Children’s Illustrator:

David Shannon

Laura AlgerNCCU/Fall 2012

LSIS5505 Assignment #10

David ShannonChildren’s Illustrator

"Shannon tells his stories with vibrant, imaginative pictures. Working with acrylic paints, he creates characters and settings that both illustrate and expand the story being told. His artwork is richly colored, and the results can be funny, mischievous, ironic, sensational, spooky, serious, even epic” (Garner, 2002, as cited in Wikipedia. com, para. 7).

David Shannon: Biography

Born in Washington, DC on October 5, 1960. Grew up in Spokane, Washington.Went to school & graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Then moved to NY.David was always artistic, first homemade picture book he did was at age 5 (a book of everything he did wrong and his mom’s words “NO DAVID!”). Later, when his mother mailed him this homemade book, he was inspired to illustrate/author the now famous, award winning book, No, David. Currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.

David Shannon & Children’s books“Shannon's first book, was How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball (1994), where Shannon was able to incorporate his dark painting style, which came from his love of villains, with a story about baseball” (Bolle as cited in Wikipedia, 2012, para. 4). Currently working on a screenplay of this book for a DreamWorks film.“Shannon's book No, David! (1998) was named a Caldecott Honor Book in 1999. This book is the story of a mischievous child whose mother is always telling him 'no' But she reassures him at the end when she finally says, "Yes, David, I love you." According to a review in the CLR, "Readers won't be able to resist taking a walk on the wild side with this little rascal, and may only secretly acknowledge how much of him they recognize in themselves.” (Peacock, editor, as cited in Wikipedia, 2012, para. 5). After No, David! (1998) came David Goes to School (1999) then David Gets in Trouble (2002). -Wikipedia

BibliographyIt’s Chirstmas, David! Oops! What a Wreck!

Oh, David! David Goes To School Melvin Might?

How Georgia Radburn Saved Baseball Duck on a Bike Snow Trucking!

The Ballad of the Pirate Queens The Rough-Face Girl Pete’s Party

Encounter Robot Zot Truckery Rhymes

The Bunyans Amazing Christmas Extravaganza The Rain Came Down

How I Became a Pirate Good Boy, Fergus! Zoom! Boom! Bully

No, David! Smash That Trash! On the Move!

The Acrobat and the AngelAlice The Fairy Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Too Many Toys Who’s That Truck? A Bad Case Of Stripes

David Smells! Kat’s Mystery GiftUh-Oh, Max

David Gets in Trouble Kat’s Maps

Pirates Don’t Change Diapers Meet Jack Truck!

No, David!1999 Caldecott Honor

No, David!No, David includes vibrant and rich colors (yellow, green, orange) together with basic shapes in a childlike manner. Shannon uses acrylic for the 32 pages of illustrations to tell the story of a boisterous boy always getting into trouble doing naughty acts (coloring the walls, tracking mud into the home/carpet, etc.) Reasons the book is a Caldecott winner:

The highly praised illustrations are bright, colorful, fun, and full of action. They are bold, and in my opinion ‘not perfect’ looking; they are very realistic, as if actually done by a child with lots of ‘messy’ basic shapes.His artwork helps to tell and support the story of a boy always getting into trouble and hearing his mom say “No, David!” after he does something naughty! Booklist states: "aims at a younger audience with this tally of no-nos inspired by a plainly autobiographical book he created as a small child." It is humorous and children see themselves or siblings in the story.

The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza

The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza

The artwork in this book really is in contrast to the fist book presented, No, David!. The illustrations are very realistic, the book overall has a somber fell t it and is without the humor found in the David Series by Shannon.Color in this book is darker.Overall, the artwork contains a lot of detail that will be interesting to the older child reader. The pictures really narrate the story, rather than the text.

THE RAIN CAME DOWN

THE RAIN CAME DOWNIllustrations and words tell the story of a shower of raindrops that then begins a string of issues, aggravations, and tensions. Once the sun comes out, relief is expressed in text and is also reflected in the pictures. The illustrations in the books include “bright witty caricatures” (amazon.com review, para. 1). One interesting artistic element that Shannon uses in this book are many different angles. For example, the reader sees paint splattered on the “backside” of a painter, the reader is almost looking up a ladies’ nostrils, and at other times we get aerial views."Shannon expertly uses vertiginous angles as he builds suspense, then calms things down with a set of subdued portraits and a view of a quiet afternoon picnic.” (Peacock as cited in wikipedia.com, para.8). Pictures really appear to set the tone in this book.

Pirates Don’t Change Diapers

Pirates Don’t Change Diapers

The colorful pictures in this book are comical and humorous. The goofy illustrations along with text help tell the funny story of pirates who wind up being babysitters to Jeremy’s little sister instead of treasure hunting.The exciting artwork in this book is oversized and helps the author tell the silly adventure. “Shannon's signature artwork is a vibrant concoction of rowdy colors; Magoo-eyed, snaggle-toothed characters” (Krasniewicz, as cited in Amazon.com).

Conclusion:David Shannon’s Artwork

David Shannon’s illustrations are notably different from other illustrators artwork. The boldness, largeness, imperfect and messy shapes found in David series and some of his other works, and vividness of the illustrations permit his work to stand out from the others.An observant reader can detect some of Shannon’s artwork from afar very quickly!The illustrations always help to tell the story and provide humor for the reader.

Works Consulted(2012) David Shannon in Wikipedia retrieved on October 27, 2012.(2012) Amazon Reviews in amazon.com retrieved on November 1, 2012.Long, M., & Shannon, D. (2007). Pirates don't change diapers. Orlando, Fla: Harcourt.Shannon, D. (1998). No, David!. New York: Blue Sky Press.Shannon, D. (1995). The amazing Christmas extravaganza. New York: Blue Sky Press.Shannon, D. (2000). The rain came down. New York: Blue Sky Press.