"I'm just starting to become aware of the characteristics of my style. It has very little in common with the work of other illustrators, but what exactly does it resemble?... I have a realistic approach for my settings and my characters are a bit 'cartoonish'." (translation)
(Stéphane Poulin quoted in "Les Amours de maître Stéphane", by Lynda Giroux. Des Livres et des Jeunes, hiver 1993, no. 43. Sherbrooke, Québec: Des Livres et des Jeunes, 1993. P. 16.)
Stéphane Poulin's first children's book Ah! Belle Cité/A Beautiful City ABC (1985), a bilingual alphabet book about Montreal, brought him critical acclaim. With a camera slung over his shoulder, Poulin -- on bike and subway train -- explored the old and new "quartiers" of Montreal, enriching his book with an authentic setting and flavour. In fact, he often works from photographs to record the precise details of his locales. Although he received art training at College Ahuntsic in Montreal, Poulin cites influences as diverse as the French Impressionists and the American realist, Norman Rockwell. Like Rockwell, Poulin's colourful paintings capture the events of daily life in fictional settings. He prefers to work with primary colours -- blue, red, yellow -- as well as ochre and white because of their sharpness and brilliance. The striking colours are in evidence in the award-winning Josephine books which chronicle the adventures of a mischievous cat and her young owner. The detailed and richly coloured pictures provide the perfect setting for a lively tour of old Montreal or a playful romp in the countryside as Josephine attempts to elude her youthful master. Though Stéphane Poulin finds illustrating easier than writing, he also enjoys bringing his pictures to life with his own words. The National Library fonds includes original pencil sketches from Peux-tu attraper Joséphine? (1987).
Awards
 1986 | Canada Council Children's Literature Prize, French language, illustration, for Album de Famille and As-tu vu Joséphine? |
| 1988 | Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award for Peux-tu attraper Joséphine? and the English translation, Can You Catch Josephine? |
| 1989 | Vicky Metcalf Award for a Body of Work. |
| 1989 | Governor General's Literary Award/Children's Literature for best illustrations in a French book for Benjamin et la saga des oreillers. |
| 1991 | Mr. Christie's Book Award, French-language illustration, for Un Voyage pour deux: contes et mensonges de mon enfance. |
| 1994 | IBBY Honour List for Un Voyage pour deux. |
| 1996 | Mr. Christie's Book Award, French-language illustration, for Poil de serpent, dent d'araignée. |
Selected Bibliography
Ah! belle cité!: abc = A Beautiful City: ABC. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Livres Toundra, 1985.
26 p.: coll. ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 0887761755
ISBN 088776178X (pbk.)
Album de famille. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Québec: Éditions Michel Quentin, 1986.
23 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm. (Pellicule, photographe animalier)
ISBN 2920438123 (pbk.)
Les Amours de ma mère: contes et mensonges de mon enfance. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Toronto: Annick Press, 1990.
27 p.: chiefly col. ill.; 27 cm.
ISBN 1550371517 (bound)
ISBN 1550371509 (pbk.)
Animals in Winter. Written by Louise Beaudin; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Quebec: Michel Quintin Publishers, 1991.
23 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm. (Mr. Click, Animal Photographer)
ISBN 292043893X (bound)
ISBN 2920438948 (pbk.)
(English edition of Les Animaux en hiver)
Les Animaux de la basse-cour. Written by Louise Beaudin; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin; photography by Michel Quintin. Waterloo, Québec: Éditions du Nomade, 1985.
24 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm. (Mots et animaux)
ISBN 2920438050
Les Animaux en danger. Written by Michel Quintin; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Québec: Éditions Michel Quintin, 1992, 1989.
23 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm. (Pellicule, photographe animalier)
ISBN 2920438689 (bound)
ISBN 2920438484 (pbk.)
Les Animaux en hiver. Written by Louise Beaudin; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Québec: Éditions Michel Quintin, 1987.
23 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm. (Pellicule, photographe animalier)
ISBN 292043814X
As-tu vu Joséphine? Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Livres Toundra, 1986.
20 p.: col. ill.; 22 x 26 cm.
ISBN 0887761887
Benjamin & la saga des oreillers. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Toronto: Annick Press, 1989.
29 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 1550370758 (bound)
ISBN 155037074X (pbk.)
Benjamin & the Pillow Saga. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Toronto: Annick Press, 1989.
29 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 1550370693 (bound)
ISBN 1550370685 (pbk.)
(English edition of Benjamin & la saga des oreillers)
Can You Catch Josephine? Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1987.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 x 28 cm.
ISBN 0887761984
(English edition of Peux-tu attraper Joséphine?)
The Christmas Elves. Written by Henriette Major; translated by Alan Brown; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1988.
29 p.: col. ill.; 29 cm.
ISBN 0771054734
(English edition of Les Lutins de Noël)
Choupette et son petit papa. Written by Gilles Tibo; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Saint-Lambert, Québec: Héritage, 1997.
43 p.: coll. ill.; 18 cm. (Collection Carrousel; 22)
ISBN 2762584655
Could You Stop Josephine? Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1988.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 x 26 cm.
ISBN 0887762166
(English edition of Pourrais-tu arrêter Joséphine?)
Les Dinosaures. Written by Michel Quintin; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Québec: Éditions Michel Quintin, 1992.
23 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm. (Pellicule, photographe animalier)
ISBN 2920438743 (bound)
ISBN 2920438557 (pbk.)
Dinosaurs. Written by Michel Quintin; translated by Alan Brown; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Quebec: Quintin Publishers, 1992.
23 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm. (Mr. Click, Animal Photographer)
ISBN 2920438751 (bound)
ISBN 292043876X (pbk.)
Duncan Really Likes Me: Stories about Cats and Dogs. Toronto: Houghton Mifflin, 1992.
56 p.: col. ill.; 22 x 28 cm. (Waves)
Contents: Duncan and Dolores, written and illustrated by Barbara Samuels - Have You Seen Josephine?, written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin - I Want a Dog, written and illustrated by Dayal Kaur Khalsa.
ISBN 0395578000
Endangered Animals. Written by Michel Quintin; translated by Alan Brown; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Quebec: Quintin Publishers, 1992.
23 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm. (Mr. Click, Animal Photographer)
ISBN 2920438565 (bound)
ISBN 2920438573 (pbk.)
(English edition of Les Animaux en danger)
Family Album. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Quebec: Quintin Publishers, 1991.
23 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm. (Mr. Click, animal photographer)
ISBN 2920438913 (bound)
ISBN 2920438921 (pbk.)
(English edition of Album de famille)
Les Géants de Blizzard. Written by Denis Côté; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1990.
89 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Collection Roman jeunesse; RJ 3)
ISBN 2890211266
Have You Seen Josephine? Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1986.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 x 26 cm.
ISBN 0887761801
(English edition of As-tu vu Joséphine?)
L'Île du savant fou. Written by Denis Côté; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1996.
90 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman jeunesse; RJ 62)
ISBN 2890212750
Les Jeux zoolympiques. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Québec: Éditions Michel Quintin, 1988.
24 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm. (Pellicule, photographe animalier)
ISBN 2920438239
Le Léonard des enfants, petits et grands. Written by Hélène Lamarche; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Musée des beaux-arts de Montreal, 1987.
36 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 2891920856
Leonardo: For Children Young and Old. Written by Hélène Lamarche; translated by Judith Terry; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montreal: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1987.
36 p.: ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 2891920864
(English edition of Le Léonard des enfants, petits et grands)
Liberté... surveillée: roman à six mains. Written by Cécile Gagnon, Roger Poupart, and Robert Soulières; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Éditions Paulines, 1993.
141 p.: ill.; 17 cm. (Lectures VIP; 12)
ISBN 2894201834
Les Lutins de Noël. Written by Henriette Major; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Saint-Lambert, Québec: Héritage, 1987.
29 p.: col. ill.; 29 cm. (Héritage jeunesse)
ISBN 2762525705
Minibus: nouvelles. Written by Raymond Plante; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin.
Montréal: Québec/Amérique, 1985.
127 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Collection Jeunesse/romans)
ISBN 2890372677
My Mother's Loves. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Toronto: Annick Press, 1990.
31 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 1550371495 (bound)
ISBN 1550371487 (pbk.)
(English edition of Les Amours de ma mère)
Nounours-Lapin. Written by Kathy Stinson; translated by Teresa Blanc; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Toronto: Annick Press, 1988.
31 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 1550370308
(French edition of Teddy Rabbit)
La Nuit du Vampire. Written by Denis Côté; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1990.
93 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman jeunesse; RJ 22)
ISBN 2890211177
Le Parc aux sortilèges. Written by Denis Côté; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1994.
91 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman jeunesse; RJ 46)
ISBN 2890212106
Pellicule et les animaux en danger [kit]. Written by Michel Quintin; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Waterloo, Québec: Éditions M. Quintin, 1989.
1 book: col. ill., 5 puppets, 1 teacher's guide; in container, 26 X 21 X 3 cm. (Pellicule, photographe animalier)
ISBN 292043831X
Peux-tu attraper Joséphine? Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Livres Toundra, 1987.
24 p.: col ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 0887762255
Poil de serpent, dent d'araignée. Written by Danielle Marcotte, illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Laval, Québec: Les 400 coups, 1996.
Originally published as: Par la bave de mon crapaud. (Sillery, Québec: Ovale, 1984)
31 p.: coll. ill.; 31 cm. (Billochet)
ISBN 2921620049
Pourrais-tu arrêter Joséphine? Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Livres Toundra, 1988.
24 p.: col. ill.; 22 x 26 cm.
ISBN 0887762174 (bound)
ISBN 088776228X (pbk.)
Les Prisonniers du zoo. Written by Denis Côté; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1988.
94 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman-jeunesse 11)
ISBN 289021074X
Le Record de Philibert Dupont. Written by Raymond Plante; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Boréal, 1991, c1984.
120 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Boréal junior 12)
ISBN 2890523918
Le Robot concierge. Written by Mimi Legault; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Saint-Lambert, Québec: Héritage, 1988, c1984.
125 p.: ill.; 21 cm. (Pour lire avec toi)
ISBN 2762544769
Teddy Rabbit. Written by Kathy Stinson; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Toronto: Annick Press, 1988.
31 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 1550370170 (bound)
ISBN 1550370162 (pbk.)
La Trahison du vampire. Written by Denis Côté; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1995.
90 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman jeunesse; RJ 53)
ISBN 2890212386
Travels for Two. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin; translated by David Homel. Toronto, Ontario: Annick, 1991.
29 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 155037205X (bound)
ISBN 1550372041 (pbk.)
(English edition of Un voyage pour deux)
Vincent, Sylvie et les autres. Written by Marie Page; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Saint-Lambert, Québec: Héritage, 1985.
127 p.: ill.; 20 cm. (Pour lire avec toi)
ISBN 2762544491
Le Voyage dans le temps. Written by Denis Côté; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1989.
92 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman jeunesse; RJ 18)
ISBN 2890210952
Un Voyage pour deux. Written and illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Toronto: Annick Press, 1991.
29 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm. (Contes et mensonges de mon enfance)
ISBN 1550372076 (bound)
ISBN 1550372068 (pbk.)
Les Yeux d'émeraude. Written by Denis Côté; illustrated by Stéphane Poulin. Montréal: Les éditions la courte échelle, 1991.
94 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Roman jeunesse; RJ 31)
ISBN 2890211657
Prepared 11.03.97
Revised 30.10.97
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