Ann Blades, 1947-

"When I look at Mary of Mile 18 now, I see that my style was definitely primitive. It was spontaneous and naïve, and that was good. Sometimes I did my initial drawing and the final drawing on the same piece of paper; I can still see the scratches and pencil marks underneath the paint in some of those early pictures. One of them that I particularly like is on the back cover of Mary of Mile 18. Mary is walking into the woods with her puppy, which she has to give up. I can still remember doing that painting and feeling very sad myself. That's one of the greatest challenges of illustrating a book, adding emotion to the text."

Ann Blades's experiences as a teacher in isolated communities in northern British Columbia inspired her first two books: Mary of Mile 18 (1971) and A Boy of Taché (1973). Though she had no formal training in art or writing, she embarked on her first book when she was teaching at Mile 18 to occupy her time, and also to provide her younger students with material based on their own lives. "Mary" was inspired by a little Mennonite girl in one of her classes. Since 1980 she has worked full-time as an illustrator and an artist. Ann Blades's pictures are characterized by child-like perspective, lack of sophistication, and pure lines; the richly coloured illustrations are striking in their simplicity. The National Library has acquired all materials related to By the Sea: An Alphabet Book, A Boy of Taché and Mary of Mile 18. Support material consists of notes, photographs, memorabilia, manuscripts and typescripts, as well as correspondence concerning the publication of each of the books. Blades annotated her archival material copiously, explaining the significance of the documentation, and identifying the subject matter of photographs. In the Mary of Mile 18 fonds, sketches of the real-life Mary, as well as photographs of her and her classmates, provide a tangible link to the charming story.

Awards

1972	Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award for Mary of Mile 18.
1978	Canada Council Children's Literature Prize, English language, illustration, for A Salmon for Simon.
1979	Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award for A Salmon for Simon.
1986	Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award for By the Sea: An Alphabet Book.

Selected Bibliography

Back to the Cabin. Written and illustrated by Ann Blades. Victoria, B.C.: Orca Book Publishers, 1996.
32 p.: col. ill.; 26 cm.
ISBN 1551430495 (bound)
ISBN 1551430517 (pbk.)

A Boy of Taché. Written and illustrated by Ann Blades. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1995, c1973.
32 p.: ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 0887763502

By the Sea: An Alphabet Book. Written and illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: Kids Can Press, c1985.
28 p.: col. ill.; 26 cm.
ISBN 0919964648 (pbk.)
ISBN 0919964745 (bound)

A Candle for Christmas. Written by Jean Speare; illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre, 1991, c1986.
31 p.: col. ill.; 23 cm. (A Meadow Mouse Paperback)
ISBN 0888991495

The Cottage at Crescent Beach. Written and illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: Magook Publishers: McClelland and Stewart, 1977.
32 p.: col. ill.; 23 cm.
ISBN 0888690002
ISBN 0888692307

A Dog Came, Too. Written by Ainslie Manson; illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: Groundwood/Douglas & McIntyre, 1993, c1992.
30 p.: col. ill.; 23 cm. (A Meadow Mouse Paperback)
ISBN 0888991878

Fall. Illustrated by Ann Blades. Vancouver: A Groundwood Book, Douglas & McIntyre c1989.
11 p.: col. ill.; 18 cm. (Seasons)
ISBN 0888990928
(Story without words)

Ida and the Wool Smugglers. Written by Sue Ann Alderson; illustrated by Ann Blades. Vancouver: Groundwood/Douglas & McIntyre, 1990, c1987.
32 p.: col. ill.; 23 cm.
ISBN 0888991193

Jacques the Woodcutter. Written by Michael Macklem; illustrated by Ann Blades. Ottawa: Oberon Press, c1977.
36 p.: col. ill.; 26 cm.
ISBN 0887502393

Mary of Mile 18. Written and illustrated by Ann Blades. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1976, c1971.
38 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 0887760252 (library ed.)
ISBN 0887760597 (pbk.)

Pettranella. Written by Betty Waterton; illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre, 1990, c1980.
27 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm. (A Meadow Mouse Paperback)
ISBN 0888991088

Pond Seasons. Written by Sue Ann Alderson; illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: A Groundwood Book, Douglas & McIntyre, 1997.
ISBN 0888992831

A Ride for Martha. Written by Sue Ann Alderson; illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: A Groundwood Book, Douglas & McIntyre, c1993.
30 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm.
ISBN 0888991827

A Salmon for Simon. Written by Betty Waterton; illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: A Groundwood Book, Douglas & McIntyre, 1996, c1978.
28 p.: col. ill.; 23 cm.
ISBN 0888992653

The Singing Basket. Retold by Kit Pearson; illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: A Groundwood Book, Douglas & McIntyre, 1990.
32 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm.
ISBN 0888991045

Six Darn Cows. Written by Margaret Laurence; illustrated by Ann Blades. Toronto: J. Lorimer, 1979.
32 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm. (Kids of Canada)
ISBN 0888622473 (bound)
ISBN 0888622481 (pbk.)

Spring. Illustrated by Ann Blades. Vancouver: A Groundwood Book, Douglas & McIntyre, c1989.
11 p.: col. ill.; 18 cm. (Seasons)
ISBN 0888990901
(Story without words)

Summer. Illustrated by Ann Blades. Vancouver: A Groundwood Book, Douglas & McIntyre, c1989.
11 p.: col. ill.; 18 cm. (Seasons)
ISBN 088899091X
(Story without words)

Winter. Illustrated by Ann Blades. Vancouver: A Groundwood Book, Douglas & McIntyre, c1989.
11 p.: col. ill.; 18 cm. (Seasons)
ISBN 0888990936
(Story without words)

Original Illustrations and Manuscript Material Available at the National Library of Canada