Margot Thompson — Illustrator

Biography

Margot Thompson is an illustrator and designer. Most of her illustration work has been for magazines, but she has also illustrated several books for children.

Margot started drawing when she was very young, mainly because her older sister was already drawing and so Margot joined in. Her earliest “works” were crayon drawings of princesses. Because she wanted them to be life-size or even bigger, Margot would tape sheets of paper together in long rows and make giant princesses.

During high school and university, Margot focused on another love: science. She received a degree in biology from the University of Toronto. Rather than working in science, though, she decided to study art at the Ontario College of Art and Design. This led to a career as a freelance illustrator and as a designer at the Royal Ontario Museum, keeping her very busy.

Awards

Biomimicry

2012 - Information Book Award, The Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada, Commended
2012 - Green Earth Book Award, Newton Marasco Foundation, Short-listed
2012 - Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Short-listed
2012 - Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Winner
2012 - Outstanding Science Books, National Science Teachers Association, Winner

Planet Ark

2014 - Information Book Award, The Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada, Long-listed
2014 - Green Earth Book Award, The Nature Generation, Short-listed
2014 - Top 10 Books on Sustainability for Youth, Booklist, Winner

Tree of Life

2007 - Alberta Children’s Choice Rocky Mountain Book Award, Short-listed
2006 - Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award, Short-listed
2005 - Silver Birch Award, Ontario Library Association, Short-listed
2005 - Skipping Stones Honor Award, Skipping Stones Magazine, Winner
2005 - Green Earth Book Award, Runner-up
2005 - Teacher’s Choice List, International Reading Association, Winner
2005 - Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award, Short-listed
2005 - Independent Publisher Book Award, Winner
2004 - Best of the Best Books List, Chicago Public Library, Winner
2004 - Book of the Year Award - Silver Medal, ForeWord Magazine, Winner
2004 - Tom Fairley Award for Editorial Excellence, The Editors' Association of Canada, Winner
2004 - Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award, ASPCA, Winner