Commissioned illustrations and paintings. From family fun at the cottage and chalet, to portraits, to books, to web brand design, to political satires for publications. From paints to pen and ink to digital, every assignment is unique.
( Represented by GALLERY 104 - New York and Laguna Art Gallery - California )
( Literary Agent: Cassandra Rodgers - The Rights Factory )
CHARLES BONGERS I CREATIVE DIRECTOR I BRAND DESIGNER | CONCEPT ILLUSTRATOR
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CHARLES BONGERS I CREATIVE DIRECTOR I BRAND DESIGNER | CONCEPT ILLUSTRATOR
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CHARLES BONGERS I CREATIVE DIRECTOR I BRAND DESIGNER | CONCEPT ILLUSTRATOR
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CHARLES BONGERS I CREATIVE DIRECTOR I BRAND DESIGNER | CONCEPT ILLUSTRATOR
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WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLES BONGERS
Hello Teachers and Program Directors!
We're so happy to have the opportunity to share Do Trees Have Mothers? with young readers in schools, libraries, camps and weekend program environments! Connecting kids to nature is the most important thing we can do to inspire our future forest custodians and support their well-being in the natural world.
EARTH DAY 2025 School Presentation
Visits with Charles Bongers, author and illustrator of Do Trees Have Mothers? include 2 smaller sessions of 35 to 45 minutes, each, with smaller groups of students from Grades 1 to 3. While the book’s narrator, “Nuts” the playful squirrel, engages all ages, the older kids will be more interested in the science of trees inspired by books like The Hidden Life of Trees and Finding The Mother Tree. Charles appropriately tweaks his presentation and discussion based on students’ ages and their scientific knowledge of nature and ecology.
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​A short slide presentation about the tree community and the similarities to our families is followed by a reading of Do Trees of Mothers? and an interactive discussion.
Please see our teacher testimonials for Charles's school visits, below.​​​​​​
"I am pleased to share my positive experience following a recent author visit with Charles Bongers. The focus on trees was so beneficial to our primary students and their learning. Charles engaged our students through interactive storytelling and informative discussions. His visit deepened our students' understanding of nature and sparked their curiosity. His ability to make complex topics accessible and interesting was particularly noteworthy. I would recommend Charles to any school seeking enriching author visits that align with curriculum goals".
– Laura Mustard / Librarian, St Clement's School - Toronto
"The obvious link between Do Trees Have Mothers? and school curricula is to biology and ecology within the science curriculum, but links could also be made to human families and communities by comparing how trees nurture other organisms to how people support one another in healthy societies. This would make a great foundational book for schools planning scaffolded ecology units across the grades. A detached activity guide, outlining three activities suitable for young learners, accompanies the book."―Review by Diana Mumford for Canadian Teacher
"We were thrilled to welcome Charles to share his story with our Grade 3 classes and we were amazed at how many cross-curricular links our students made with reading, science, and art. The storybook will become a reference point for so many topics throughout our school year. Above all, it was encouraging to see young students view nature in a different way, and hopefully, their developing understanding of the interconnectedness that trees bring to our world will guide their actions as they grow older."
– Darren Donahue / Grade 3 Teacher, Crescent School - Toronto
