Illustrator Spotlight: Celebrating the artwork of Julie Flett

Sometimes, the illustration style of a book is so distinct you can immediately identify the artist behind the work. This is the case with the art of Julie Flett, the Vancouver-based Cree-Métis illustrator, author, and artist behind some of Canada’s most beloved children’s books. Identified by its tactile quality, Julie’s artwork is unique for its soft washes of colour, texture, and overlapping collaged shapes.

Julie’s work has received many awards, including the 2017 Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature for her work on When We Were Alone (High Water Press) by David Robertson. Her book Wild Berries (Simply Read Books) was featured in the New York Times and was selected as a First Nation Communities Read title for 2014–15.

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Just in time for sunny Spring (we can hope!), here is a roundup of some of our favourite BC-published titles illustrated by Julie Flett.

A reimagining of a classic fairytale, The Girl and the Wolf (Theytus Books) by author Katherena Vermette is about a little girl who wanders too far into the woods. Alongside Julie’s striking illustrations, this recent release tells the tale of a girl who, with the help of a wolf, learns that she had the survival skills all along – she just needed a little reminder.

Little You / Nîya-K’apisîsisîyân is a dual-language board book for babies and toddlers, comes from renowned storyteller Richard Van Camp. With charming illustrations in shades of orange and red, Julie and Richard’s Little You (Orca Book Publishers) is the perfect companion to nighttime snuggles with the little one in your life. Little You / Nîya-K’apisîsisîyân is available in several dialects of Cree, including Plains Cree, as well as English.

Julie also collaborated with Richard on We Sang You Home / Ka Kîweh Nikâmôstamâtinân (Orca Book Publishers), a lyrical board book about parents welcoming a new baby into the world.

My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih, a beautiful board book authored by Monique Gray Smith, is about the little things in life that make us happy. Joyful moments like fresh baked bannock, the warm sun on your face, and the love of family are reflected through Julie’s touching and vibrant illustrations. My Heart Fills With Happiness (Orca Book Publishers) encourages young readers to reflect on what makes them happy, and has been the inspiration for many interesting classroom projects.

Set in the picturesque Nicola Valley in BC, A Day With Yayah (Tradewind Books), authored by Nicola Campbell, is about a First Nations family spending a day foraging for edibles in the woods. Julie’s accompanying illustrations are colourful and lively, telling the story of a grandmother passing down her knowledge of plant life.

Lucy & Lola, a novella by Monique Gray Smith (McKellar & Martin), is about 11 year-old twins who travel to Gabriola Island, BC, to spend the summer with their kookum (grandmother) so their mother, Mary, can study for her bar exam. Along with tender childhood summer moments like walking the dog along the beach and sharing ice cream cones, the story weaves in details from both Mary and kookum’s experiences in Residential School. A powerful story about healing and understanding, Julie’s cover illustration of the two girls set against a blue sky acts as a beautiful introduction to what readers can expect inside.

Authored by Roy Miki and Slavia Miki, Dolphin SOS (Tradewind Books) recounts the story of three dolphins trapped in an ice-covered cove in Newfoundland. Based on a true story, a young girl named Nicole narrates the struggles of the brave townspeople to free the creatures. Julie’s illustrations of wide landscapes in shades of white and gray reflect the setting’s cold climate.

You’ll have to wait until the Fall to get your hands on Birdsong (Greystone Kids) by Julie Flett. Part of the inaugural list for the recently launched Greystone Kids imprint, Birdsong is the story of a young girl who feels terribly out of place after moving to a new home. However, by making friends with the elderly woman next door who shares her love of nature and art, the girl learns about intergenerational friendships and to observe the subtle changes in nature. Julie’s unique style is reflected in the vibrant depictions of flowers, landscapes, and the character’s lives.