David ShannonA Children’s Author and Illustrator Who Was Inspired by

His Mother

http://kdigan2340.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/dshannon.jpg

Illustrator Study by Katy Gladden

Biography

• Mr. Shannon was born on October 5, 1960 in Spokane, Washington.

• He attended and received his B.A. from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

• Currently, Mr. Shannon lives with his wife, Heidi, and their daughter, Emma, in Los Angeles, California.

Interesting Facts

• He often conducts research for his books at the bookstore.

• He began drawing in a sketchbook at an early age.

• David Shannon is not only an accomplished writer but a very talented artist as well.

Interesting Facts• The author captivatingly depicts his characters in a

loveable manner and often times infuses their portrayal with humor.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/its-christmas-david-david-shannon/1020759284?ean=9780545143110&itm=3&usri=david%2bshannon

More Interesting Facts

• In the book, A Bad Case of the Stripes, the author envisioned someone coming down with the stripes instead of chickenpox.

• David Shannon became an illustrator before becoming an author.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The-Bad-Case-of-Stripes?page=results&domain=search&pos=&box=&store=book&keyword=The+Bad+Case+of+Stripes

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The-Bad-Case-of-Stripes?page=results&domain=search&pos=&box=&store=book&keyword=The+Bad+Case+of+Stripes

Quote

• ”The first few children's books I illustrated were fairly serious. They wouldn't be what you'd describe as funny books," Shannon said, noting that his style two decades ago was more realistic, less colorful and less playful than what he's known for today.

• http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-david-shannon-20101209,0,3717243.story

http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/189444

http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/189444

Illustrator’s Style Changes with Subject of Book

Throughout Mr. Shannon’s career as an illustrator of children’s literature, he has changed his style of illustration to complement the story of the book. This fact can be seen in the following books entitled David Goes to School, No, David! by David Shannon, The Encounter by Jane Yolen, and How Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? by Asaac Asimov.

Artistic Style• The author’s artistic style varies according to the

tone of the story and when the story was written.• In his more recent work, his illustrations can be

child-like and feature bright colors as in David Goes to School (1999) to portray the persona of a five year old boy.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/david-goes-to-school-david-shannon/1005981915?ean=9780590480871&itm=1&usri=david%2bgoes%2bto%2bschool

Quote

• ‘A few years ago, my mother sent me a book I made when I was a little boy. It was called No, David, and it was illustrated with drawings of David doing all sorts of things he wasn’t supposed to do. The text consisted entirely of the words “no” and “David.” (They were the only words I knew how to spell.)’ This quote is from the inside flap of the book called No, David!

(http://www.amazon.com/No-David-Shannon/dp/0590930028/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311012432&sr=1-1#reader_0590930028)

Artistic Style Coincides with Age of Audience

In his more recent books for younger children,Mr. Shannon likes to use:1. Bright primary colors.2. Child-like illustrations using simple geometric shapes (circle, triangle) to create boy of David.3. Cartoon-like simplicity utilizing dots for eyes

and jagged triangles for teeth.http://shop.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchEndecaCmd

(1998)

Artistic Style Coincideswith Era of Story in Earlier Work

In this earlier illustration (1992), Mr. Shannon chose to use an oil painting as the front coverillustration. The painting is designedto reflect the Spanish style of art painted during the era of Christopher Columbus. This storyexplores the first meeting betweenChristopher Columbus and the Taino Indians of San Salvador in 1492. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/encounter-

jane-yolen/1000164904?ean=9780152013899&itm=1&usri=the%2bencounter%2bby%2bjane%2byolen

Artistic Style Coincideswith Setting of Story

Mr. Shannon illustrated thisstory (1994) recounting a Collection of both Africanand Jewish folktales. With richlypainted detail and utilizingwarm colors, the coverillustration depicts a leopardpoised to drink from a riverdeep in the heart of the African jungle.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9780590419727&imId=

Why We Are Drawn to His Books

• As an illustrator, David Shannon uses diverse visual artistic techniques to represent the elements of the storyline.

• Through the use of detail, color, vivid images, and dramatic effect, the author is able attract readers and promote understanding of the story.

Illustrated Books

• Sacred Places by Jane Yolen (1996)• The Bunyans by Audrey Wood (1996)• African Folktales by Roger Culbertson (1995)• The Acrobat and the Angel by Mark Shannon (1999)• Gawain and the Green Knight by Mark Shannon (1994)• The Boy Who Lived with the Seals by Rafe Martin

(1993)• Ballad of the Pirate Queens by Jane Yolen (1995)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The-Ballad-of-the-Pirate-Queen/The-Ballad-of-the-Pirate-Queen?page=results&domain=search&pos=&box=&store=book&keyword=The+Ballad+of+the+Pirate+Queen

Authored Books

• How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball (1994)New York Times Best Illustrated Book 1994

http://www.scholastic.com/titles/nodavid/davidshannon.htm

Authored Books • The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza (1995)• No, David! (1998) - Caldecott Honor Award

Winner

• A Bad Case of the Stripes (1998)• David Goes to School (1999)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/David-Shannon/David-Shannon?page=results&domain=search&pos=&box=&store=book&keyword=David+Shannon

Authored Books • The Rain Came Down (2000) received the Golden Kite Award

• David Gets in Trouble (2002)• Duck on a Bike (2002)• Alice the Fairy (2004)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rain-came-down-david-shannon/1004000227?ean=2000003684649&itm=3&usri=the%2brain%2bcame%2bdown

Illustrated BooksHow Many Spots Does a Leopard Have? And

Other Tales by Julius Lester (1989)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-many-spots-does-a-leopard-have-and-other-tales-julius-lester/1001916596?ean=9780590419727&itm=2&usri=how%2bmany%2bspots%2bdoes%2ba%2bleopard%2bhave

Illustrated Books• Creative Education by Asaac Asimov (1989)• All the Troubles of the World by Asaac Asimov (1989)• The Rough Faced Girl by Rafe Martin (1992)• Encounter by Jane Yolen (1992)• The Boy Who Lived with the Seals (1993)• Gawain and the Green Knight (1994• The Ballad of the Pirate Queens (1995)• African Folktales (1995)• Sacred Places (1996) http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sacred-places-jane-yolen/1000211521?

ean=9780152699536&itm=1&usri=sacred%2bplaces

Illustrated Books• How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long (2003)

– Booksense Best Picture Book (2004)

• The Shark God by Arthur A. Levine (2001)• The Acrobat and the Angel by Mark Shannon(1999)• Nicholas Pipe by Robert D. San Souci (1997)• The Boy Who Lived with Seals (1996)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/how-i-became-a-pirate?store=book

Works Cited• Bolle, Sonia. "David Shannon: A Merry Prankster." Publishers Weekly 246.29 (1999): 168.

Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 2 July 2011.

• Carpenter, Susan. "At 51, David Shannon stays in touch with his inner child - latimes.com." Los Angeles Times - California, national and world news - latimes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2011. <http://www.latimes.com/ entertainment/news/la-et-david-shannon-20101209,0,3717243.story>.

• Dale Raben, et al. "Oh, David!: A Diaper David Book/Oops!: A Diaper David Book." School Library Journal 51.3 (n.d.): 188. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 3 July 2011.

• Mathis, Janelle B., and Nance S. Wilson. "SHANNON, David." Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature (2003): 712. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 2 July 2011.

• Smith, Robin. "David Gets in Trouble." Horn Book Magazine 79.1 (2003): 61-62. Literary Reference Center. EBSCO. Web. 2 July 2011.