Joanne Fitzgerald

Joanne Fitzgerald
File:Joanne Fitzgerald photo.jpg
Born	16 February 1956 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	14 August 2011 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Illustrator, writer
Language	English
Nationality	Canadian
Genre	Picture books, children's literature

Joanne Fitzgerald was a Canadian artist, illustrator and writer. Twice-shortlisted for the Canadian Governor General’s Award for Children’s Illustration, her book Dr. Kiss Says Yes won the award in 1991.

Background

Fitzgerald was born in Montréal, showing promise as an artist from an early age. She studied fine art at Mount Allison University, graduating with a Baccalaureate in Fine Arts in 1977.

Early in her career, Fitzgerald was a staff illustrator at the Royal Ontario Museum. Her subsequent work as a magazine illustrator brought her a following among children’s magazine publishers, and drew her into children’s textbook illustrations. In turn, she began to illustrate and then write children’s books.

Later in life, she returned to fine art, studying and painting at the Art Students League of New York.

Works

Illustrated Children’s Books

Plain Noodles (a/p/a Baby Boat) (1989); story by Betty Waterton

Emily's House (1990); story by Niko Scharer

Doctor Kiss Says Yes (1991); story by Teddy Jam a/k/a Matt Cohen

Ten Small Tales (1993); story by Celia Lotteridge

Jacob's Best Sisters (1996); story by Teddy Jam a/k/a Matt Cohen

The Little Rooster and the Diamond Button (2001); story by Celia Barker Lotteridge

When You Get A Baby (2002); story by Sharon Jennings

Circus Play (2002); story by Anne Laurel Carter

This is Me and Where I Am (2004); story by Joanne Fitzgerald

The Blue Hippopotamus (2007); story by Phoebe Gilman

Yum! Yum! (2008); story by Joanne Fitzgerald

Awards & Recognition

• Dr. Kiss Says Yes (1991) – Governor General's Award for English Language Children's Illustration
• Ten Small Tales (1993) – IODE Jean Throop Award
• The Little Rooster and the Diamond Button (2001) – Mr. Christie's Book Awards Diamond Pin
• The Blue Hippopotamus (2007) – Finalist: Governor General’s Award for English Language Children's Illustration

The Joanne Fitzgerald Illustrator in Residence Award and Program is awarded annually to recognize Fitzgerald's legacy.

Other work

Fitzgerald was an early organizer of the Lymphedema Association of Ontario, and served as president and spokesperson in establishing the organization in the period 2002-2004.

External links

• Joanne Fitzgerald at Library of Congress Authorities, with 5 catalogue records