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| Geoffrey Hayes 1947-2017 It's with great sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Geoffrey Hayes, beloved TOON author and even more beloved friend. As the author of over 50 children's books, his tender, emotionally honest tales and sweet yet masterful illustrations touched the lives and inspired the minds of thousands of young people. He was in good spirits and seems to have died suddenly in his sleep of natural causes–he would have turned 70 this year. He will be dearly missed by everyone at TOON. Not long ago, Geoffrey wrote a blog entry on his website called "The Intimacy of Small Things." It's a beautiful piece that we wanted to share with you. Below an excerpt: Love is both small and large. You start by loving what’s right in front of you over and over. The way a mug is placed upon a mat – the feeling it evokes, the harmony of color and composition, all natural, all spontaneous. You observe the beautiful patterns of leaves and branches in trees outside your window and how they appear against the sky. You appreciate that the harmony you experience is generated not by the objects but within. Read more>> Sketching with kids At the TOON office in 2009 At a panel about comics at NAEYC Geoffrey at age 3 At a book launch party in NYC The original Patrick Bear At TOON, Geoffrey was not just our most prolific author—with eight books to his credit—but he was also among the first authors that took a leap with Françoise Mouly back in April 2008 when we launched the TOON Books with Benny and Penny in Just Pretend . The two mouse siblings resonates with the love Geoffrey had for his brother Rory–they both became cartoonists. Geoffrey's ability to bring early childhood emotions to the page with simplicity, humor and grace is unparalleled and Benny and Penny quickly became TOON's star series. In 2009, Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! received the prestigious Theodor Seuss Geisel Award from the American Library Association for the most distinguished book for beginning readers, the first for a comic. Geoffrey went on to create a total of six books in the Benny and Penny series as well as two Patrick Bear books—keeping us busy with a new book in nearly every year: 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 We can't help but reflect now that Geoffrey's last TOON Book, Benny and Penny in How to Say Goodbye was a lesson in empathy when dealing with loss and grief. When asked about teaching children about death in this book, Geoffrey responded: "Well, I never start with a specific 'message.' I prefer to simply tell the story and let the message evolve. I knew the story would be moving, but also contain a fair amount of humor. I like the importance of ceremony in our lives, and the book ended up being about showing respect for a loved one while allowing room to express deep emotions." Remembering the good times in "Benny and Penny in How to Say Goodbye" "I had Geoffrey's work in mind when I founded TOON Books. He stood out among children's book authors for his deep love and mastery of comics. Benny and Penny was part of the launch and quickly became a cornerstone for what we're aiming at: comics for beginning readers. He knew how to tell stories that resonated with young kids–with expressive images, great comic pacing and spare but well-chosen words. Looking at the images makes you experience the character's emotions and want to turn the page. He has contributed so much to our efforts to bring quality comics to kids. Just last week I talked to him about ideas for another Benny and Penny book. I'm still in shock, but I try to find consolation in knowing that Geoffrey's work will endure–the books are classics for generations to come. I will forever remember Geoffrey for his love of humor. While all of his books deal with the difficulties young children experience in managing their emotions, Geoffrey could always bring a smile to a young reader's face—inspiring them to read on and read more. He was a special author and friend—and will be greatly missed." --Françoise Mouly Editorial Director of TOON Books To learn more about Geoffrey's work you can read this lovely interview published in 2015 by A Child Grows In Brooklyn . Interviewer Rebecca Conroy grew up with Geoffrey's work and has followed him since. Read An Interview with Geoffrey Hayes Watch Geoffrey Hayes on the Making of Benny & Penny And here's a lovely post from James Preller's Blog recounting a recent exchange with Geoffrey and an original book review. Read "An Appreciation Upon His Passing" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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