Maker Monday: Mighty Village

Happy 2020! We are back in action and kicking off the year with a new Maker Monday post. Today we are introducing you to the Mighty Village!

You can read all of our other Maker Monday posts here.

Tell us a bit about Mighty Village.

Mighty Village is a national literacy initiative, which reviews Canadian children’s books with a socially conscious focus. We support books that foster equality, champion the environment, and promote a more inclusive society. We also create a line of art and merchandise, which further supports our mission of literacy, advocacy and change. The items sold in our online shop help to fund our initiative.  

How do you decide which children’s books to review and promote?

How do you decide which children’s books to review and promote?

I had the honour of being a juror for the 2017 Governor General Literary Award for Young People’s Literature, which taught me a great deal about evaluating excellence. I’m also a mother, teacher, author, and illustrator. Children’s books are my jam. I think I have a unique and valuable perspective to offer.

We only choose the very best books, which reflect our mandate. They must be diverse, educational, and help to exemplify the stories of Canadians that have not always been presented in the past. We believe that good books, which promote an inclusive message, should be shared widely. We know parents, teachers, and readers are very busy, and we pride ourselves on helping them find the best books in Canadian publishing. We believe the books we select can help us become better citizens and better stewards of the land. These are the books that can truly make a difference in our own families, classrooms and communities.

As an award-winning writer and illustrator of children’s books, why have you now decided to promote books?

Like so many parents, I’ve had many sleepless nights worrying about my son and the world we inhabit. Racism and discrimination still occur in our country, in our hometowns, and in our schools at large. It is still happening and it’s not acceptable. I wanted to do something to help change this. Something that could move us forward—something much bigger than my own books, so I could have a wider reach and make a stronger impact. I wanted to step up and use my education, my experience and my skills to help make a difference. In a sense, my heartbreak is what inspired Mighty Village.

Are you still writing and illustrating?

I am. I taught myself how to draw digitally, which is so much fun. I make all of the artwork that you see on the prints and other merchandise. Having completed my MFA in creative writing from UBC, I am now nearing the end of my novel and I’m in the final drafts of my Middle Grade novel (my happy place) as well. I’ve been working on both of these books for a very long time, for years. Writing and illustrating are like the sun and the rain. I need them both. But it’s no longer enough, which also led me to create this initiative.

Fifteen percent of your profits are donated to a local charity. Why did you decide to build this into your business model?

Mighty Village represents the type of society I want to live in— one that is conscious and kind.

We are donating 15% of our annual profits in our inaugural year to Our Children Our Future, a local charity in Northern Ontario that supports many vulnerable families. We have pledged to buy new books, the very books we help to promote.

We have big plans and we’re incredibly hopeful, but we can’t do it alone. We hope your readers will feel called to help support our mission for a better world through literacy, education, and change. Together we can make a difference.

Where can we follow for updates and see your work?

You can visit us at www.mightyvillage.ca to read our book reviews and visit our shop.

You can also find us on IG: @mightyvillagebooks
Facebook at: Mighty Village

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