Calling Lower Mainland elementary school educators!

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A brand-new colouring book for ages 5 -10! We've adapted one of our hit shows for elementary schools, CELESTIAL BEING, into a whimsical colouring book!

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Colouring books will be distributed free of charge to Lower Mainland elementary school classes in May 2021, while supplies last.

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If you are interested in having your class on the distribution list, please email touring@greenthumb.bc.ca, with the name of your school and number of books required! Green Thumb will arrange contactless delivery to your school!

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‍About CELESTIAL BEING:
Celeste is an autistic* 9-year-old with a big imagination and a deep love for outer space. After experiencing bullying at school, Celeste is made to feel like she’ll never fit in on Earth. Searching for a place where she can belong, Celeste starts building a rocket ship out of objects from around her house so that she can blast off to “Celestia”, a planet where everyone sees the world the way she does. When Celeste meets Martin, a new boy at school who loves space just as much as she does, her adventure takes a new turn. CELESTIAL BEING explores the different pathways to friendship, and the importance of welcoming a wide range of human experiences.

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About the Illustrator:‍ Cecil Ward

From their little place on Vancouver Island, Cecil Ward likes to draw whatever has captured their fancy in the moment, regardless of what housework has yet to be completed. They primarily work in digital illustration and character design, having a particular fondness for stories and folklore. They’re quite happy to be working on this particular story, being autistic themselves, and having spent many a school recess pretending to go on space adventures of their own. They also have two cats, which are the light of their life.

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About the Author: Dave Deveau

An award-winning writer, Dave Deveau's work has been produced across North America and in Europe. He is deeply devoted to developing intelligent, theatrical plays for young people that foster conversation. His plays for young audiences include Out in the Open, tagged (Dora nomination) and Celestial Being (Jessie Nomination) for Green Thumb Theatre, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls (Dora nomination) for Roseneath Theatre and the drag-theatre hybrid Parents Are A Drag (commissioned by Vancouver International Children’s Festival). He lives in Vancouver with his husband Cameron Mackenzie and their three-year-old.

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*Green Thumb Theatre recognizes that there is debate within autism advocacy circles regarding the use of “autistic individual” vs. “individual with autism”. In this matter we have deferred to autistic advocates such as Lydia Brown who articulates a preference for “autistic individual” in recognition that autism is an integral part of their identity, not something about them that needs to be changed (https://autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/identity-first-language/).

Jake Anthony, Program Ambassador of AutismBC, speaks about the individuality of language preference in his blog post regarding inclusive terminology: (https://www.autismbc.ca/blog/inclusive_language/)

We realize this is a deeply personal issue for autistic individuals and their families and welcome feedback from anyone who is moved to share through the email info@greenthumb.bc.ca.

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Resource page for families and educators coming soon!