HOOK KIDS on READING: KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER - Children's Writer and Illustrator.

Monday, March 12, 2012

KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER - Children's Writer and Illustrator.

Today I want you to meet Kevin Scott Collier, a very special man:

Writer - Illustrator - Animator - Children's TV Host,

and Friend.

Kevin Collier lives in beautiful Grand Haven, a quaint port city along the Lake Michigan shoreline with his wife and son. He has worked as art director for the daily newspaper there for 30 years. His lifetime interest in writing and drawing lead him to become a published author of youth fiction, chapter books and children's picture books. He has illustrated over 120 picture books for kids. Kevin says, "Life is more than what you do, it's about who you spend it with. In that book, I am blessed, and life is good!"

If you need a talented and experienced art director, or you have a picture book that needs the perfect illustrations to set off your story, I can recommend Kevin Collier without reservation. He has talent to burn, and he is inclusive - you are never left out of the artistic loop!

Kevin introduced me to Guardian Angel Publishing
and then illustrated Rattlesnake Jam, my first picture book with them.

Just a small sample of Kevin's cover art.

Kevin is also an award winning illustrator:

KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER'S art won
New York Book Festival 2008 First Place Children's Book- Monty the Traveling Cat.

KEVIN SCOTT COLLIER'S art won
The National Best Books 2008 Finalist- Picture Book- BiC's Baptism

See more of Kevin's fun and kid friendly art
HERE

Check out more about Kevin Collier

RIGHT HERE

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BOOKS for KIDS - Manuscript Critiques

WHINE. . . WITHOUT the HANGOVER

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7 comments:

UnknownMarch 12, 2012 at 8:08 PM
Kevin Collier has been a great friend and help to many illustrators, including myself. He is very talented,"thinks outside the box", creates, lovable & delightful characters and has a big heart...a wonderful guy to work with.
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Susan B JamesMarch 12, 2012 at 8:46 PM
I love Kevin's work and own several of his books, including Joy the Jelly Fish.
If anyone wants an illustrator, he is terrific.
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Donna J. ShepherdMarch 13, 2012 at 6:04 AM
Thank you, Margot, for including "Ouch! Sunburn!" I love that colorful cover! Of course, I love everything Kevin draws. *grin* I've recommended him many times. Nice to see him featured on your blog.
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maxMarch 13, 2012 at 6:06 AM
Hey Kevin, nice to see you profiled here. Note to others: Kevin has always done great work!

Max Elliot Anderson

Books for Boys Blog http://booksandboys.blogspot.com
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ClarbojahnMarch 16, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Thanks for the direct link to your blog, Margot. So glad I can read your posts now.Thanks for introducing Kevin to me. It's always nice to *meet* illustrators of authors who one knows. :)
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Magic Carpet of 16x BooksMarch 18, 2012 at 10:58 PM
Thanks to Clar, Max,Donna, Susan and Picture Kitchen. Kevin does terrific illustrations. His work is SO kid friendly, and I am thrilled to feature him here.

BOOKS for KIDS - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
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BarbaraBMarch 22, 2012 at 10:04 PM
I just met Joy the Jellyfish, and I think her series is one that will hook kids on reading.
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SKYPING AROUND the WORLD

Today SKYPE flew my “Magic Carpet” back to a class on the east coast. I listened to all the wonderfully innovative stories these kids wrote after my first visit with them. They really remembered to use powerful words and add lots of action – FANTASTIC! They illustrated their books, and every child wrote a cute Bio to go with their story. They were so proud of their accomplishments, and I was busting my buttons too. Such a thrill to be a part of turning a class on to the joys of reading and writing. YAHOO! I also read them “Never Say BOO to a Frilly,” as a treat for all their hard work. And their teacher, Geralyn Downey, went all out to encourage each child, and make them feel proud of their writing. Great teachers like Geralyn are real treasures.

I made a Skype Author Visit to a classroom in Auckland, New Zealand. They were so enthusiastic and smart. They even made a Video about my visit. I was thrilled and humbled. Read about it HERE

I also Skyped with high school teens in New Delhi, India. They asked so many questions. It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic kids interested in reading and writing.

NOTE The only limit to an author visit to schools anywhere in the world are the Time Zones. They must work with where YOU live, as well as where the schools are situated.

SKYPE THANK YOU NOTES from TEACHERS

Thank you so much for this Margot. I am looking forward to skyping with you at 11. Just to let you know- the students took great pride in their stories. Although they are somewhat silly, and some maybe not too logical, the goal was for them to write and feel pride in publishing and sharing their stories. In that, they have all been successful. So, I hope that you will be able to sit back and let US take you YOU on a Magic Carpet Ride today! Talk to you soon! Geri

I did. . . and it was AWESOME!!

From a happy New Jersey teacher:

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"Thank you so much for our class skype today! The children learned so much, and cannot stop talking about it! They took your suggestions for writing to heart and are excited to begin writing their own stories tomorrow! LOVED this experience! Thank you!"
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SKYPE Inspires a Class:

Hi Margot,

I just wanted to let you know that my students have been working hard on writing their own stories since skyping with you. They were wondering if you might have time to Skype with us again to listen to their stories.

One little boy in particular has been so enthusiastic about this that he has been asking to work on his "book" every day since skyping with you. It is a very short story, but he could NOT be any prouder! You have really made an impression on him, as well as the other students! Thank you for this!

If you ever have time to skype with us again, they would LOVE to share their stories with you!

AND I AM GOING BACK TO HEAR THEIR STORIES AS SOON AS WE SETTLE ON A DATE.

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Geralyn Downey shared your link: "To my teacher friends. Our class skyped with Margot Finke, children's author, and we LOVED it. Please watch this, and consider having her visit your class via skype. Believe me, you will love it! She was fantastic!"

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Thank you for the Skype! My class loved your storytelling!

From Mrs. Hime's Third Grade Class

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I just wanted to thank you for visiting our class! I know my students were so excited to engage with you and found your artifacts so interesting! My students struggle every day to battle obstacles that I would wish for no child, yet they do it fearlessly. With half of my students living below the poverty line, many of them will never see the world, nor the next parish. But I do believe that experiences like the one you gave them is invaluable in their realization that there is so much more out there! Thank you again for taking the time to talk to and read to my students!

Shane Silpe - 3rd Grade Teacher

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Thanks a ton for the Skype session with us. My students and I were absolutely thrilled to have you in our classroom. They wouldn't stop talking about you today. They shared their amazing experience with everyone at school and in their community as well. Today they wrote some poems for you. My students want to send you thank you emails and their poems. Do you mind if I let them email you on this id?

Once again thank you very much Margot. We thoroughly enjoyed your session, wish we could have listened you read the other story you showed us.

Regards, Harini - 4^th grade teacher in New Zealand.

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Thank you for spending your time with us. The children are still very excited about skype and sometimes have trouble sitting still! When the session was over, we discussed what they learned and they had a ton to say. We are also going to write a narrative using an Australian animal. It will take us a couple of weeks but I cannot wait to see what they produce. It was a great way to kick off our narrative writing unit. I think the children would love a copy of your book. Will you sign it for us? I know as they are writing their stories, yours would be a wonderful model for them.

Sincerely, Jennifer - 5th Grade Teacher

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Hi Margot,

Thank you so much for your email and especially for the wonderful Skype visit!! It was so much fun and so informative!! It was a huge hit and everyone raved about you!! :-) Regarding the books, I think it would be fine to send them to my school as there are lots of deliveries during the summer. I would love to do this again next year (preferably mid-year) with our new first grade classes!! Thank you so much for all of your time and enthusiasm!! I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Nancy – first grade teacher.

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GREAT BOOKS for RELUCTANT READERS and BOYS!

ASSORTED:
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Hatcher by Gary Paulson
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

PICTURE BOOKS by Margot Finke
Rattlesnake Jam
Mama Grizzly Bear
Kangaroo Clues
Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind
Horatio Humble Beats the Big D
Don't Eat Platypus Stew
Prairie Dog's Play Day
Never say BOO to a Frilly
Squirrels Can't Help Being Nuts

YOUNG BOYS:
Cars That Go and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

MID GRADE BOYS:
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The Baseball Card Adventure Series by Dan Gutman
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh
Taconi and Claude by Margot Finke

Jeff Kinney's WIMPY KID Series:
http://www.wimpykid.com/
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The do it Yourself Book
Rick Riordan's books

Rick Riordan's Books:
The Titan's Curse
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Sea of Monsters
The Lightening Thief.

Mystery of the Copper Turtle Doris Holik Kelly
The Revenge of Thelma Hill by Margot Finke

See how most of these authors are MEN.
Come on ladies, anything they can do . . .

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