Kevin Sylvester is a Canadian writer, cartoonist and news broadcaster.
Based in Toronto, Ontario, Sylvester has written and illustrated a number of best-selling children's books. There are four books in the "Neil Flambé Capers". The first book Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders was voted the 2011 Silver Birch Award winner for fiction.Sadly, it did not win. The character Neil Flambé was originally used by Kevin during a CBC summer morning broadcast of his ongoing story Neil Flambé and the Case of the Caustic Cumin. The second book in the series is Neil Flambé and the Aztec Abduction. The third is Neil Flambé and the Crusader's Curse', nominated for the 2013 Silver Birch Award. The fourth is Neil Flambé and the Tokyo Treasure. All four books are published by Simon and Schuster.
Sylvester's first children’s book Sports Hall of Weird was named a Silver Birch Honour Book in 2006 and a Rocky Mountain Honour Book in 2007. His second book, Gold Medal for Weird was released in 2007 and was named a Gold Medal Choice for the Junior Library Guild in the United States. It was also nominated the 2007 Silver Birch award for Non-Fiction. He also won a 2012 Silver Birch as the illustrator for "Don't Touch That Toad", written by Cathy Rondina and published by Kids Can Press.
His book for adults, Shadrin Has Scored for Russia, was nominated for the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour in 2002.
From 1999 to 2006 he was a popular sportscaster for national radio sports on CBC Radio, and anchored the radio coverage for four Olympic Games. He is often heard filling in on CBC shows such as The Sunday Edition (filling in for Michael Enright).
Before that, Sylvester was a regular contributor to Sounds Like Canada and The Current, and has also been featured on Richardson's Roundup, Ideas and The Inside Track.
As an illustrator, he is also a contributor to the Literary Review of Canada, and his work has been auctioned off raising tens of thousands of dollars for charities.
Famous quotes containing the words kevin and/or sylvester:
“Well, on the official record you’re my son. But on this post you’re just another trooper. You heard me tell the recruits what I need from them. Twice that I will expect from you.... You’ve chosen my way of life. I hope you have the guts enough to endure it. But put outa your mind any romantic ideas that it’s a way to glory. It’s a life of suffering and of hardship and uncompromising devotion to your oath and your duty.”
—James Kevin McGuinness, and John Ford. Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke (John Wayne)
“On this I ponder where’er I wander,
And thus grow fonder, sweet Cork, of thee;
With thy bells of Shandon,”
—Francis Sylvester Mahony (1805–1866)