October 25,
2023 (Brockville, ON) –
Iroquois
Public School teacher
Christine Brady and budding artist Ella Parsons, a Grade 7 student at Pleasant
Corners Public School
(PCPS), are thrilled to announce the release of their children’s book,
"Where Does Bella Go?", published in September 2023.
Parsons, the
talented illustrator, has been drawing for as long as she can remember. Having
honed her skills through art classes, she is excited to share her art through
this collaboration. Her goal is to attend a specialized arts program, and she
views "Where Does Bella Go?" as an essential part of her admission
portfolio.
Brady, the
author, has been writing since childhood, with a dream to write a book that
found its way back into the spotlight with three recently published books. Living
on a farm, her stories often feature her own animals.
The
collaboration between the two originated during Parsons' Grade 6 year at PCPS,
where Brady was Parson’s French and Art teacher. Recognizing her artistic
talent, Brady approached Parsons with the idea of illustrating a children's
book. “I said yes right away,” says Parsons. “I’ve always wanted to showcase my
art.”
"Where
Does Bella Go?" is a fantasy story that explores the possible adventures
of the real-life miniature horse, Bella, if she were to escape. The book, aimed
at elementary-aged children, is filled with fun and imaginative scenarios,
including a memorable karaoke scene that Parsons particularly enjoyed
illustrating.
The writing
process was complete when Parsons started the illustration process, and she
used her own creative vision to illustrate the pages. The collaborative effort
resulted in a beautifully crafted book with high-quality scans, self-published
by Brady.
“Recognizing
and nurturing students' strengths is vital in education,” says Brady. “And
Ella’s strength and passion is art. It was so rewarding to see her excitement
and talent through this journey.”
The book has
received positive feedback, and there are plans for readings in classrooms and
libraries. The book has a presence in a local bookstore, Paper Airplane in
Alexandria, and is available for purchase online on Amazon.
For media
inquiries, please contact:
Christine
Brady
Teacher
Iroquois
Public School
[email protected]