Irene Luxbacher


Irene Luxbacher is a Canadian artist, an author and children's book illustrator.
After graduating with a degree in Art History from Queen's University, she studied Fine Art at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. She has a background in art education and has led visual arts workshops in Public schools in Toronto and at The Avenue Road Arts School. Both the Jumbo Books and the Starting Art Series have received much critical acclaim and reviews from librarians, teachers and parents, particularly homeschooling parents.
Luxbacher was a finalist for the 2009 Governor General's Awards
for her illustrations found in The Imaginary Garden published by Kids Can Press.
Luxbacher lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Works

Picture books

As author and illustrator

  • Mattoo, Let's Play!, 2010
  • Mr. Frank, 2014
  • Deep Underwater, 2018

As illustrator

  • The Imaginary Garden, 2009; written by Andrew Larsen
  • Malaika's Costume, 2016; written by Nadia L. Hohn
  • The Not-So-Faraway Adventure, 2016; written by Andrew Larsen
  • Malaika's Winter Carnival, 2017; written by Nadia L. Hohn
  • Treasure, 2019; written by Mireille Messier
  • Aunt Pearl, 2019; written by Monica Kulling
  • Malaika's Surprise, 2021; written by Nadia L. Hohn

Activity books

As author and illustrator

  • The Jumbo Book of Art, 2003
  • The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art, 2006
  • I Can Paint!, 2007
  • I Can Sculpt!, 2007
  • I Can Draw!, 2008
  • I Can Make Prints!, 2008
  • I Can Build!, 2009
  • I Can Collage!, 2009

Awards

The Imaginary Garden
123 I Can Paint!
123 I Can Sculpt!
The Jumbo Book of Art
  • 2004 Disney Adventures Book Award, winner, best hands-on book
  • 2003 National Parenting Publications Awards for Children's Resources, Gold Award winner
  • 2003 Best Bets, Ontario Library Association
The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art
  • 2006 Disney Adventures Book Award, shortlisted
The Not-So-Faraway Adventure