mail	silkdove@telus.net Vancouver, BC
ph	604-266-9073
e	mjmuir@telus.net
web	http://maplepancakes.blogspot.com/ http://paintingpuppies.blogspot.com/

Biography

Mary Jane is an Illustrator. Working full time with the Vancouver School Board special teacher coordinators, MJ spent fourteen years as a graphic designer and illustrator developing illustrated educational learning materials for the Vancouver School Board until Media Services & Technology Department was cut from existence in 1997. (MST gradually came back under another umbrella)
For eight years from 1997 to 2005, she managed the Career Centres of Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School and King George Secondary School in Vancouver working with teens helping them with scholarships and educational planning.

Mary Jane is the author of a little book titled GYNN which was published by Scholastic-Tab Northwinds Press in 1986. Gynn sold over 37,000 copies over five years and it was reprinted as paperback until all were sold out. This little book about a family pet guinea pig resulted in requests for many book talks for well over twelve years following publication. Gynn was recommended by Quill& Quire as a book for helping children to deal with grief and loss. Many teachers used it in this way. Gynn was placed in all of Vancouver School Board's Elementary schools and was part of a recommended list for VSB teachers and librarians. There are still copies in libraries across Canada but the hard cover books are getting pretty ragged. Gynn is out of print.

Mary Jane illustrated Albert's Old Shoes, a story co-authored by Stephen Muir and published in 1987 by Scholastic-Tab, Northwinds Press.
Albert's Old Shoes was popular in the nineteen eighties and nineties selling over 67,000 copies over five years. The number was large because of Scholastic's book clubs across Canada and New Zealand and Australia where it was very popular. Requests for book talks were frequent during the years of the life of the book and requests continue to this day.
Stoddart picked up 'Albert's Old Shoes' in 1997 and the book sold reasonably well as a paperback until Stoddart went out of business around 2005.
Albert's Old Shoes is with Fitzhenry & Whiteside at this time but sales have stopped. It is not included in any catalogues but paperback copies may be located and purchased from Fitzhenry & Whiteside.

Mary Jane was a member of the amazing and wonderful steering committee of The Vancouver Children's Literature Roundtable for almost twenty years. She designed the logo for VCCLR as well as materials promoting events and activities including the popular Illustrators Breakfasts and Serendipity Events for Roundtable from 1989 until 2007.

Mary Jane's free lance Clients have included, Canadian Save The Children, The World Council of Churches, Canada Life Assurance Company, United Co-operatives of Ontario, Halton County School Board Ontario, Vancouver Public Library, Anglican Church of Canada, Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver, BC Ministry of Transportation & Highways, BC Ministry of Education



Mary Jane continues to explore fine art and illustration and is concentrating on digital image making.


She has been out of the book talk loop for quite some time but is open to discussing a school visit. Her book talks include showing of some of the original art for Albert's Old Shoes and drawing sketches for children. Kindergarten to Grade three are the perfect audience for the Albert story. The themes of soccer, belonging, bullying, dealing with anger, as well as shoes have all been used by teachers who have used this book as a resource.

Book types: picture books

Guest speaker/presentation information

Presentation geographic range: Vancouver, Coast, Lower Mainland

Presentation audience age groups: primary school, grades K-3, grades 4-6

Published work

Illustrator and Author of Gynn
Scholastic Tab-North Winds Press
1985 ISBN 0-590-71546-1 ISBN 0-590-71513-5 (pbk.)


Illustrator of
Alberts Old Shoes by author Stephen Muir
Scholastic - Tab/North Winds Press
re-published by Stoddart in 1996
Paperback copies are available from Fitzhenry & Whiteside
ISBN 0-7737-5777-

Awards & recognition