Place of birth: Montreal, Quebec
Place of residence: Toronto, Ontario
Heather Collins, who lives in Toronto with her husband and two children, has been illustrating children’s books for more than twenty years. She works quietly and regularly, from early in the morning to late afternoon, in the cosy, third floor attic studio of her home. When she receives a manuscript she visualizes the story in her mind’s eye, even plotting the storyboards, before preparing her rough illustrations. Then she may work for weeks or even months before the pictures feel right. At this point she is ready for outside reaction and feedback and to begin adding detail and colour, usually with coloured pencils, paints, or pastels, depending on the interpretation needed. She often uses her children as models and takes photographs of certain poses so she can perfect her lines. Her picture-book career has expanded in recent times to include non-fiction books such as The Kids Canadian Plant Book and the award-winning book, A Pioneer Story, which incorporates fact, fiction, and over 400 line drawings, all lovingly researched and executed.
Books for Children and Young People
Baby Blues. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins.
Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, 1989.
87 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 0029535468
The Bare Naked Book. Written by Kathy Stinson; illustrated by
Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick, c1986.
30 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Annick toddler series)
ISBN 0920303528 (bound)
ISBN 0920303536 (pbk.)
The Big Secret. Written by Jed MacKay; illustrated by Heather
Collins. Willowdale, Ont.: Annick, c1984.
21 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm. (Polka dot door books)
ISBN 092023688X (bound)
ISBN 0920236898 (pbk.)
The Big Story. Written by John Ibbitson; illustrated by Heather
Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1990.
94 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 0029539838
Bluetoes: Santa's Special Helper. Written by George Polkosnik;
illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, c1975.
28 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm.
Come Sit by Me. Written by Margaret Merrifield; illustrated by
Heather Collins. Toronto: Women's Press, c1990.
32 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 0889611416
Coucou! Written by Dorothy Aldis; translated by Marie-Andrée
Clermont; illustrated by Heather Collins. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Scholastic
Canada, c1993.
32 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 0590241958
(French edition of Hiding)
Dead On. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins.
St. Paul, Minn.: EMC Pub., 1982.
93 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Encounters series)
ISBN 0884368165
The Dressed Up Book. Written by Kathy Stinson; illustrated by
Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick, 1990.
32 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 1550371037 (bound)
ISBN 1550371045 (pbk.)
The Fabulous Ball Book. Written by Kathy Stinson; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1993.
78 p.: col. ill.; 23 cm.
ISBN 0195409132
Fair Play. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins.
St. Paul, Minn.: EMC Pub., 1982.
93 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Encounters series)
ISBN 088436819X
Feelings. Written by Joanne Brisson Murphy; illustrated by Heather
Collins. Windsor, Ont.: Black Moss Press, 1985.
30 p.: col. ill.; 19 x 22 cm.
ISBN 0887531296
Frankie on the Run. Written by Linda Holeman; illustrated by
Heather Collins. Toronto: Boardwalk Books, c1995.
48 p.: ill.; 19 cm.
ISBN 189568109X
Get Lost. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins.
Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1987.
89 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Series Canada)
ISBN 002947440X
Heather Hits Her First Home Run. Written by Ted Plantos; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Windsor, Ont.: Black Moss Press; 1989.
24 p.: col. ill.; 20 x 22 cm.
ISBN 0887531857
Hiding. Written by Dorothy Aldis; illustrated by Heather Collins.
Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1993.
30 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 1550741039
Holiday in the Woods. Written by Anne Francis (pen name of Florence
Bird); illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: General Paperbacks, 1991
(c1976).
111 p.: ill.; 20 cm.
ISBN 0773673024
Jo's Search. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins.
Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1986.
93 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 0029473705
The Kids Campfire Book. Written by Jane Drake and Ann Love; illustrated
by Heather Collins; songs arranged by Matthew Dewar. Toronto: Kids Can
Press, 1996.
128 p.: ill., music; 24 cm.
ISBN 1550742752 (pbk.)
The Kids Canadian Bird Book. Written by Pamela Hickman; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1995.
32 p.: col. ill.; 29 cm. (Kids Canadian nature series)
ISBN 1550741969 (bound)
The Kids Canadian Bug Book. Written by Pamela Hickman; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, c1996.
32 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 1550742310
The Kids Canadian Plant Book. Written by Pamela Hickman; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, c1996.
32 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 1550742337
The Kids Canadian Tree Book. Written by Pamela Hickman; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Toronto; Kids Can Press, c1995.
32 p.: col. ill.; 29 cm.
ISBN 1550741985
The Kids Cottage Book. Written by Jane Drake and Ann Love; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, c1993.
207 p.: ill.; 24 cm.
ISBN 1550741322
The Kids' Summer Handbook. Written by Jane Drake and Ann Love;
illustrated by Heather Collins. New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1994, c1993.
207 p.: ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 0395687098 (pbk.)
ISBN 039568711X (cloth)
(American edition of The Kids Cottage Book)
Le Livre tout nu. Written by Kathy Stinson; translated by David
Homel; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick, c1987.
31 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 092030396X
(French edition of The Bare Naked Book)
La Lueur du matin. Written by Margaret Merrifield; translated
by Anne Renaud; illustrated by Heather Collins. Saint-Lambert, Québec:
Héritage, c1995.
32 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm. (Héritage jeunesse)
ISBN 2762581257
(French edition of Morning Light)
Morning Light: An Educational Storybook for Children and Their Caregivers
About HIV/AIDS and Saying Goodbye. Written by Margaret Merrifield;
illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Stoddart, 1995.
32 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 077375704X
Moving Gives Me a Stomach Ache. Written by Heather McKend; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Windsor, Ont.: Black Moss Press, 1988.
22 p.: col. ill.; 20 x 23 cm.
ISBN 0887531784
Not Only Me. Written by Paul Kropp ; illustrated by Heather Collins.
Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1987.
87 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 002953500X
A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840.
Written by Barbara Greenwood; illustrated by Heather Collins. New York,
N.Y.: Ticknor & Fields, 1995.
240 p.: ill.; 24 cm.
ISBN 0395715407
(American edition of A Pioneer Story: The Daily Life of a Canadian Family
in 1840.)
A Pioneer Story: The Daily Life of a Canadian Family in 1840.
Written by Barbara Greenwood; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto:
Kids Can Press, c1994.
240 p.: ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 1550741284 (pbk.)
ISBN 155074237X (bound)
Run-Away. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins.
St. Paul, Minn.: EMC Pub., 1982.
91 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Encounters series)
ISBN 088436822X
Un + un. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated Heather Collins.
Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada in collaboration with Éditions
de la Chenelière, 1990.
88 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Série 2000)
ISBN 002953934X
(French edition of Baby Blues)
Viens t'asseoir avec moi. Written by Margaret Merrifield; translated
by Anne Renaud; illustrations de Heather Collins. Saint-Lambert, Québec:
Héritage, c1991.
32 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm. (Héritage jeunesse)
ISBN 2762568471
(French edition of Come Sit by Me)
When You Were Little and I Was Big. Written by Priscilla Galloway;
illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick; c1984.
30 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm. (Annick toddler series)
ISBN 0920236715 (pbk.)
ISBN 0920236847 (bound)
William's Feet. Written by Arlene Bourassa and Carroll Klein;
illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Gage, c1984.
20 p.: col. ill.; 61 cm. (Expressways)
ISBN 077156547X
The Wimp and Easy Money. Written by John Ibbitson; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, 1987.
88 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 0029535026
The Wimp and the Jock. Written by John Ibbitson; illustrated
by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1986.
85 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 002947390X
The Wimp. Written by John Ibbitson; illustrated by Heather Collins.
Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1985.
91 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Series Canada)
ISBN 0029472806
Woosh! I Hear a Sound. Written by Emily Hearn; illustrated by
Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick, c1985.
28 p.: ill. (some col.); 87 mm. (Annikins)
ISBN 0920303218
Writing: A Fact and Fun Book. Written by Amanda Lewis; illustrated
by Heather Collins; original lettering by Amanda Lewis. Toronto: Kids Can
Press, c1992.
96 p.: ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 1550740520
Self-Starters Independent Activity Cards. Written by Liz Stenson and Joan Sutton; illustrated by Heather Collins. Agincourt, Ont.: Methuen, c1979.
4 v.: col. ill.; 23 x 28 cm. + teacher's guides.
ISBN 0458928003 (v. A)
ISBN 0458928100 (v. B)
ISBN 0458928208 (v. C)
ISBN 0458928305 (v. D)
ISBN 0458935301 (set)
Prepared 15.06.96