Though A Good Book Drive frequently holds high the wisdom of words, the latest feature with Ken Tsui and their more recent meeting with Russian beauty, and mind-blowingly talented illustrator, Ola Volo (pictured below in front of one of her large-scale murals), have made it evident that picture books can play a critical role in helping immigrant children grapple with their new surroundings and make sense of foreign societies.
Ola’s contribution, the mesmerizing wordless graphic novel The Arrival by Australian artist Shaun Tan, tackles the “pretty hefty issue” of immigration. “As a big thing that people face in Canada, especially kids who come from different backgrounds and don’t know English,” says Ola,”it’s really kind of an ideal book. It helps the storyteller fill in the blanks.”
For an artist whose sights are focused on producing the kind of work that will long outlive her, as she discussed in VIA's "The Proof", Ola’s appreciation for this soon-to-be-classic is more meaningful than ever: “You can look through this book at the age of three and appreciate all the monsters and weird worlds it displays or at seventy five. It’s my favourite book to give as a gift.”
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Be sure to also check out her work, part of the current “Artificial Fiction” exhibit, on display at Ayden Gallery.
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A Good Book Drive is an annual book drive to bring stories to a new generation of readers, and support kids in need of new books. Running through the month of November, A Good Book Drive will be inspiring Vancouverites to purchase a new copy of their favorite kids’ book and deliver it to set locations throughout the city. At these drop off locations you can personalize your donation with a special bookplate, sharing the story of why that book is special to you. All books will be donated to this year’s book drive recipient, Frontier College Waiting Room Literacy Pilot Project. Share your favourite stories with A Good Book Drive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. |
