Ep 12: The Little Red Shed Children’s Book by Jennifer & Adam Young

Learn tips to help you craft a successful children’s book with first-time authors, Jennifer and Adam Young from Fogo Island, NL.

 

Imagine living on an island off the coast of an island. Imagine being an artist on that island with your own art gallery. Imagine being a writer. Sound incredible? Well, that’s life for my guests, who live on Fogo Island with their two daughters, Scout and Bella, and their dog, Johnny Cash. They are the authors of The Little Red Shed, a most endearing children’s book with a good message for all of us. Meet the husband and wife team of Adam and Jennifer Young.

 

Both are educators but now are also authors as well as owners of Young Studios, where Adam creates and sells his beautiful, colourful and whimsical depictions of eastern Canada (mainly Newfoundland, these days). Born in Halifax, Adam met Jennifer who was from Joe Batt’s Arm, a small community on Fogo Island. Their love and love of place brought them back to Newfoundland where they are living the life of their dreams in a stunning, yet stark environment that inspires all they do and brings great happiness and freedom to their family.

 

His colourful art is an important part of this engaging story of a little red shed that discovers it’s okay to be different. Their enthusiasm and experiences will warm your heart and inspire ideas.

 

Adam Young is best known for his whimsical and colourful depictions of Eastern Canada, specifically Newfoundland.  He was born in Halifax, NS, raised in Moncton, NB and has been living on Fogo Island, off the northeast coast of Newfoundland since 2008.  He completed his BFA at Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB (2003).  He went on to completed his BEd (Crandall University, Moncton 2007) and MEd (Memorial University, St.John’s 2016).  Adam started his artistic career as a freelance illustrator for newspapers and magazines throughout Canada but his professional body of work began after his first visit to Newfoundland in 2005.

 

Inspiration for Adam’s work comes from the stark beauty of the landscape, architecture and the warmth of the people who live here.  His mediums of choice are acrylics and inks and focus on the elements of light, repetition, movement and colour.  The fishing stage and/or saltbox house is a common theme within most of Adam’s paintings which takes the place as the absent figure. The little colourful shacks embody a playful feeling of curiosity and wonder as they balance on the rocky and sometimes harsh coastline of the North Atlantic.  Adam lives on Fogo Island, NL with his wife Jennifer, their daughters Bella and Scout and dog Johnny Cash.

Get In Touch: 

www.kathryntaylor.ca

https://ayoungstudios.com/

ayoungstudios@yahoo.ca

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wD2VHNhdzA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY8g1pGK4gg

www.instagram.com/young_studios 

https://www.breakwaterbooks.com/books/the-little-red-shed/

 

“My work is very whimsical, very fun. It’s kind of a light-hearted fun colourful take on Newfoundland and the east coast in general.” - Adam

“It’s a book our 6-year-old can read but it has such a powerful message yet the language is so simplistic.” - Jennifer

“It was much more difficult to create a book that rhymes. As much as you think it would be easier, it’s not.” - Adam