A Prairie Boy

Author/ illustrator of the best-selling childrens book trilogy The Moccasin Goalie Bill Brownridge has a new picture book: A Prairie Boy.With a story that opens your eyes and artwork that opens the rest of your senses Brownridge reveals a new world to kids with his thick pointillism paintings presented in wow-ly colorful double-page spreads.For Tony LaDrew living on the farm with his grandparents is a lonely life. He only has his pony Trix and his dog Bingo for company. And as a Metis boy it isnt easy making friends. But playing hockey makes all the difference to Tony - whether on a slough on a road or on a rink - he loves the action. Swooping down the ice is like flying like another world.Too bad his grandfather doesnt like hockey. On top of that theres a local tough guy giving him problems. At every turn Tony seems to face another challenge. And now with his big chance to join the team coming up he has to take drastic action. * * *Brownridge opens a new dimension to kids with his impressionist paintings of kids at play. His application of dabs and dollops of fat acrylic paint in the Van-Gogh technique of pointillism accentuate tone and dimension the vivid swathes of colour and diagonals exclaim action while the moody blends heighten the wideness of the world and us in it. As the books says its like another world. And the doors open. Take a step.Imagine reading a picture book together. You and your boy and girl look at the pictures together take turns reading the words compare words to pictures talk about the people and the story. And then you talk about the art. But is it art or just funny drawings and amateur scribblings - its hard to tell.For once its nice to have the real deal. Real fine art. With Brownridge a renowned Canadian artist with galleries across the country with his introduction of fine art into the picture book he opens the door to talk about colour and texture light and shadow style and theme feelings and fears and awe and wonder - using kids language of course so they can understand.You see thats the learning part your exchange - the talking. The book doesnt teach. Its you and her and him youre all teachers all learners.Take a step.