Kindergarten Visit with Author/Illustrator Brian Pinkney

Self-portrait at age 17

The kindergarten children were so excited to meet author/illustrator Brian Pinkney as part of the AFS annual Book Fair. We gathered in the Lower School library to hear our visitor share stories about how he was inspired to become an illustrator and eventually an author too.  Brian Pinkney's father, children's book illustrator Jerry Pinkney, was Brian's role model as he was growing up. At times, Brian was also a character model for his father's books! He even shared some of his book illustrations that his father modeled for and even a book that his wife, author Andrea Davis Pinkney, modeled for. It certainly seems as if book writing and illustrating (and modeling) run in the Pinkney family!
               

                                                                                              

The children were very engaged and attentive

A teacher suggested Brian use a sketch book
instead of the margins of his homework to draw!

 

Brian Pinkney began his career collaborating with authors to illustrate their books and is known for his unique scratch board technique. First he draws a sketch outline on a whiteboard covered in black paint. Brian Pinkney adds more detailed lines and then color is added to the white board with oil paint. Our kindergarten friends had tried their own hand at scratch board during their most recent library class.

 

We were not prepared for our book author visit to connect so beautifully with our kindergarten music study! Brian Pinkney shared that when he needs a break from bookmaking, he likes to play the drums.  We were taught a new musical term called a para diddle: two strokes followed by a double stroke, alternating between the right and left sticks. Once we practiced on our legs, we joined Brian Pinkney in a little drumming session!

Our visit with Brian Pinkney concluded with the reading of his book, Max Found Two Sticks. This was his first book that he wrote and illustrated. We were amazed to learn that this book took two years to complete. In this book, Max finds two sticks that make the perfect drumsticks. Using his sticks, Max beats a rhythm on his legs, a bucket, a trashcan... 
Ask your child what happens at the end of the book!

The children were thrilled to learn more about and interact in person with our visiting author/illustrator Brian Pinkney. Many children exclaimed they too wish to be authors and illustrators when they are older. We reminded the kindergartners that they did not have to  wait until they were older- they were all already authors and illustrators! Our visit with Brian Pinkney was such a wonderful connection to our emergent study of music and the kindergartners growing love for books and writing.

On your next trip to your local library, be sure to check out Brain Pinkney and his beautifully illustrated books.