Bringing a children’s
book to life
This project came to fruition in the fall of 2017.
Canadian author Wayne Watson was inspired by a moment with his eldest granddaughter, Stella. One day, she asked him, “Pappy, tell me a story from your head.” Caught off guard, Wayne improvised a simple tale that seemed to satisfy her at the time.
Reflecting on that moment later, he decided to put his thoughts on paper. He wrote a fable about a young gosling named Stella who aspired to lead her flock during the next migration. To prepare, she sought guidance from her grandmother, who became her mentor and taught her the principles of leadership.
When Wayne read the story to his granddaughter, she listened attentively, then looked up and asked, “Pappy, where are the pictures in my story?”
A few months later, Wayne and his wife, Claire, visited the studio of Brigitte Gourdeau, a longtime friend of Claire’s, in Beaupré, QC, a small village near Quebec City. Upon entering, they were struck by a painting on an easel—a mother goose gazing down at her gosling. That evening, during a casual conversation, Brigitte shared that illustrating a book was one of her lifelong dreams. At that moment, Wayne and Claire exchanged a knowing glance. The coincidence was too powerful to ignore. Fate had spoken: I’m a Leader Now / Je suis un leader, Mamie had to become an illustrated children’s book.
Brigitte’s art is deeply inspired by the natural world surrounding her. The region’s flora and fauna frequently appear in her paintings, particularly the snow geese whose migration path brings them close to her home. Their strong sense of community, resilience, and shared leadership made them the perfect protagonists for this fable.
Brigitte’s extraordinary ability to capture the spirit of these majestic birds and bring them to life on canvas transformed Wayne’s simple story into a visually stunning masterpiece. In 2020, I’m a Leader Now / Je suis un leader, Mamie was recognized as one of Canada’s best children’s books by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre—an honour the author believes was largely due to Brigitte’s breathtaking illustrations.
To purchase the book, visit imaleadernow.com.