"The children ... talked (talk was important), compared, wrote and made images (each with its own innate design).... It all had to do with making sense of their world.... They learned about what the alphabets, numerals, our capital city and concepts therein, meant to them."
(Anne Wyse in "Statement re the Books", Literary Manuscript Collection, National Library of Canada.)
In a uniquely cooperative enterprise, Anne Wyse (a teacher), her husband, Alex (an artist), and Anne's grade-school students used pieces of art created by the children, to develop, lay out and compile three children's books: Alphabet Book (1968), The One to Fifty Book (1973), and History Mystery, The Ottawa Book (1981). The "manuscripts" for the publications were acquired by the National Library of Canada in 1990 and include a composite of original drawings, lino blocks, and enlarged typography-- all by children-- complete with proofs and documentation relative to all aspects of the publishing process.
For each book the children made letters and alphabet fonts, drew pictures, and then pasted the separate parts together. When the Wyses compiled these unique publications, they were able to choose from numerous drawings and linocuts done by the children in Anne's classes over the years. The Alphabet Book was produced by the children of the Kettle Point Indian Reserve in Southwestern Ontario. Among the unsophisticated yet highly imaginative drawings is a striped cat and a unique portrait of Sir John A. Macdonald, both of which are featured in the National Library exhibition, "The Art of Illustration". The One to Fifty Book also used the art of the Kettle Point school children who ranged in age from six to twelve. History Mystery is the product of a collaboration with children aged eight to eleven in the Ottawa School Board area.
Awards
 1968 | American Institute of Graphic Arts "50 Best Books of the Year Award" for The Alphabet Book. |
| 1974 | American Institute of Graphic Arts "50 Best Books of the Year Award" for The One to Fifty Book. |
| 1974 | Design Council of Canada "Look of Books Award" for The One to Fifty Book. |
Selected Bibliography
Books for Children
Alphabet Book. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1969, c1968.
61 p.: all ill.; 15 x 21 cm.
ISBN 0802016316
(The project was prepared at Kettle Point School, Ontario, over a twelve-month period in 1967 and 1968 under the guidance of Anne Wyse, the children's teacher, and with the advice of her husband, Alexander Wyse.)
History Mystery: The Ottawa Book. Compiled by Anne and Alex Wyse. Ottawa: Anne and Alex Wyse, 1981.
115 p.: col. ill.; 25 x 26 cm.
ISBN 0969082703
The One to Fifty Book. Laid out and compiled by Anne and Alex Wyse. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, c1973.
circa 100 p.: chiefly ill. (part col.); 18 x 26 cm.
ISBN 0802062229
Exhibition Catalogues - Alex Wyse
Alex Wyse: Presence from the Past. Written by Guest Curator, Christopher Youngs. Saskatoon: Mendel Art Gallery, c1985.
32 p.: ill. (some col.); 28 cm.
ISBN 0919863159
A Certain Amount of Joy: Recent Work by Alex Wyse. Written by Dorothy Farr. Kingston, Ont.: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, c1986.
15 p.: ill.; 30 cm.
ISBN 0889114110
Snakes in the Garden: An Exhibition of Works by / une exposition des travaux de: Alex Wyse [and others]. Curator, Garry Mainprize; Coordinator, Bruce Earl; organized by the Festival of the Arts on behalf of the Council for the Arts in Ottawa; French translation by Sylvain Topping. Ottawa: The Council = Le Conseil, c1988.
72 p.: ill., ports.; 31 cm.
ISBN 0969228813
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