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Ashley Bryan
Ashley Bryan is an eclectic artist who uses painting, poetry, music, collage, and prose to tell stories. Bryan fuses these seemingly separate art forms within his books for children. "I try not to accept walls and boundaries and definitions in a strict way," he says. "I would hope that everything I do is interrelated."
Bryan is known for retelling African folktales in a distinct, rhythmic prose that is heavily influenced by African-American poetry. In 1981, his collection of Nigerian folktales, Beat the Story-Drum, Pum-Pum, received the Coretta Scott King Book Illustrator Award.
You can watch the interview below, view the interview transcript, read a short biography on Ashley Bryan, or see a selected list of his children's books.
Biography
Ashley Bryan was born in Harlem in 1923. His childhood was filled with books, music, and art even though resources tended to be scarce during the Great Depression. Ashley's mother sang and his father played the piano. At home, Ashley and his siblings set up old crates and filled them with a revolving collection of library books. After school, Ashley attended free art and music classes.
All the way through 12th grade, Ashley Bryan spent much of his free time drawing and painting. After graduating from high school, Bryan applied for a scholarship at a prominent art institution, but was essentially told that a scholarship would not be wasted on a colored person. Under the guidance of his high school teachers, Bryan then applied and was accepted into New York's prestigious Cooper Union Art School. From there, Bryan went on to study philosophy at Columbia University, earn a Fulbright scholarship to study art in Europe, and become the head of the art department at Dartmouth College.
In the early 1960s, when Bryan was working in his art studio in the Bronx, a curious children's book editor visited him. Impressed by his artwork, she soon offered him contracts to illustrate children's books. For many years Bryan collaborated with this same editor to both write and illustrate unique books for young people. Today, Ashley Bryan is a widely respected author and illustrator who has received numerous awards, including multiple Coretta Scott King Honors. In addition to being a talented bookmaker, Ashley Bryan is a natural performer who captivates audiences with his dramatic readings and presentations.
Ashley Bryan lives on Little Cranberry Island off the coast of Maine. His art studio, often open to visitors, is filled with toys, paintings, illustrations, and handmade puppets.
Interested in wonderful interviews with tween and teen authors? Hop on over to our sister site, AdLit.org, and browse the library.
