Sydney Smith on writing & illustrating children's books
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Sydney Smith was born in rural Nova Scotia and started drawing at an early age. Since graduating from NSCAD University, he has illustrated numerous children\\u2019s books, including the highly acclaimed wordless picture book Sidewalk Flowers, conceived by Jon Arno Lawson. It won a Governor General\\u2019s Award, among many other honours, and was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children\\u2019s Book. Sydney is also the illustrator of Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal, and which won the TD Canadian Children\\u2019s Literature Prize.
Small in the City is the first picture book that Sydney has both written and illustrated. It is the winner of\\xa0
The Ezra Jack Keats Award for Writer!
A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book of the Year
An ALA Notable Children\\u2019s Book
A Capitol Choices Noteworthy Title
and Canada\'s Governor General\'s Literary Award. I met Sydney in Ottawa after he\'d received his award. We talk about a short poem by G.K. Chesterton; Randolf Caldecott, passing shadows, counterpoint, Maurice Sendak, the relationship between illustrator and author; Alligator Pie, Dennis Lee and Frank Newfeld; safe places to process complex emotions;\\xa0 Neal Porter; and sharing excitement.\\xa0
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