Ashley Spires

Spires was born and raised in Tsawwassen, British Columbia. She studied photography at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, where she was inspired to pursue illustration after taking a class on book-making.

After graduation, she earned a contract with Lobster Press, for which she illustrated Peter Kuitenbrouwer's 2004 book, Our Song: The Story of O Canada, the Canadian National Anthem. {{Cite journal|last=Hanson|first=Cheryl|date=March 2012|title=An artist's growing menagerie|journal=Quill & Quire|volume=78| issue = 2|pages=18–20}} She later attended a postgraduate illustration program at Ontario's Sheridan College.{{Cite web|url=http://ovation.sheridancollege.ca/the-most-magnificent-thing/|title=Creativity and Perseverance|date=2019-09-10|website=Ovation, Sheridan's Alumni Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-03}}

Spires is the author and illustrator of the Binky the Space Cat graphic novel series, about a cat who believes his house is a space station.{{Cite web|url=https://www.delta-optimist.com/entertainment/south-delta-author-ashley-spires-excited-to-see-work-on-small-screen-1.23938152|title=South Delta author Ashley Spires excited to see work on small screen|last=Jacques|first=Ian|date=2019-09-06|website=Delta Optimist|access-date=2020-01-29}} The first book in the series, Binky the Space Cat, won the 2011 Silver Birch Express Award, presented by the Ontario Library Association.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/books/ashley-spires-1.4720693|title=Ashley Spires|date=2018-06-27|website=CBC Books|access-date=2020-01-28}} On September 7, 2019, a TV series based on the series, called Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe, premiered on Treehouse TV.

Spires's 2014 book, The Most Magnificent Thing, earned a starred review from Kirkus{{Cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ashley-spires/the-most-magnificent-thing/|title=The Most Magnificent Thing|date=2014-02-26|website=Kirkus Reviews|access-date=2020-01-27}} and was listed among the ALA Notable Books for Children 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb/ncbpastlists/ncb_2015|title=2015 Notable Children's Books|date=2015-12-15|website=Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}} It has sold over 500,000 copies and been translated into multiple languages. The book was adapted into a 22-minute animated short film directed by Arna Selznick, featuring narration by Whoopi Goldberg and voice acting by Lilly Bartlam and Alison Pill.{{Cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/10/08/childrens-book-most-magnificent-thing-jumps-to-the-screen-with-short-film/|title=Children's book 'Most Magnificent Thing' jumps to the screen with short film|last=Szklarski|first=Cassandra|date=2019-10-08|website=CityNews|access-date=2020-01-27}} It aired on Canadian children's channel YTV in 2019 and was shown at a number of film festivals, including the 2019 San Diego International Film Festival{{Cite web|url=https://sdfilmfest.com/san-diego-film-festival-announces-2019-lineup-2/|title=San Diego International Film Festival Announces 2019 Films & Honorees {{!}} San Diego International Film Festival|date=2019-09-05|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-29}} and the 2019 Chicago International Children's Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://reelchicago.com/article/facets-3/|title=Ainslie Henderson's 'Archie' wins Best of Fest at the 2019 Chicago Children's International Film Festival {{!}} Reel Chicago - Midwest film, audio, production, TV, and advertising|date=2019-11-11|website={{!}} Reel Chicago - Midwest film, audio, production, TV, and advertising|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-29}}

As author and illustrator:

• Binky the Space Cat (2009){{Cite web|url=https://quillandquire.com/review/binky-the-space-cat/|title=Binky the Space Cat|date=2009-10-16|website=Quill and Quire|access-date=2020-01-29}} {{ISBN|978-1-55453-419-7|}}
• Binky to the Rescue (2010) {{ISBN|978-1554535972|}}
• Binky Under Pressure (2011) {{ISBN|978-1554537679|}}
• Small Saul (2011){{Cite web|url=https://quillandquire.com/review/small-saul/|title=Small Saul|last=de Mariaffi|first=Elisabeth|date=2011-03-28|website=Quill and Quire|access-date=2020-01-29}} {{ISBN|978-1-55453-503-3|}}
• Binky Takes Charge (2012) {{ISBN|978-1554537686|}}
• Larf (2012) {{ISBN|978-1554537013|}}
• Binky License to Scratch (2013){{Cite book|title=Binky : license to scratch|last=Spires, Ashley, 1978-|others=Li, Karen,, Ucar, Yasemin|date = September 2013|isbn=978-1-55453-963-5|location=Toronto, ON|oclc=825160809}}
• Edie's Ensembles (2014) {{ISBN|978-1-77049- 490-9|}}
• The Most Magnificent Thing (2014) {{ISBN|978-1554537044|}}
• Gordon: Bark To The Future! (2016)
• Fluffy Strikes Back (2016){{Cite web|url=https://quillandquire.com/review/fluffy-strikes-back-a-p-u-r-s-t-adventure/|title=Fluffy Strikes Back (A P.U.R.S.T. Adventure)|last=Ozirny|first=Shannon|date=2016-03-29|website=Quill and Quire|access-date=2020-01-29}} {{ISBN|978-1-77138-127-7|}}
• Over-scheduled Andrew (2017) {{ISBN|978-1770494848|}}
• The Thing Lou Couldn't Do (2017){{Cite web|url=https://quillandquire.com/review/the-thing-lou-couldnt-do/|title=The Thing Lou Couldn't Do|last=Cotter|first=Charis|date=2017-03-09|website=Quill and Quire|access-date=2020-01-29}} {{ISBN|978-1771387279|}}
• Fairy Science (2019) {{ISBN|9780525581390|}}

As illustrator only:

• The Red Shoes, by Eleri Glass{{Cite web|url=https://quillandquire.com/omni/non-payment-not-the-only-allegation-against-simply-read-books/|title=Non-payment not the only allegation against Simply Read books|last=Robertson|first=Becky|date=2015-06-18|website=Quill and Quire|access-date=2020-01-29}} (2008) {{ISBN|978-1894965781|}}
• Ella's Umbrellas, by Jennifer Lloyd (2010) {{ISBN|978-1-89747-623-9|}}
• Spare Dog Parts, by Alison Hughes (2016) {{ISBN|978-1459807044|}}

• {{official|https://www.ashleyspires.com/}}

{{Portal|Children's literature}}

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Category:Canadian children's writers

Category:Canadian illustrators

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Writers from British Columbia

Category:People from Delta, British Columbia

Category:Emily Carr University of Art and Design alumni