But what is a virus? she asked
A virus is a chance, said her grandfather
A chance?
It's a chance for change, he said.
Background
Since January 2020, the World Health Organization reports that Canada documented 43,505 deaths from SARS-CoV-2, more commonly known as the Corona virus. Worldwide, over 6.5 million people have lost their lives to date.
It's clear that each one of us has been affected on some level by this global phenomenon, and our children are no exception. Over eighty percent of the Canadians who died were over the age of 65 - many of them grandparents, and this has enormously impacted the landscape of their families, as well as our entire country.
Overview
A Thousand Twinkly Stars offers a sweet, poignant look at the role of a virus in the wider scope of life. It comprises a conversation between a grandfather and a little girl that comforts her fears with a lovely promise extending beyond the here and now.
With the same multi-generational appeal of Robert Munsch's timeless, Love you Forever, this book promises to warm the hearts of all who turn its pages.
Why is this book important?
- It represents a wonderful collaboration between a non-Indigenous author and an iconic First Nations artist, the late Daphne Odjig, who passed in 2016, at the age of ninety-seven. Daphne was the only woman and a founding member of the Indigenous Group of Seven, which included Alex Janvier, Jackson Beardy, and others. She is a recipient of the Order of Canada, the Governor General's award, and seven honorary doctorates, among many other accolades.
- It introduces the next generation to this inspirational woman's body of work and enables a seamless continuation of her legacy.
- It demonstrates the timelessness of her art. The twenty-nine images were curated from hundreds of pieces she'd created over six decades, simply because they corroborated the text so brilliantly. Despite their age and original context, they capture the ethos of this story with undeniable conviction.
- Lastly, the compelling Foreword written by Maxine Noel (Ioyan Mani), also an Order of Canada recipient, and the commentary provided by Daphne's son, Stan Somerville are a lovely tribute to this unique initiative.