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HEATHER COLLINS

Place of birth: Montreal, Quebec
Place of residence: Toronto, Ontario

Heather Collins, who lives in Toronto with her husband and two children, has been illustrating children’s books for more than twenty years. She works quietly and regularly, from early in the morning to late afternoon, in the cosy, third floor attic studio of her home. When she receives a manuscript she visualizes the story in her mind’s eye, even plotting the storyboards, before preparing her rough illustrations. Then she may work for weeks or even months before the pictures feel right. At this point she is ready for outside reaction and feedback and to begin adding detail and colour, usually with coloured pencils, paints, or pastels, depending on the interpretation needed. She often uses her children as models and takes photographs of certain poses so she can perfect her lines. Her picture-book career has expanded in recent times to include non-fiction books such as The Kids Canadian Plant Book and the award-winning book, A Pioneer Story, which incorporates fact, fiction, and over 400 line drawings, all lovingly researched and executed.

Awards

• 1995 Information Book Award for A Pioneer Story: The Daily Life of a Canadian Family in 1840.
• 1995 Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award (Picture Book Category) for A Pioneer Story: The Daily Life of a Canadian Family in 1840.

Selected Bibliography

Books for Children and Young People

Baby Blues. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, 1989.
87 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 0029535468

The Bare Naked Book. Written by Kathy Stinson; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick, c1986.
30 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm. (Annick toddler series)
ISBN 0920303528 (bound)
ISBN 0920303536 (pbk.)

The Big Secret. Written by Jed MacKay; illustrated by Heather Collins. Willowdale, Ont.: Annick, c1984.
21 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm. (Polka dot door books)
ISBN 092023688X (bound)
ISBN 0920236898 (pbk.)

The Big Story. Written by John Ibbitson; illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1990.
94 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 0029539838

Bluetoes: Santa's Special Helper. Written by George Polkosnik; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, c1975.
28 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm.

Come Sit by Me. Written by Margaret Merrifield; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Women's Press, c1990.
32 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 0889611416

Coucou! Written by Dorothy Aldis; translated by Marie-Andrée Clermont; illustrated by Heather Collins. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Scholastic Canada, c1993.
32 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 0590241958
(French edition of Hiding)

Dead On. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins. St. Paul, Minn.: EMC Pub., 1982.
93 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Encounters series)
ISBN 0884368165

The Dressed Up Book. Written by Kathy Stinson; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick, 1990.
32 p.: col. ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 1550371037 (bound)
ISBN 1550371045 (pbk.)

The Fabulous Ball Book. Written by Kathy Stinson; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1993.
78 p.: col. ill.; 23 cm.
ISBN 0195409132

Fair Play. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins. St. Paul, Minn.: EMC Pub., 1982.
93 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Encounters series)
ISBN 088436819X

Feelings. Written by Joanne Brisson Murphy; illustrated by Heather Collins. Windsor, Ont.: Black Moss Press, 1985.
30 p.: col. ill.; 19 x 22 cm.
ISBN 0887531296

Frankie on the Run. Written by Linda Holeman; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Boardwalk Books, c1995.
48 p.: ill.; 19 cm.
ISBN 189568109X

Get Lost. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1987.
89 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Series Canada)
ISBN 002947440X

Heather Hits Her First Home Run. Written by Ted Plantos; illustrated by Heather Collins. Windsor, Ont.: Black Moss Press; 1989.
24 p.: col. ill.; 20 x 22 cm.
ISBN 0887531857

Hiding. Written by Dorothy Aldis; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1993.
30 p.: col. ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 1550741039

Holiday in the Woods. Written by Anne Francis (pen name of Florence Bird); illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: General Paperbacks, 1991 (c1976).
111 p.: ill.; 20 cm.
ISBN 0773673024

Jo's Search. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1986.
93 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 0029473705

The Kids Campfire Book. Written by Jane Drake and Ann Love; illustrated by Heather Collins; songs arranged by Matthew Dewar. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1996.
128 p.: ill., music; 24 cm.
ISBN 1550742752 (pbk.)

The Kids Canadian Bird Book. Written by Pamela Hickman; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1995.
32 p.: col. ill.; 29 cm. (Kids Canadian nature series)
ISBN 1550741969 (bound)

The Kids Canadian Bug Book. Written by Pamela Hickman; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, c1996.
32 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 1550742310

The Kids Canadian Plant Book. Written by Pamela Hickman; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, c1996.
32 p.: col. ill.; 28 cm.
ISBN 1550742337

The Kids Canadian Tree Book. Written by Pamela Hickman; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto; Kids Can Press, c1995.
32 p.: col. ill.; 29 cm.
ISBN 1550741985

The Kids Cottage Book. Written by Jane Drake and Ann Love; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, c1993.
207 p.: ill.; 24 cm.
ISBN 1550741322

The Kids' Summer Handbook. Written by Jane Drake and Ann Love; illustrated by Heather Collins. New York: Ticknor & Fields, 1994, c1993.
207 p.: ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 0395687098 (pbk.)
ISBN 039568711X (cloth)
(American edition of The Kids Cottage Book)

Le Livre tout nu. Written by Kathy Stinson; translated by David Homel; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick, c1987.
31 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 092030396X
(French edition of The Bare Naked Book)

La Lueur du matin. Written by Margaret Merrifield; translated by Anne Renaud; illustrated by Heather Collins. Saint-Lambert, Québec: Héritage, c1995.
32 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm. (Héritage jeunesse)
ISBN 2762581257
(French edition of Morning Light)

Morning Light: An Educational Storybook for Children and Their Caregivers About HIV/AIDS and Saying Goodbye. Written by Margaret Merrifield; illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Stoddart, 1995.
32 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 077375704X

Moving Gives Me a Stomach Ache. Written by Heather McKend; illustrated by Heather Collins. Windsor, Ont.: Black Moss Press, 1988.
22 p.: col. ill.; 20 x 23 cm.
ISBN 0887531784

Not Only Me. Written by Paul Kropp ; illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1987.
87 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 002953500X

A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840. Written by Barbara Greenwood; illustrated by Heather Collins. New York, N.Y.: Ticknor & Fields, 1995.
240 p.: ill.; 24 cm.
ISBN 0395715407
(American edition of A Pioneer Story: The Daily Life of a Canadian Family in 1840.)

A Pioneer Story: The Daily Life of a Canadian Family in 1840. Written by Barbara Greenwood; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Kids Can Press, c1994.
240 p.: ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 1550741284 (pbk.)
ISBN 155074237X (bound)

Run-Away. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated by Heather Collins. St. Paul, Minn.: EMC Pub., 1982.
91 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Encounters series)
ISBN 088436822X

Un + un. Written by Paul Kropp; illustrated Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada in collaboration with Éditions de la Chenelière, 1990.
88 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Série 2000)
ISBN 002953934X
(French edition of Baby Blues)

Viens t'asseoir avec moi. Written by Margaret Merrifield; translated by Anne Renaud; illustrations de Heather Collins. Saint-Lambert, Québec: Héritage, c1991.
32 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm. (Héritage jeunesse)
ISBN 2762568471
(French edition of Come Sit by Me)

When You Were Little and I Was Big. Written by Priscilla Galloway; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick; c1984.
30 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm. (Annick toddler series)
ISBN 0920236715 (pbk.)
ISBN 0920236847 (bound)

William's Feet. Written by Arlene Bourassa and Carroll Klein; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Gage, c1984.
20 p.: col. ill.; 61 cm. (Expressways)
ISBN 077156547X

The Wimp and Easy Money. Written by John Ibbitson; illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, 1987.
88 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 0029535026

The Wimp and the Jock. Written by John Ibbitson; illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1986.
85 p.: ill.; 18 cm. (Series 2000)
ISBN 002947390X

The Wimp. Written by John Ibbitson; illustrated by Heather Collins. Don Mills, Ont.: Collier Macmillan Canada, c1985.
91 p.: ill.; 22 cm. (Series Canada)
ISBN 0029472806

Woosh! I Hear a Sound. Written by Emily Hearn; illustrated by Heather Collins. Toronto: Annick, c1985.
28 p.: ill. (some col.); 87 mm. (Annikins)
ISBN 0920303218

Writing: A Fact and Fun Book. Written by Amanda Lewis; illustrated by Heather Collins; original lettering by Amanda Lewis. Toronto: Kids Can Press, c1992.
96 p.: ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 1550740520

Teaching Material

Self-Starters Independent Activity Cards. Written by Liz Stenson and Joan Sutton; illustrated by Heather Collins. Agincourt, Ont.: Methuen, c1979.

4 v.: col. ill.; 23 x 28 cm. + teacher's guides.
ISBN 0458928003 (v. A)
ISBN 0458928100 (v. B)
ISBN 0458928208 (v. C)
ISBN 0458928305 (v. D)
ISBN 0458935301 (set)