Eulalie’s Journey to Algonquin with Tom Thomson

This book offers a lyrical introduction to the work of Canadian painter Tom Thomson. The introduction written for the younger reader gives the background to Tom’s life. The remaining pages tell the story. Written from the dog’s point of view, it tells of how Tom and Eulalie travelled together from Tom’s studio in Toronto to the wild beauty of Algonquin Park in Northern Ontario. The young reader will see how Tom worked “catching the light” as Eulalie describes it, how the two of them lived as a team in the wilderness of Algonquin Park with Tom canoeing on the lakes and catching fish for their supper, and how Eulalie discovers her cousins the wolves and finds suitable places for Tom to do his “pasting” – her word for his painting. She was devoted to Tom from the very beginning when he exclaimed, “She’s a little treasure – she can come painting with me!” For child, parent or teacher, this books offers an engaging opportunity to get to know the work of one of Canada’s most celebrated artists and more about Algonquin Park. The book is vividly illustrated with Ruth MacLean’s evocative paper collages, for the most part based on Tom’s actual paintings. The text by Catherine Wilson has line drawings in the margins which bring alive the character of Eulalie. The final page gives references to each of the galleries where the works upon which Ruth has based her collages may be found.