In the news
A collection of recent articles and interviews
Interview with Jon-Erik Lappano - CBC Radio One - Daybreak Alberta November 11, 2017
The 2017 TD Bank Children's Literature Award will be handed out on November 21. Five books are nominated each year and the authors tour Canada reading their book for school children. Jon-Erik Lappano's first book is "Tokyo Digs A Garden" and won the 2016 Govenor General's Award. The story is about a boy who is given seeds and told to make a wish. His wish comes true in the form of a garden that overtakes the city where he lives. Jon-Erik Lappano read his book at Grandin School in Edmonton and he also spoke with Russell Bowers about the ideas behind his writing.
Edmonton's TD Kids Book Club explores imagined gardens with Jon-Erik Lappano - CBC Radio One - Daybreak Alberta November 11, 2017
Grade 4 students at Edmonton's Ecole/Escuela Grandin joined Daybreak Alberta host Russell Bowers for a conversation with author Jon-Erik Lappano about his picture book Tokyo Digs a Garden. The event was one of six TD Book Clubs happening across the country, in celebration of the books nominated for the 2017 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.
How Tokyo Digs a Garden grew into an award-winning picture book - CBC Books - November 28, 2017
A boy plants seeds and magical things happen. Tokyo Digs a Garden may start with a familiar fairy-tale premise, but the result is a very modern meditation on the natural world. The book won the 2016 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature (illustration) and was a finalist for the 2017 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. Jon-Erik Lappano and Kellen Hatanaka, the author and illustrator of Tokyo Digs a Garden, reflect on how they grew their children's book from the ground up.
The Chat With 2016 Governor General's Award Winners Jon-Erik Lappano and Kellen Hatanaka - 49th Shelf Blog
The next chat with this year’s English-language Governor General’s Award winners is a conversation with Jon-Erik Lappano and Kellen Hatanaka. Jon-Erik and Kellen won this year’s award for Young People’s Literature (Illustrated Books) for their book Tokyo Digs a Garden.
Guelph author shortlisted for TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award - Guelph Mercury - October 12, 2017
Local author Jon-Erik Lappano has been selected as one of five finalists for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards.