Philippa Dowding

@phdowding.bsky.social

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Children's author, poet, musician | Winner, Governor General's Literary Award & Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Book Award | Writing & musical stuff | NEW BOOKS: The Love Song of Mr. Byrd (2025/DCB); The War Lantern (2026/DCB) | pdowding.com

Photo of author Philippa Dowding and the cover of her book, The Love Song of Mr. Byrd (DCB Young Readers, October 2025). An invitation to meet her in person at the OLA Super Conference in Toronto on January 29, 2026.
"The Love Song of Mr. Byrd", a new chapter book by Philippa Dowding. The image shows the book cover with bird and bat on a tree limb looking at each other. One shortbread "book cookie" with the cover imprinted on it in icing is placed on either side.
Illustration Copyright Caroline Clarke, from THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD, by Philippa Dowding (DCB 2025). Mr. Byrd stands dejected on the tree branch, while his friend Bat peeks at him from behind a leafy branch above his head.
The cover of THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD, by Philippa Dowding. Art by Caroline Clarke. An inquisitive bird looks at a smiling bat on a tree branch.
IMAGE: The back cover of THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD, by Philippa Dowding, coming from DCB Young Readers, October 2025. A yellow cover with black type, an illustration of a sweet fallen feather by artist Caroline Clarke, the copy begins with the following words: 'A new friend is a scary thing, sometimes. You may have to change and adapt a little to make your friendship work.' So says Bat to her new friend Mr. Byrd on one perfect summer twilight..." Further copy provided.
The cover of OCULUM (2018, DCB Young Readers), by Philippa Dowding. A middle-grade dystopia with themes of climate change, inequity, dystopia, and life in a post-apocalyptic world.
A mother bird feeds her three chicks. Wrought-iron bird art on a post, from Toronto Island, May, 2025.
The cover of The Love Song of Mr. Byrd, by Philippa Dowding, forthcoming from DCB Young Readers, Oct. 25, 2025. Illustrations by Caroline Clarke.
The bright red cover of The Gargoyle in my Yard, by Philippa Dowding, published in 2009. The book is still in print.
The cover of Timothy Snyder's book, ON FREEDOM.
The cover of The Gargoyle in My Yard (2009), by award-winning Canadian children's author, Philippa Dowding
Two carved owls in an old tree stump, Blue Spruce Resort, Algonquin Park
Snowstorm, Volvo, and Barbara Kingsolver's book: which do you choose?
The frost line, demarcated by the sun, on the Toronto Island boardwalk this morning. Left is frost, right the frost has been melted by the sun.
Bomber Command War Memorial, Hyde Park Corner, London