Ann Featherstone was an editor like no other, but she was also my friend. She helped birth so many phenomenal children’s books, and I’m honoured that she helped to birth many of my own. Ann, when I write, I think of the lessons you taught me. Vichnaya Pamyat.
Ann Eloise Featherstone (Butler) 1953-2024 passed away on June 12, 2024 after a long and courageous journey with cancer. Ann was born in Oakville, Ontario and came to Victoria in 1971 where she studied English and Art History at UVIC. Ann lived a life of books and was one of the original “Munro’s Girls.” She worked at all the Munro’s Books locations and managed the Market Square Store. Ann came to specialize in children’s books and developed the children’s section at the Government St. store.
Ann moved into publishing in the early 1990s and over the next three decades shepherded over five hundred books into publication. She became one of the most well-loved children’s book editors in Canada and developed the children’s books lines for Orca Books, Fitzhenry and Whiteside, and co-founded Pajama Press. Ann leaves a lasting legacy of friendship with authors and illustrators and brought delight into the lives of countless children.
The title of her last book, A World of Kindness, perfectly captures her empathetic personality. She was adored by her husband of 47 years, Grenfell; daughter, Robin (Colin); sister, Pat (Jamie); brother, Rob (Twyla); and Frankie the polydactyl ginger tabby-cat. Ann was pre-deceased by her parents Mary and Tony Butler, and her brother David.
We cannot adequately thank Dr. Bernstein and Dr Masuda for their years of support, and Dr Adzich, the palliative care nurses, homecare workers, and the chemo ward nurses at the Cowichan Hospital all of whom treated Ann with gentleness and professionalism.
In lieu of flowers, please read to your kids!
Here are all of my Ann Featherstone books, spanning two publishers:
A beautiful omnibus edition of the award-winning biographies Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan’s Rescue from War and One Step at a Time: A ...
One day they will send for her, but how long must Van Ho wait for her family to find a ...
It is 1981. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a fishing boat overloaded with 60 Vietnamese refugees drifts. The ...
Based on true events, a compelling story of love and hope published on the 100th anniversary of World War I ...
Tuyet has found a loving family at last. Life in a strange new country presents many challenges for the young ...
Last Airlift is the true story of the last Canadian airlift operation that left Saigon and arrived in Toronto on April ...
From the New Beginnings series, comes Call Me Aram, the sequel to Aram’s Choice. Aram Davidian, like his fellow orphaned Armenian refugees, ...
From the New Beginnings series, comes Aram’s Choice, a story that follows the life of a boy who loses his family in ...
This story, set during the Famine of the 1930s, tells of a young girl’s attempts to save her village from ...
This unique anthology introduces new voices and a century of hidden stories. The kobzars were the blind minstrels of Ukraine, ...
Daughter of War is a gripping story of enduring love and loyalty set against the horrors of Turkey during World War ...
