Bryan Collier
Watching Bryan Collier discuss his art and the process of creating studio pieces and illustrations for books, the audience became aware of the power of images exquisitely coupled with words... the whole, indeed, greater than the mere sum of its parts. Either alone could have great emotional impact, but when they deftly compliment each other so completely one is presented with a superb end product.
Collier's earliest memories involve observing his grandmother making quilts. Even as a youngster he was fascinated by shape and color combined with textures. Little did his grandma imagine that her influence would be the backbone of Bryan's ability to work so skillfully in a variety of media (esp. collage and watercolor) always utilizing shape, color, and texture. The storytelling aspect of quilting also infiltrated Collier's brain, as an older artist he began to use illustrations to carry the text of a book to a higher level and to convey deeper meanings in the storyline. Author Doreen Rappaport, who has collaborated on a number of books with him, reports that she often has to go back and edit her text because Collier has "explained" some part of the story so well in the illustrations that the particular passage of text becomes superfluous.
The group gathered for Shenandoah University's Children's Literature Conference was treated to slides of Collier's work as he talked about using real people as models and displaying examples of how some illustrations have multi-layered inspirations. He showed how the golden glow of the yellows in the book Rosa is really a halo-like radiance, an aura, if you will, reflecting the bravery and accomplishments of Rosa Parks and those who supported the Bus Boycott. If the reader is not immediately aware of the artifice of such color manipulation, all the better - it simply serves to underline the text in an intuitive manner. Sometimes the technical aspects of creating art are all too evident, but Collier is quite subtle with the "tricks of the trade." His innate abilities have been carefully cultivated through years of experience and his training at the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York City. As he began to develop in his career he became acutely aware of including "purpose" in the process of his art. The process itself is fascinating for those of us who lack artistic talent - obviously Collier does not suffer from any such lack!
He uses all manner of art processes in creating his pieces for both museum hanging and illustrations for books. I was struck by the idea that one must have a mastery of fine art before one can branch out to other forms - Collier is definitely a master, both in his art work and his ability to share his artistic approach with people of all ages.
For biographical and other information about Bryan Collier visit: www.bryancollier.com
Contributor: Sheilah Egan
Reviews
Freedom River
Doreen Rappaport
Pictures by Bryan Collier
One dramatically told, suspense-filled incident based on fact brings the history of the Underground Railroad into focus for young readers. John Parker, an ex-slave who has bought his freedom, runs a business in Ripley, Ohio, only a thousand feet of Ohio River away from the slave state of Kentucky. He must twice dare the crossing to bring a family to freedom. The repetition of "Run, run," "Crawl, crawl," "Wait, wait," and "Listen, listen," raises the level of tension in the narrative. Collier's visual telling is equally dramatic, contributing a powerful emotional impact. He combines cut and torn patterned papers to create the settings, with modeled, painted faces in full-page scenes that are energized by the construction and combination. He includes vignettes of those he calls "protectors," spiritual ancestors painted with symbolic wavy lines on their faces to symbolize the river, the "key to freedom." The period map on the endpapers shows us the river, while notes fill in both the historic background and the motivations of author and illustrator. 2000, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, $14.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2001; Children's Literature; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition, 2003; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2001; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2001 United States
Storytelling World Awards Honor 2001 Stories for Young Listeners United States
White Ravens Award Winner 2001 United States United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Picture Books; Maryland
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2003; Nominee; Louisiana
ISBN: 0-7868-0350-9
ISBN: 0-7868-1229-X
ISBN: 0-7868-2291-0
John's Secret Dreams: The Life of John Lennon
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
In their second collaboration, Rappaport and Collier merge image and word to relate the life and dreams of John Lennon. Rappaport arranges salient facts of John's central life events in free-verse lines that are sometimes spare and other times sing with rhythms that measure the fullness of Lennon's life. Throughout are Collier's '60s-style circles that illustrate events in John's life and imagery from his songs. Through words and pictures we view the sadness and loneliness of a young artistic boy who, deserted by his mother, retreated into a secret world of self-made stories, and we see the magical nature of John's music. These random elements weave in and out, creating patterns that are a textural tour of John's contributions to music, culture and peace. 2004, Hyperion, $16.95. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
This distilled picture book biography of John Lennon interweaves Rapport's spare and distilled text, phrases from Lennon's song lyrics, and Collier's exciting and adventuresome collages to create an artful whole. Readers need to know at the outset that Lennon was a songwriter and a Beatle in order to make much sense of a first reading. The story begins with Lennon's early abandonment by his parents, the influence of his relatives and of American music on his ideas, the early death of his mother, and his feeling of needing to keep his dreams to himself. The Beatles' rise to fame, Lennon's first encounter with Yoko Ono, and the experimental turns his music and his life took are mirrored in Collier's wonderfully creative and colorful evocations of bizarre images. For those who know the words, Lennon's song lyrics have readers completing verses only begun in the streams of words that banner the pages, and adult readers will recognize Collier's nod to record jacket images and photos from the press coverage at the time. The illustrations make good use of circles, both symbolic and literal (again, adults will recognize the shapes of 45-rmps floating in the backgrounds). The book ends abruptly, as did Lennon's life, with a mention of his hoping to grow old with Yoko, and his murder at forty. Rappaport ends with an admonition that "it's up to us to make John's dream for the world to come true" and a peace-loving quote from "Imagine." It is a fitting introduction for middle grade readers as well as an artful homage to a great poet and songwriter. A note by the author and illustrator reveals the challenges both faced because one grew up with Lennon's music and the other began as an outsider to it. A timeline, selected discography, a list of solo albums Lennon and Ono created, research sources, websites, and an excellent selection of selected references for young readers end the book. 2004, Hyperion, $16.99. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-7868-0817-9
Martin's Big Words
Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Narrated by Michael Clarke Duncan
Martin Luther King, Jr. believed that love could conquer hate. Those are big words, indeed. His leadership during the Civil Rights movement kept the movement non-violent and, ultimately, helped make it successful. This story follows Martin's life from the time he was a boy and found big words and ideas in the bible to when he became a minister and began dreaming of a better future for everyone. The text is filled with Martin's ideas and his sense of hope for the future of all Americans. From the Montgomery bus boycott to his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. made a difference. The Caldecott Award-winning collage illustrations by Bryan Collier help tell this marvelous story. Weston Woods includes a teacher's guide on the inside cover of the videocassette complete with extension activities. Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. Caldecott Honor Book. Closed-Captioned. Iconographic, 8 minutes. 2002, Hyperion Weston Woods/Scholastic, $60.00. Ages 5 to 12. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Storytelling World Awards Honor 2003 Stories for Young Listeners United States
ISBN: 0-78820-975-2
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Doreen Rappaport; illustrations by Bryan Collier
Beautiful it its simplicity, this small biography of Martin Luther King shines forth. Rappaport's text portrays King's childhood in two pages with his discovery that in spite of the "whites only" signs, his mother's words that "You are as good as anyone" would sustain him. When he sang hymns and read from the Bible in church, he vowed that he would grow up to "get big words." His career as a minister, being influenced by Gandhi, participation in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and subsequent civil rights marches, winning the Nobel Peace Prize, threats to his family and his death are touched upon. Each short paragraph ends with a memorable quote relevant to the subject of the page and many are familiar to adult readers. Instead of drawing from the "I have a dream" speech the quote about judging people by the content of their character, the author has selected--"I have a dream that one day in Alabama little black boys and black girls will join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers." It is more accessible to the intended audience, if less ringing and memorable to the adult reader. Collier's stunning collage and bold watercolor illustrations are layered with meanings, textures, light and shadow. Stained glass windows, which appear in many of the illustrations, serve multiple symbolic purposes including providing light and a way of looking past where you are, says the illustrator in a front note. This is obviously a work of great care and love for the subject, a fine introduction and a fitting tribute to the Dr. King and his work. A chronology of important dates includes 1986 when Dr. King's birthday became a national holiday, and a fine selection of additional readings and web sites are suggested. 2001, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, $16.49 and $15.99. Ages 4 to 9. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Yes, there have been a million biographies of Martin Luther King, Jr., but there's something special about Doreen Rappaport and Bryan Collier's Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year it deservedly won both Coretta Scott King and Newbery honor awards. The uniqueness of this book is apparent before you ever open it; the cover bears only a large, smiling, monochromatic illustration of Martin Luther King. The title, author and illustrator are on the back. Opening to the end flaps, one sees the thoughtfulness, artistry and intriguing contrast of brightness and monochromes in Collier's stained glass window collage. His illustrations continue to compel readers through the book. The text begins with notes by author and illustrator. Rappaport notes that she was inspired by King's words, which were simple and direct, yet profound and poetic. Collier explains his use of stained glass as metaphors that blaze out at you like beams of light. The multicolors symbolize multi races...and allow you to look past where you are. The book's combination of text, layout and illustrations have a powerful emotional impact. Rappaport's spare style and prosaic words serve as a background to highlight King's quotations. These appear on every page, emphasized with color and size. Quotations like, "Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that," could be read alone to show King's life, message and legacy. Rappaport's rhythmic, simplistic statements seem inspired by King's rousing sermons and are a tribute to both the man and his vision. 2001, Hyperion, $15.99. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Books About Relationships and Community-Building, 2002; Children's Book Council; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Oct. 1, 2001; United States
Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2001; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Capitol Choices, 2001; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Books of Distinction, 2002; Riverbank Review; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Choices, 2002; International Reading Association; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2001; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, August 15, 2001; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2001; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
New York Times Notable Books, 2001; New York Times; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2002; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2002; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, October 2001; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 2001; Cahners; United States
Teachers' Choices, 2002; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award Winner 2002 Non-Fiction United States
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2002 Illustrator United States
Great Lakes Great Book Award Honor Book 2004 Grades K-1 Michigan
Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner 2002 Picture Book United States
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year Winner 2001 United States
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Honor 2002 United States
Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor Book 2002 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Picture Books; Maryland
Great Lakes Great Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades Pre-K-1st; Michigan
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2003; Nominee; Kentucky
Monarch Award, 2005; Nominee; K-3; Illinois
Prairie Bud Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades K-3; South Dakota
Red Clover Children's Choice Picture Book Award , 2002-2003; Nominee; Vermont
South Carolina Book Awards, 2003-2004; Nominee; Children's Book Award; South Carolina
Standards of Learning Information
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2002; Culture-I; Time, Continuity and Change-II; Civic Ideals and Practices-X; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS
ISBN: 0-7868-0714-8
ISBN: 0-7868-2591-X
Rosa
Nikki Giovanni
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
What would happen if you were made to give up your seat on a bus simply because of the color of your skin? That is what happened to Rosa Parks, a black woman in the southern town of Montgomery, Alabama, on December 1, 1955. When she refused to give up a seat that was supposed to be neutral--for blacks or whites--the bus driver called the police. The police arrested Mrs. Parks and took her to jail. When Jo Ann Robinson, a member of the Women's Political Council, heard of the arrest, she formed a committee that put up posters all over the town, urging black people to walk instead of riding the bus. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke to them as part of a large group that had joined together in the fight for equality. This was a country that was founded by a diverse group of people, and every citizen deserved equal treatment and Dr. King urged all blacks to stay off the buses. People from all over the country sent them shoes, coats, and money so they could continue to walk for almost a year--until the United States Supreme Court ruled on November 13, 1956, that segregation in any form was illegal. This would be a good book for an elementary social-studies class. The author explains the situation in simple terms for young children. The illustrator has emphasized the strength of Rosa Parks in his use of dark and light images. 2005, Henry Holt and Company, $16.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Debbie West (Children's Literature).
Nikki Giovanni and Bryan Collier won both the Coretta Scott King picture book award as well as a Caldecott honor for this title. Through Giovanni's lyrical words we learn specifics of segregation--for example, how one had to go into the front of the bus to pay and then enter from the rear. We learn too how industrious Rosa Parks drew on her immense inner resources to help others fight for freedom. Collier's yellow hues stream brilliantly through collaged pictures to illuminate the feelings and images of the period. 2005, Henry Holt, $16.95. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Jun. 1, 2005; United States
Capitol Choices, 2006; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Books 2005: One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2005; New York Public Library; United States
Choices, 2006; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, July 15, 2005; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2006; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 29, 2005; Cahners; United States
Teachers' Choices, 2006; International Reading Association; United States
Top 10 Black History Books for Youth, 2006; Booklist; United States
Top 10 Youth Biographies, 2006; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Winner 2006 Illustrator United States
National Association of Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Honor 2005 Ages 6 and Up United States
Randolph Caldecott Medal Honor Book 2006 United States
SIBA Book Award Nominee 2006 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Award, 2006-2007; Book List; Picture Book; Maryland
Great Lakes Great Books, 2006-2007; Nominee; Grades 4-5; Michigan
ISBN: 0-8050-7106-7
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7106-1
These Hands
Hope Lynne Price
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Love can take various forms--love of family, of self, of the natural world. Hope Lynne Price praises all the ordinary but still wondrous things--building, teaching, tickling--that little hands can do in These Hands. The simple poem is beautifully paired with Bryan Collier's watercolor collages, making this a book that little hands will reach for again and again. 1999, Hyperion, $14.99. Ages 1 to 5. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
An African-American girl of about four shows us the many activities that make up her day--all of which involve hands. Some of the hands are her own, some belong to her pregnant mother, some to her smiling dad. Her hands are capable of playing, sharing, feeding, helping her Grandmother, and praying, among other things, in this heartwarming book. Each two-page spread is divided with the words in a solid color block at one side. Sentences are short and rhyming. The number of words is small; the realistic illustrations show us the love here. The collage style with watercolors makes this apartment feel like a home, and perfectly match the feeling of recognition here: the reader KNOWS those hands! 1999, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, $14.99. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Candace Deisley (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Seal of Approval Winner Fall 2000 Children's Books United States
ISBN: 0-7868-0370-3
ISBN: 0-7868-2320-8
Uptown
Bryan Collier
Harlem is only a name to most American youngsters, but Collier makes it a real place as he describes what to see and hear, smell, taste and feel, in a tour around the town. The words are sparse but poetic, evocative of the many aspects of the area that a young boy experiences, but the pages are crowded with images, mostly assembled collages, with some paintings of people. The scenes are intricately conceived: rows of brownstone houses like chocolate bars, weekend shopping as a jumble of cars, people, fabric shapes, the Apollo Theater, a basketball game, little sisters walking to church. The brief text becomes part of the overall page design, often set in color with meandering lines. In a sense, the reader is given pieces of a puzzle to assemble in the imagination for a picture of what the boy calls home. 2000, Henry Holt and Company, $15.95. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2001; Children's Literature; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition, 2003; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2000; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2001; Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, July 2000; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Winner 2001 Illustrator United States
Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Award Winner 2001 Illustrator United States
Marion Vannett Ridgway Award Winner 2001 United States
ISBN: 0-8050-5721-8
Visiting Langston
Willie Perdomo
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
A paean to Langston Hughes in lilting jazz rhythms, poet and Harlem native Willie Perdomo's spare narrative follows a young girl as she visits Hughes's brownstone home in Harlem. Coretta Scott King Awardee Bryan Collier's watercolor and collage illustrations match the feeling of Perdomo's words. His images are rife with emotion rather than realism. The little girl's pink-striped shirt and her daddy's faux alligator jacket add to the color of the place-and to each of them as individuals. This is a book filled with pride; a book meant to give pride. A prefatory Author's Note gives a brief biographical sketch of Hughes, which emphasizes his motivations as a writer. 2002, Henry Holt, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Kirkus Book Review Stars, February 1, 2002; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2003; Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Coretta Scott King Awards Honor Book 2003 Illustrator United States
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2002 Language Arts-Picture Books United States
ISBN: 0-8050-6744-2
Visiting Langston
Willie Perdomo
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Narrated by Blanca Camacho
Visiting Langston is a wonderful story about a young girl celebrating the life of Langston Hughes by visiting his home in Harlem, New York. Bryan Collier, a Coretta Scott King and Caldecott honor-winner for Martin's Big Words illustrated this book, with clear admiration for the famous African-American poet. Collier's collage illustrations provide the backdrop for this story with images that convey different aspects of Hughes' varied life. Beyond the Page begins by reading the story aloud and then segues into interviews with the author and illustrator, both of whom live and work in Harlem today. Perdomo reveals what it was that made him write about Langston Hughes from this unusual perspective, and Collier offers insight into how he created the collages that make up this book. It is these extras that make the book literally come off the page and brings the book-making process alive to children. In addition, Collier takes the viewer on a tour of Harlem where the Harlem Renaissance took place and talks about the artists and musicians who were part of it. The Harlem of Langston Hughes comes alive to the viewer through the extras provided in the video--iconographic, 18 minutes, closed-captioned, ALA Notable Book. Beyond the Page offers pre- and post-viewing questions for teachers and librarians to use to help children get the most out of their viewing and literary experience. Additional activities are suggested and other resources on Langston Hughes are listed. This is aimed at Grade levels K to 3. 2002, Beyond the Page/Disney Educational Productions, $79.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-89625-895-5
Welcome, Precious
Nikki Grimes
Illustrations by Bryan Collier
This celebration of the arrival of a new baby to an African American family should fill the hearts of young listeners almost as much as it will those of welcoming parents. The brief text is rich in the sensations of the world around, "brimming with things to see and hear, taste and touch." From the "robin song" to the "silk of grass" to "the mystery of soap bubbles" it will all be a part of life safe in the love of Mommy, Daddy, and Grandmother. Collier uses watercolors and collage to create naturalistic scenes which cover most of the double pages. He picks up a few words for each illustration, like noses rubbing a belly button, or the enjoyment of an ice cream cone. His visual tale is told in detailed scenes with a cast of loving characters. Each scene is complete but also contributes to the emotion-packed sequence. The mood is set by the loving family on the front cover, with the back showing the peaceful night, both repeated inside as the last two illustrations. 2006, Orchard Books/Scholastic, $16.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-55702-X
Updated 08/24/06
To stay up to date on new books by this author, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here.
If you’re interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.