Aubrey Davis loved stories. He loved telling them and he loved hearing them. In the final hours of his life, he asked his family and friends who were gathered around him to “tell me stories about me.” There was much laughter mixed in with the tears as Aubrey left the world gently and with the humour, love and generosity that he showed in his life.
Born in Toronto in 1949, Aubrey reconnected with his love of story and storytelling as a young man backpacking through Europe and North Africa in the 1970s. While travelling, he discovered the writing of Idries Shah, whose work he championed in Canada. After experimenting with many different jobs, he became a special education teacher. Of his years of working with special needs children, he remarked: “I taught them language through stories. They taught me how to tell simple, clear and dramatic tales.”
When asked to tell a story at Chanukah one year, Aubrey couldn’t find one he liked, so he created his own version of the traditional Stone Soup, called Bone Button Borscht. The story found a home at Kids Can Press. His editor, Debbie Rogosin remembers:
“Early in my career as a picture book editor, I had the great good fortune of working with Aubrey Davis on his first book: the now-classic Bone Button Borscht. An amazing wordsmith of the spoken word and a master storyteller, Aubrey gave me a real education in telling stories! Kind, thoughtful, gracious, with a glint in his eye and a tale on the tip of his tongue, Aubrey was a treasure.”
Aubrey went on to publish several other original tales and to win many prizes and accolades for his books. Bone Button Borscht was selected by IBBY Canada as an IBBY Honour Book in 1998. See the full list of books and honours below.
Aubrey had a busy 40-year career as a storyteller, telling stories in nursing homes, schools, festivals, libraries and jails. Aubrey was also generous in many other ways. He was active in a group of folks who sponsored an Afghani family. They arrived in Toronto in late 2022. Aubrey was able to welcome them to their new home just weeks before his death.
A member of IBBY Canada, Aubrey held another organization dear to his heart: Books Over Borders (booksoverborders.org). Donations in his name are welcome by his family. He is survived by his children and grandchildren and wife, storyteller Sandra Carpenter-Davis.
Debbie Rogosin concludes her memory of Aubrey this way:
“[H]is great enthusiasm and appetite for stories will live on. Bring on the borscht, the potatoes, the bagels… and listen as the magic of his storytelling continues to multiply, just like Izzy Pippik’s chickens.”
Books by Aubrey Davis
Bone Button Borscht, illustrated by Dušan Petričić (Kids Can Press, 1995)
1998 IBBY Honour List, Illustration, International Board on Books for Young People
1997 Junior Library Guild Selection
1997 Tiny Torgi Literary Award, CNIB Library for the Blind, Shortlisted
1996 Book Design Award, Alcuin Society, Commended
1995 Notable Canadian Fiction for Children, Canadian School Library Association and Canadian Association of Children’s Librarians, Winner
The Enormous Potato, illustrated by Dušan Petričić (Kids Can Press, 1997)
Palmarès Communication-Jeunesse des livres préférés des jeunes
1999 Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award, Winner
Sody Salleratus, illustrated by Alan Daniel and Lea Daniel (Kids Can Press, 1996)
“[Α]n instant classic.”Canadian Book Review Annual, 1997
Bagels from Benny, illustrated by Dušan Petričić (Kids Can Press, 2003)
2005 Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association, Shortlisted
2004 Canadian Jewish Book Award, Winner
2004 International Book Awards, The Society of School Librarians International, Winner
2004 Mr. Christie Book Award, Honour Book
2004 National Jewish Book Award, Shortlisted
2004 IODE Jean Throop Book Award, Winner
2003 Best Bets, Ontario Library Association
2003 Sydney Taylor Book Award, Winner
Kishka for Koppel, illustrated by Sheldon Cohen (Orca Book Publishers, 2011)
Highly Recommended, CM Magazine, 2011
Starred Review, Jewish Book News, 2012
A Hen for Izzy Pippik, illustrated by Marie Lafrance (Kids Can Press, 2012)
2013 Best Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street Children’s Book Committee, Winner
2013 Great Lakes Great Books, Michigan Reading Association, Commended
2013 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Winner
2013 Shining Willow Award, Shortlisted
2012 Best Bets, Ontario Library Association, Honourable Mention
2012 Best Books for Kids & Teens Selection
In Memory of Aubrey Davis
Born in Toronto in 1949, Aubrey reconnected with his love of story and storytelling as a young man backpacking through Europe and North Africa in the 1970s. While travelling, he discovered the writing of Idries Shah, whose work he championed in Canada. After experimenting with many different jobs, he became a special education teacher. Of his years of working with special needs children, he remarked: “I taught them language through stories. They taught me how to tell simple, clear and dramatic tales.”
When asked to tell a story at Chanukah one year, Aubrey couldn’t find one he liked, so he created his own version of the traditional Stone Soup, called Bone Button Borscht. The story found a home at Kids Can Press. His editor, Debbie Rogosin remembers:
“Early in my career as a picture book editor, I had the great good fortune of working with Aubrey Davis on his first book: the now-classic Bone Button Borscht. An amazing wordsmith of the spoken word and a master storyteller, Aubrey gave me a real education in telling stories! Kind, thoughtful, gracious, with a glint in his eye and a tale on the tip of his tongue, Aubrey was a treasure.”
Aubrey went on to publish several other original tales and to win many prizes and accolades for his books. Bone Button Borscht was selected by IBBY Canada as an IBBY Honour Book in 1998. See the full list of books and honours below.
Aubrey had a busy 40-year career as a storyteller, telling stories in nursing homes, schools, festivals, libraries and jails. Aubrey was also generous in many other ways. He was active in a group of folks who sponsored an Afghani family. They arrived in Toronto in late 2022. Aubrey was able to welcome them to their new home just weeks before his death.
A member of IBBY Canada, Aubrey held another organization dear to his heart: Books Over Borders (booksoverborders.org). Donations in his name are welcome by his family. He is survived by his children and grandchildren and wife, storyteller Sandra Carpenter-Davis.
Debbie Rogosin concludes her memory of Aubrey this way:
“[H]is great enthusiasm and appetite for stories will live on. Bring on the borscht, the potatoes, the bagels… and listen as the magic of his storytelling continues to multiply, just like Izzy Pippik’s chickens.”
Books by Aubrey Davis
Bone Button Borscht, illustrated by Dušan Petričić (Kids Can Press, 1995)
The Enormous Potato, illustrated by Dušan Petričić (Kids Can Press, 1997)
Sody Salleratus, illustrated by Alan Daniel and Lea Daniel (Kids Can Press, 1996)
Bagels from Benny, illustrated by Dušan Petričić (Kids Can Press, 2003)
Kishka for Koppel, illustrated by Sheldon Cohen (Orca Book Publishers, 2011)
A Hen for Izzy Pippik, illustrated by Marie Lafrance (Kids Can Press, 2012)
2012 Best Books for Kids & Teens Selection
Contributed by Theo Heras
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