Sheila McGraw

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About Sheila McGraw
NEW RELEASE! Life's too short to concentrate on just one genre, and lately, McGraw has hopped from the kid-lit sandbox to the grown-ups' steamy hot tub with "The Knife Thrower's Wife" a mystery/domestic-suspense novel.
Sheila McGraw was born in Toronto and began her career as an illustrator and copywriter for retail fashion outlets and editorial publications. In 1986 she was approached by Firefly Books to illustrate "Love You Forever" written by Robert Munsch. As that book achieved success she wrote and/or illustrated several craft and children's books. McGraw's "Papier-Mache for Kids" was awarded the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award. Her artwork has been widely exhibited and represented by the Loch Galleries in Canada.
The best seller Love You Forever has been voted Most Iconic Book Cover in a readers' poll conducted by CBC. Thank you to everyone who voted for Love You Forever.
Sheila McGraw is painting and writing in Houston Texas. She is the mother of 3 grown sons.
Sheila McGraw was born in Toronto and began her career as an illustrator and copywriter for retail fashion outlets and editorial publications. In 1986 she was approached by Firefly Books to illustrate "Love You Forever" written by Robert Munsch. As that book achieved success she wrote and/or illustrated several craft and children's books. McGraw's "Papier-Mache for Kids" was awarded the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award. Her artwork has been widely exhibited and represented by the Loch Galleries in Canada.
The best seller Love You Forever has been voted Most Iconic Book Cover in a readers' poll conducted by CBC. Thank you to everyone who voted for Love You Forever.
Sheila McGraw is painting and writing in Houston Texas. She is the mother of 3 grown sons.
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Titles By Sheila McGraw
Love You Forever
Aug 15, 2011
$4.75
A young woman holds her newborn son
And looks at him lovingly.
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions worldwide. Since publication in 1986, Love You Forever has sold more than 15 million copies in paperback and the regular hardcover edition (as well as hundreds of thousands of copies in Spanish and French).
The Knife Thrower's Wife
Sep 29, 2020
$6.99
Illustrator Julia Green believes she’s living the American dream in suburban Houston, until she begins having sleepwalking nightmares featuring her husband, Austin, as a knife thrower with scantily clad Julia strapped to his target. And Austin’s aim is regrettably poor.
Julia paints scenes from her dreams, and in analyzing them, realizes that what her friend, Trix, said is true, that ‘she doesn’t see what is right in front of her’. Soon, as Julia questions her lifestyle and state of mind, her observations light the wick on an explosive cache of suspicions and repressed secrets.
When an unexpected tragedy occurs, Julia becomes the focus of the media and police, and she must cast off her submissive persona, find inner strength, and navigate treacherous waters to her long-overdue awakening.
Review excerpts Foreword/Clarion: 4 stars 124 words
In Sheila McGraw’s energetic, polished mystery The Knife Thrower’s Wife, cracks begin to appear in a long marriage. Julia loves her husband, Austin, whose portrayal as a mean, even sinister, man is spot-on. The book is realistic in its depiction of a family picking up the pieces of a marital implosion.
In humorous fantasy scenes, Julia slips into daydreaming about how she would react more assertively to people if she had no personal and social constraints.
Visual lines show how Julia feels “tiny, hairy centipede feet of fear” and capture her house as “a domestic detention unit” in the eyes of a big city resident, and in conversations, characters’ South Texas mannerisms come out to entertaining effect.
—Foreword (Clarion Review)
Julia paints scenes from her dreams, and in analyzing them, realizes that what her friend, Trix, said is true, that ‘she doesn’t see what is right in front of her’. Soon, as Julia questions her lifestyle and state of mind, her observations light the wick on an explosive cache of suspicions and repressed secrets.
When an unexpected tragedy occurs, Julia becomes the focus of the media and police, and she must cast off her submissive persona, find inner strength, and navigate treacherous waters to her long-overdue awakening.
Review excerpts Foreword/Clarion: 4 stars 124 words
In Sheila McGraw’s energetic, polished mystery The Knife Thrower’s Wife, cracks begin to appear in a long marriage. Julia loves her husband, Austin, whose portrayal as a mean, even sinister, man is spot-on. The book is realistic in its depiction of a family picking up the pieces of a marital implosion.
In humorous fantasy scenes, Julia slips into daydreaming about how she would react more assertively to people if she had no personal and social constraints.
Visual lines show how Julia feels “tiny, hairy centipede feet of fear” and capture her house as “a domestic detention unit” in the eyes of a big city resident, and in conversations, characters’ South Texas mannerisms come out to entertaining effect.
—Foreword (Clarion Review)
Other Formats:
Paperback
$2.99
"A Wonderful Bedtime Story and one of the Best Picture Books for Kids"
An adorable little vacuum cleaner's life is turned upside down when his beloved brother is purchased--and he's left behind at the store. Just when his heartbreak seems too much to bear, a magical friend arrives. She breaks the spell of sadness and sets in motion a chain of events that cause a surprising serendipity!
This picture book is beautifully illustrated with 16 full-color illustrations by award-winning artist Sheila McGraw, illustrator of the children’s classic Love You Forever. Suitable for boys and girls, age 3-7, bedtime stories, reading aloud and beginner readers.
“Our daughters are 4 and 6 and this is one of their favorite books! Sure to be a classic. Love the illustrations by the master Sheila McGraw!" ~ Dad in Los Angeles
"I totally love this picture book. Such a sweet, fun story infused with profound lessons life lessons for kids and grown up kids alike." ~ Holly B. Reeves
"Really, really cute! A very special little book. This could become a children's classic. Your kids will love this!" ~ Sandy Jones
A picture book your child will love with a great story, characters and masterful illustrations!
The Story of the Book
A few years ago, I spent an entire day in a garage-turned-playroom with a small child. I had agreed to amuse, entertain and care for her, while her parents were both ill. What did she want to play? Dress up? Dolls? Coloring books? Paints? No—she wanted stories—not stories from books, but made-up stories. She sat on my lap and pointed to one object after another in that room, each time saying, “Tell me a story about that.” Finally, she pointed to a sweet little vacuum cleaner standing in a corner. “It’s lonely all by itself," she mused.
As I told the story, the seemingly lonely life of the little vacuum cleaner revealed itself, and became not a life of loneliness, but of joy and happiness . How? The little vacuum cleaner performs one selfless act—and its life turns instantly magical.
I offer this story to you for your enjoyment in the hopes it will amuse and inspire you as much as it has me and many others, from 3-year-old children to grumpy old men. You may smile, laugh or cry—but without doubt, you will be touched.
Why is Snuffy and Vroom-Vroom a good choice for your child?
• It will help build your child’s self-esteem and model heartfelt values such as creativity, kindness and patience.
• It will give your child solace if they've ever missed a friend or loved one.
• It models the values of loyalty and kindness to family members and how to extend that kindness in all areas of home life.
• And it shows through a delightful story how anyone can create strength from sadness—instead of allowing it to remain as a dark cloud.
Sheila McGraw has also illustrated and/or written several best-selling children's picture books. "Love You Forever" went on to become a children's classic with more than 20 million in print and number one on the New York Times Bestseller list.
I searched for over two years for just the right illustrator for my picture books. The one thing I required above all else from an artist was that they love the the characters as much as my grandchildren and I did. Ms.
Other Formats:
Paperback
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