Canadian Winner
2026 Golden Cubes Award
International Union of Architects (UIA)
Triennial award recognizing architectural education for children and youth
Observational Award of Excellence
2026 American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI) 
Annual international juried exhibition
.
TEASER BOOK TRAILER
What if you were an owl?
What would you see in the city?
Winnipeg’s skyline offers a window into a playful world of contemporary and historic architecture across the seasons. Learn your ABCs and XYZs and learn about Winnipeg’s hidden and not-so-hidden architectural gems.

This is more than just an alphabet book. It’s an ABC book + picture book + little readers’ book, all rolled into one. Everyone who loves their city (or is visiting the city) and wants to explore its secrets from an owl’s eye view . . . somewhere between what is real and a dream— this book is for you.

Un livre illustré destiné aux jeunes enfants. L’ouvrage célèbre l’environnement bâti de Winnipeg et son architecture emblématique, tant historique que contemporaine, le tout vu à travers le regard d’un hibou.
I wrote and illustrated W is for Winnipeg as a love letter to a city that never stops surprising me – an owl’s eye invitation to look up, look closer, and fall for architectural wonders and secrets hiding in plain sight. Winnipeg’s mix of heritage façades and contemporary bravado begged to be seen through a playful lens, so I let the owls lead. More than an ABC, this book is an urban treasure hunt. A game of hide-and-seek. A spark for curiosity that lives where reality blurs into “nearly true” – where a city becomes a story children can read, imagine, and help design. — RB
Interview aboutW is for Winnipeg
Support independent authors directly through FriesenPress
W IS FOR WINNIPEG is also available in print and eBook editions from your favourite online retailer; order through your local bookstore or request through your local library
ISBN
Hardcover
978-1-03-832725-3
Paperback
978-1-03-832724-6
eBook
978-1-03-832726-0
Audiobook
978-1-03-832727-7
Vertical Divider
Brava on a stunning and essential book that will spark curiosity and teach young minds to see our city in a whole new way!
 
In W is for Winnipeg — A Little Architect’s ABC (FriesenPress), author Dr. Rae Bridgman invites readers on a whimsical journey through Winnipeg’s urban landscape—guided by the city’s owl population. With captivating illustrations and fascinating facts, the book seamlessly weaves together the ABCs with the rich tapestry of Winnipeg’s built environment, celebrating iconic architecture, both historic and contemporary.
 
W is for Winnipeg nurtures an appreciation for architecture, urban design, and urban wildlife. Whether for a young reader, a lifelong Winnipegger, or a visitor discovering the city, this beautifully crafted book offers a fresh perspective on the city’s architectural wonders along with strong encouragement to go owling. Just like owls can be a great phantom, architectural details can escape the casual observer. While learning their ABC's, the next gen of city builders will learn to look.
— Hazel Borys
✰✰✰ SOARING REVIEWS ✰✰✰
  • You can read W is for Winnipeg in a variety of ways. You can read it for its unique way to learn the alphabet. You can read it for the introduction to Winnipeg’s varied architecture—and the history and/or beliefs behind it. You can enjoy it for the splendid artwork. You can even read it to learn about Manitoba’s owls. No matter how you read it, W is for Winnipeg is sure to evoke wonder. [5-Star Review] — Reader View Book Reviews 

  • While the landmarks may be very familiar to Winnipeg residents, readers from other locations could not be blamed for wondering how so many marvels fit into one city.....A lovely, whimsical celebration of Winnipeg’s varied architecture. — Kirkus Reviews

  • Heritage Winnipeg is thrilled to promote this new ABC picture book for young children! This inspirational book with beautiful illustrations has immense educational value, raising awareness among younger generations and highlighting the historical value of our city's irreplaceable built heritage.— Cindy Tugwell, Heritage Winnipeg

  • Illustrated with whimsical drawings, this book provides a wonderful introduction to the richness and variety of Winnipeg’s places and spaces. — Susan Algie, Winnipeg Architecture Foundation

  • W is for Winnipeg ... blends three of my favorite things: learning, imagination, and local history. — Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers’ Favorite

  • And the fun doesn’t stop after “Z”. Packed full of exciting activities, W is for Winnipeg sparks curiosity and adventure beyond that of a bedtime story.
     — Chanticleer Books Reviews

  • A delightful romp through significant Winnipeg landmarks, the rhyming picture book W is for Winnipeg strikes a balance between educational utility and tasteful design. — Willem Marx, Foreword Clarion Reviews

  • W IS FOR WINNIPEG: A Little Architect’s ABC is a thoughtful and beautifully illustrated children’s book. — Craig Jones, for IndieReader
ARTICLES
2026
Award-winning children's book puts Winnipeg architecture in the spotlight, UM Today, University of Manitoba (June 2026)

Interview, Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba (May 2026)

Celebrating Canadian Children's Book Week
- FriesenPress (April 2026)

2022
Into the Woods and Out to the World, UM Today News, University of Manitoba (September 2022)
SECOND PLACE
2025 Incipere Award
(Young Children)
THIRD PLACE
2025 Incipere Award
(Picture Book)
FINALIST
2025 Little Peeps Book Awards
(Children’s Books and Early Readers)
RESOURCES
Wayfinding Map 
  • Sites featured in W IS FOR WINNIPEG  (includes videos, interviews, and photographs) - click on Google map below

Ideas for Educators
  • W is for Winnipeg by Rae St. Clair Bridgman blends three of my favorite things: learning, imagination, and local history. The writing is easy for children to understand. As an educator, I appreciated the underlined letters that help children identify repeated sounds and letters. Classroom discussions on communities, architecture, and owls could be done after reading. Students could also do a project designing buildings inspired by where they live. The watercolor illustrations, also by the author, are soft, dreamy, and detailed. There’s a magical quality to them that matches the owl theme perfectly. I think this book would make a fantastic addition to both classrooms and home libraries. Those searching for an alphabet book that goes beyond the basics, and readers who like art, cities, and hidden details, will want to pick this one up. — Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers’ Favorite
 
Rae St. Clair Bridgman © 2026 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED