Children's author, illustrator with local roots speaks April 9

SALISBURY, MD ---Renowned artist, author and illustrator Bryan Collier speaks during Salisbury University’s 2003 Children’s Literature Festival Wednesday, April 9.

The author and illustrator of such children’s books as Uptown and Visiting Langston and illustrator of Martin’s Big Words and Freedom River, Collier grew up in Pocomoke City, MD. For his children’s books, Collier received the prestigious Coretta Scott King Award and the Ezra Jack Keats Award.

A graduate of Washington High School in Princess Anne, MD, he resides in Harlem, NY, where he served for 12 years as program director for the Harlem Horizon Studio and Harlem Hospital Center. The center provides working space and materials for self-taught artists in the community.

Collier speaks 3:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall, followed by a book signing and reception at 5 p.m. in Blackwell Library. He speaks again in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall at 6 p.m. at the Young Author’s Awards Ceremony, sponsored by the Eastern Shore Reading Council.

Author Nikki Grimes joins Collier during the 5 p.m. book signing. A prolific writer, Grimes is the author of many award-winning books for children, including the novel Bronx Masquerade and picture books Meet Danitra Brown and My Man Blue and the poetry collection A Pocketful of Poems.

She received the 2003 Coretta Scott King Author Award for her novel Bronx Masquerade. Her Jazmin’s Notebook was a Coretta Scott King honor book and a Bank Street College Book of the Year. Her picture book Talkin’ About Bessie received the 2003 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and Author Award.

This year’s Children’s Literature Festival also features the grand opening of the International Board on Books for Young People’s Display of Books for Children with Disabilities at 5 p.m. in Blackwell Library.

Highlighting 43 books, the exhibit includes titles nominated in 18 countries as the best books to use with children with special needs. SU and Ohio State University are the only two U.S. venues scheduled for the display. The exhibit remains on display at Blackwell Library throughout April. Admission for all events is free and the public is cordially invited.

For more details call 410-543-6280 or visit www.salisbury.edu.