Biography

Jeremy Tankard (CAN) is the award-winning author and illustrator of several best selling picture books, including Grumpy Bird, Me Hungry! and Boo Hoo Bird. Tankard is an ACAD alumnus that spent several years as a commercial illustrator. His artwork has been seen in Time Magazine and The New York Times. He is known for pairing quirky stories with vivid and playful illustrations and credits his art school background for his distinct style. He presents Piggy Bunny, by Rachel Vail, and It’s a Tiger!, by David LaRochelle, at the Festival, both of which he illustrated.

Book

Events

Piggy Bunny is the story of Liam, a piglet who wants to be a bunny. With a lot of determination, and a little help from his grandma, Liam is determined to make his dream come true. For children who dream of being someone or something different, Piggy Bunny offers a reassuring and fun opportunity to believe in themselves.

In It’s a Tiger!, the main character runs into (and away from) a tiger over and over again. Perfect for acting out while reading, It's a Tiger! offers just the right amount of excitement without being too scary, and a sweet ending with a bit of a twist.

Jeremy Tankard is an acclaimed illustrator who won many awards, including the Blue Spruce Award. You can read an interview of the author here.

The buzz about It’s a Tiger!

“It’s a tiger, and it’s sure to be a hit.” Kirkus Reviews

“No matter how scary the circumstances, the deadpan narrative voice reassures children that it’s just a story, and the tiger’s zigzag teeth and soft features imply that he might not be all that dangerous. The repetitive structure, action, frights, and surprise ending should make this a popular storytime pick.” Publishers Weekly

The buzz about Piggy Bunny

“It’s a hilarious absurd story about a pig, but it’s also a cheerful championing of the kind of role play for which “pretend” seems a dismissive term and which sees little kids wearing their superhero capes to the supermarket; even beyond that, it’s a subtle reassurance about finding workable ways to explore a dream or an identity that may seem initially impossible. Tankard employs thickly solid yet fluid brushstrokes in figures that have a touch of Japanese graphic flavor in their streamlined cuteness (…). This will be an enjoyably loopy and stealthily reassuring read-aloud any time of the year.” Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books