The Prairie Press
P
P
A Writing Playground for Thurston Students * A Thurston Student Council Publication
Advisor/Editor-In-Chief: Ms. Deborah Morton * Principal: Ms. Natasha York * Articles By Thurston Students *
Volume 15 - 2014
An Interview with an Author...
BRYAN COLLIER
by Jasmyn Harris
Bryan is a collage artist that was inspired at 4 years old. He started drawing at about age 7.
He was inspired by one of his grandmother’s quilts. She made landscapes. Every Thanksgiving he
would look at her quilts. He was also inspired by the book, “A Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats
because he thought the boy, Peter, looked like him when he was a kid. He wanted to make a book
where he could see himself, so Bryan authored and illustrated his first book “Uptown”. The little boy
on the cover is his nephew.
Bryan also has a book called, “Martin’s Big Words”. I think some of you know this book. He
also put the title on the back cover because he wanted the pictures to tell the story. Bryan also puts
symbols and words in the pictures. He illustrated a book called, “Dave The Potter”. “Dave The Potter”, was written about a
person named Dave who loved to make pots out of clay and carve poems in it. Dave learned how to read and write from being
on a plantation that did typesetting for newspapers. During those days, some people were not allowed to read or write like we
can today.
Each time Bryan writes a book, he makes sure that he does not repeat illustrations with the words from the story. Bryan
wants people to see things differently each time you look at the books he illustrates. Each illustration has a message hidden in
them so try to find the message in the books!!! So far, Bryan has written one book and illustrated 26 books. After, I asked him
my questions, he signed my book, “Rosa”. I am going to look for the hidden messages!
Page 1