a goat heading butting an accordion

This book, written by Richard Simas, tells the story of local musician, Art Stoyles, and his connection to the Portuguese fisherman who came to Newfoundland to work. I made the accordion the “stage” of my illustrations, as it and music are at the heart of this story. I knew Art Stoyles personally, so I felt especially connected to the story.

This story, part history, part fiction, went on to become a two part radio broadcast on CBC Radio and was listed in the Globe and Mail's Eleven great books for young readers to kick off 2020.

This early reader is available at Running the Goat Books & Broadsides in both ebook and hard copy.

Other notables include:

Included in the Canadian Children's Book Centre's spring issue of Best Books for Kids & Teens

Finalist, Next Generation Indie Books Awards 2021 (Children's Fiction)

Included in the Light Reads, Great Stories List, Forest of Reading 2021

Book cover with illustration of girl playing an accordion, sitting on top of an accordion with a seagull
Book spread with illustration showing a man in an armchair with seagull, and a girl playing an accordion.
Book spread with illustration of men in dories catching cod fish with White Fleet boat in background.
Book spread showing an illustration of an old style map of the ocean between Newfoundland and Portugal with sea monsters and ships
Book spread of illustration of a man on a boat watching a young boy play accordion for tips.
Book spread with illustration of man playing a guitar and a boy playing accordion under a night sky
Book spread of illustration of St. John's harbour long ago with boat tied on and people doing various activies on wharf
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The Hippie Pirates