The Oyster that looked at the Sky.
a new book by Darcy Bobell and Marion Syme
Writer Darcy Dobell and artist Marion Syme combine their talents in a wonderful west coast children's book.
The leap from oyster stew to picture books is not necessarily obvious but, for two Tofino women, the transition has been remarkably easy. "When my family found a pair of pearls in our oysters on the same day that my cousin had a new baby, it was pretty clear that the pearls were for the baby - and that there had to be a story to go with them," says writer Darcy Dobell. As she researched story ideas, Darcy came across an old legend that pearls are the eyes of an oyster that has been struck by lightning. "That made me wonder: what on earth would an oyster be doing to get itself hit by lightning? At that point, the story pretty much wrote itself," says Darcy.
When Darcy landed a publishing contract, she already knew with whom she wanted to work to transform her manuscript into a picture book. And luckily, artist Marion Syme was more than willing. "I have always been entranced by children's books and the creativity and imagination that it takes to bring simple words to life," says Marion. "This story was alive with imagery. The hard part was that the characters are a family of oysters. After all, oysters are interesting creatures (especially on the halfshell), but how do you draw an oyster with a personality?" Up for the challenge, Marion set to work with a few models that she'd picked out of her beachcombing collection. From a jumble of oyster drawings emerged the smallest oyster, Grandmama and Grandpapa oysters, and a whole chorus of other oysters down on the pebbly end of the beach.
The result of this team effort is The Oyster Who Looked at the Sky, the story of a wilful small oyster who breaks with family tradition in order to remain true to her own adventurous nature. As she discovers the world around her, and gradually inspires her family to see it for themselves, young readers will delight in a series of playful shifts in perspective that ultimately bring the small oyster's big vision back home. Beautifully illustrated with vibrant artwork that evokes all the magic of the west coast, this book celebrates the natural curiosity of children in a way that will inspire readers of all ages to see the everyday world as an extraordinary ground for imagination and transformation.
Wildside Booksellers presents a west coast book launch for The Oyster Who Looked at the Sky during the Tofino Oyster Festival.
Please join Darcy & Marion at the Tofino Botanical Gardens for this free, family-oriented afternoon of stories, art, and refreshments. Each child will have the opportunity to create his or her own oyster momento.
Saturday, September 22nd from 2 - 4 pm. For more information call 250.725.4222
The Oyster Who Looked at the Sky is published by Oolichan Books, www.oolichanbooks.com
Tofino Books
- Tofino book: Road's End - Tales of Tofino - November 2009
- Tofino book: Crowlogue - July 2010
- Tofino book: Salt in Our Blood - December 2002
- Tofino book: The Oyster that looked at the Sky - November 2008
- Tofino book: Voices from the Sound - January 2009
- Tofino book: Rumours - December 2008
- Tofino book: The Last Voyage of the Loch Ryan - September 2004
- Tofino book: Chasing Clayoquot - June 2004
- Tofino book: The Wild Edge - November 2004
- Tofino book: Women of the West Coast - December 2004
- Tofino book: Silent Inlet - December 2005
- Tofino book: West Coast Activity Book - April 2006
- Tofino book: Journeys - October 2006
Tofino festivals
- Pacific Rim Whale Festival: March 19-27, 2011
- Artsplash PRAS Art Show: March 19-27, 2011
- Tofino Shorebird Festival: May 6-8, 2011
- Feast! Tofino-Ucluelet: May 8 - June 4, 2011
- Clayoquot Island Open House: May 21-22, 2011
- Tofino Public Market: May - September, 2011
- Tofino Food & Wine Festival: June 3-5, 2011
- Pacific Rim Summer Festival: July 1-15, 2011
- Ukee Days: July 22-24, 2011
- Tofino Lantern Festival: August 28, 2011
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- Queen of the Peak: October 15 & 16, 2011
- Tofino Film Festival: October 20-23, 2011
- Tofino Oyster Festival: November 17-19, 2011
- Tofino Winter Celebration Artisan Festival: Dec. 3 & 4, 2011
- West Coast Winter Music: Nov.5, 2011-March 31, 2012
- Tofino Artist Studio Tour: March 17-19, 2009
- Tofino Art in the Garden: September 8 & 9, 2009
- Westcoast Maritime Festival: September 22-28, 2009
Tofino Time Magazine November 2008
- Tofino in November
- Tofino Surf Tips: The Duck Dive and the Turtle Roll
- Tofino tides: Tide table for Tofino November 2008
- Concerts in Tofino: November
- Clayoquot Sound's Deep Water Oysters
- Tofino artist Linda Skalenda
- Tofino artist Mark Hobson
- Tofino book launch: The Oyster that looked at the Sky
- Tofino Oyster Festival: November 20-22, 2008
- Builders of the Pacific Coast - A new book by Lloyd Kahn
- Tofino storms: Happy thoughts on lousy weather
- Tofino history: Voices from the Sound
- Spartina Anglica - English Cordgrass, Unwelcome Visitor
- Tofino Gardening in November
- Tofino Horoscope for November 2008
- Events in Tofino: November 2008
- Community Directory: Goods & Services in Tofino
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Tofino book launch of Darcy Dobell and Marion Syme's book 'The Oyster that looked at the Sky' at Tofino Botanical Garden
