, like Eugene Field’s “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.” Others are from Collin-Phillipe’s own pen and are sure to become favorites. Who could resist a poem about a ship with a hippo for a captain and a giraffe named Joyce for a lookout?
Laura Beingessner’s charming art is the perfect complement to a collection that will delight children, whether they are old salts or landlubbers.