Broken Crayons nominated for 2022 Prince Edward Island Book Award

Patsy Dingwell and her grand-daughter at the launch of Broken Crayons

Congratulations to Patsy Dingwell on her nomination for a PEI Book Award in the category of Children’s Literature.

Broken Crayons tells the real-life story of Ms. Gillis, a preservice teacher at the University of Prince Edward Island, and her experiences in Kenya with Farmers Helping Farmers.

Broken Crayons is a delightful story written for school age children. It is based on a true story that never grows old, and one which carries a message for all, no matter your age.

Patsy and Ellen Gillis, the teacher who inspired Broken Crayons. They are about to open the box of books and see them for the first time. 

Patsy Dingwell lives with her husband Rodney on their farm in Marie, P.E.I. They have four sons, and her grandchildren are often the audience for her life-long love of storytelling. 

A retired special education assistant, Patsy has visited Kenya three times. As a long-time member of Farmers Helping Farmers, she founded the School Twinning Project, which continues decades later, with schools in Canada and Kenya exchanging letters.  

Students at West Kent Elementary, one of the schools in the Twinning Program, holding an autographed copy of Broken Crayons.

Broken Crayons is Patsy’s first book.

Congrats also to illustrator Marla Lesage and publisher Acorn Press. 

Broken Crayons being read to a class of students in Kenya

The Prince Edward Island Book Awards will be presented during a ticketed event at the Trailside Music Hall on Sunday, May 29, in partnership with the PEI Writers’ Guild during their annual Island Literary Awards.

Read more about Broken Crayons: https://www.farmershelpingfarmers.ca/broken-crayons-2/