Kady MacDonald Denton

Kady MacDonald Denton is an author and illustrator of books for children.

She lives with her husband in Peterborough, Ontario. Their children are grown but often visit to say hello. Kady works at the top of the tall yellow brick house, in an attic studio that has lots of room and a skylight.

Her books have won awards, are translated into many languages, and are read by children around the world.

She was profiled in the Autumn 2023 issue of Illustration. In July 2011 she was interviewed by Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

In progress

• A Fall Day for Bear, written by Bonny Becker (expected fall 2025)

2023

• Billy and Rose: Just the Way They Are, written by Amy Hest
  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • "Denton's gentle ink-and-watercolor illustrations portray Billy and Rose with soft, spring colors and the graceful, expressive positions and movements of dancers." —Booklist

2022

• Billy and Rose: Forever Friends, written by Amy Hest
  • Junior Library Guild Selection
  • One of Candlewick's Sparks series
  • "Denton's artwork, created with watercolors and ink, reflects the tone of the writing while creating nearly human-looking, dressed-animal characters in a series of expressive, captivating illustrations." —Booklist
  • "Denton's lively watercolor and ink illustrations are filled with movement, and the characters' exuberance bursts off the page."—The Horn Book Magazine
  • "Together, the duo embodies the way a best bud can both challenge and inspire." —Publishers Weekly

2019

• What Are You Doing, Benny? written by Cary Fagan
  • "A picture book not to be missed." —CM: Canadian Review of Materials
  • "A lovely gentle exercise in getting along." —Kirkus Reviews

2017

• A Christmas for Bear, written by Bonny Becker
  • Translated into Complex Chinese, Dutch and Italian
  • "Another appealing adventure for this delightful duo, just right for a Christmas Eve storytime, perhaps enjoyed with a plate of pickles." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

2014

• A Library Book for Bear, written by Bonny Becker
  • Translated into Complex Chinese, Simplified Chinese, French and Russian
  • "Few duos are as dependably fresh and amusing as Mouse and Bear. A fine, funny addition to the Bear and Mouse series." —Booklist

• The Good-Pie Party, written by Liz Garton Scanlon
  • "Libraries may have dozens of picture books on moving, but few acknowledge the child's experience with such creativity and compassion." —Booklist

2012

• A Birthday for Bear, written by Bonny Becker
  • Chicago Public Library Best Book
  • Translated into Simplified Chinese, Dutch, Frisian and Japanese
  • "Fans of A Visitor for Bear will delight in this second offering.... Energetic ink-and-watercolor illustrations brim with humor while firmly establishing Mouse and Bear as friends new readers will enjoy visiting time and again." —Kirkus Reviews

2011

• The Sniffles for Bear, written by Bonny Becker
  • Translated into Complex Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Dutch, French, German and Japanese
  • "This comedic duo's exaggerated repartee continues to be funny." —The Horn Book
  • "This funny, gentle homily about friendship and selflessness begs to be read." —Kirkus Reviews

• The Queen of France, written by Tim Wadham
  • "Denton (A Visitor For Bear) wonderfully conveys the story's impishness, emotional subtleties, and familial affections. Just watching the queen strut her stuff is worth the price alone." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

2010

• A Bedtime for Bear, written by Bonny Becker
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner; Junior Library Guild Selection 2010; Amazon.com Top Ten Editors' Picks Selection
  • Translated into Simplified Chinese, French, Japanese and Russian
  • "Bear and Mouse are back and charming as ever." —School Library Journal (starred review)
  • "... a bedtime standout." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

2009

• A Birthday for Bear (early reader), written by Bonny Becker
• Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2010

• You're Mean, Lily Jean, written by Frieda Wishinsky
  • Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2010
  • "Lily Jean is mean, but deliciously so." —Quill & Quire

2008

• A Visitor for Bear, written by Bonny Becker
  • New York Times bestseller; 2009 Golden Kite Award; E.B. White Read Aloud Award; Wanda Gág Book Award Honor Book; Amazon.com's Best Picture Book of 2008; Toronto Public Library "First and Best" List; Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Books for Kids and Teens, 2010
  • Translated into Complex Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Dutch, German, Italian, Japanese and Slovenian
  • "A surefire storytime hit, A Visitor for Bear won't wear out its welcome." —The Horn Book Magazine
  • "Kids will giggle each time the mouse reappears and grin with satisfaction when big and little become friends." —Kirkus Reviews

Exhibits of illustration work

2008: The Illustrator as Artist (solo show), Thunder Bay Art Gallery

Participant in numerous group shows including:
1992 and 2001: CANSCAIP cross-Canada travelling exhibit
1992: Books from Afar, Rome
1990: Canada at Bologna

1990: Picture Books: A Process (solo show), Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba and Visual Arts Manitoba tour

2007

• A Sea-Wishing Day, written by Robert Heidbreder
  • 2008 Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize
  • "Denton is in fine, free-wheeling form. She takes the rhyme 'I wished so hard/ To sail the sea/ That the sea/ Sailed right to me!' as a launch point, and the boy's wading pool metamorphoses as a slowly encroaching wave sweeps the initially dubious, then delighted, young fellow and his dog off their feet. The subsequent pages glow with iridescent color and wry details." —Publishers Weekly

2006

• Snow, written by Joan Clark
  • 2006 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award
  • "Not since Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day has the quiet magic of snow been better explored." —Quill & Quire
  • Produced as a symphony by the North Bay Symphony Orchestra, 2014

2005

• My First Year: A Baby Record Book
  • Translated into Spanish

2004

• A Second Is a Hiccup: A Child's Book of Time, written by Hazel Hutchins
  • Translated into Arabic, French, Italian and Japanese
  • "A worthy companion to Zolotow's equally child-centered classic Over and Over (1957) and [a] fresh new take on the passage of time." —Booklist (starred review)

2003

• I Gave My Mom a Castle, written by Jean Little
  • "The expressive two-colour drawings of Kady MacDonald Denton enhance Little's kindly empathetic humour with their own distinctive vision of family life. Together they make a book about giving that is itself an excellent gift." —Quill & Quire

2002

• Amber Waiting, written by Nan Gregory
  • IBBY Canada Outstanding Canadian Picture Book; ALA Booklist Best of 2003 Editor's Choice recipient
  • "Denton's illustrations are gentle cartoons in soft pastels that turn dark and angry in the fantasy sequences — visual expressions of the complex dark emotions Amber feels but that the text leaves unspoken.... It is, quite simply, an excellent picture book." —Canadian Children's Literature

2001

• Elephant Child, written by Mary Ellis
• In the Light of the Moon and Other Bedtime Stories, written by Sam McBratney
  • Translated into Dutch, Finnish, French, Greek, Italian and Persian

• Two Homes, written by Clare Masurel
  • Translated into Danish, Dutch, French, German and Japanese
  • Went into its twenty-fifth printing in 2018.

2000

• I Wished for a Unicorn, written by Robert Heidbreder

1999

• The Arctic Fox, written by Mary Ellis
• If I Were Your Father, written by Margaret Park Bridges
• If I Were Your Mother, written by Margaret Park Bridges

1998

• A Child's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes
  • 1998 Governor General's Award for Children's Literature — Illustration; 1999 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award; 1999 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award
  • One of eleven books chosen to be part of Canada's official gift to newborn Prince George of Cambridge in July 2013
  • "A block-party of a book with something wild on every corner." —Chatelaine

• The Umbrella Party, written by Janet Lunn

1997

• Toes Are to Tickle, written by Shen Roddie
  • Translated into Danish

1996

• Watch Out, William!
  • Translated into Turkish

1995

• Would They Love a Lion?
  • Honour Book, Phoenix Picture Book Award, 2015
  • Translated into Complex Chinese, Dutch, French and Hebrew

1993

• The Kingfisher Children's Bible: Stories from the Old and New Testaments, retold by Ann Pilling
  • Translated into Spanish

• Realms of Gold: Myths and Legends from Around the World, written by Ann Pilling
  • Translated into French

1991

• Jenny and Bob, written by David Wynn Millward
• The Travelling Musicians, retold by P.K. Page

1990

• Before I Go to Sleep: Bible Stories, Poems and Prayers for Children, selected and retold by Ann Pilling
  • Translated into Dutch, Finnish, French, German and Italian
• The Christmas Boot
• Janet's Horses
  • Translated into Dutch and Finnish
• The Story of Little Quack, written by Betty Gibson
  • 1991 Mr. Christie's Book Award, English — Illustration

1989

• Dorothy's Dream
  • Translated into Dutch and French
  • Produced as a ballet by the Brandon Dance Ensemble, Manitoba

• 'Til All the Stars Have Fallen: Canadian Poems for Children, selected by David Booth
  • Also printed in Braille
  • 1991 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award

1988

• Granny Is a Darling
  • Translated into Dutch and French
• The Picnic
  • Translated into Dutch and French

1987

• Find Your Coat, Ned, written by Pam Zinneman-Hope
  • Translated into Finnish
• Let's Play Ball, Ned, written by Pam Zinneman-Hope

1986

• Let's Go Shopping, Ned, written by Pam Zinneman-Hope
  • Translated into Danish
• Time for Bed, Ned, written by Pam Zinneman-Hope
  • Translated into Danish and Finnish