Important Facts
- Born in 1939 to a family of 6 (3 boys, 3 girls)
- Lived on an all-black block in a section called Germantown in Philadelphia, PA
- Started out drawing by mimicking his brothers
- Married to Gloria Jean. Together they have 4 kids: Troy, Brian, Scott, Myles
- Went to Philadelphia Museum College of Art
- Jobs included: Florist, Rustcraft Greeting Card Company, Barker-Black Studio, Kaleidoscope Studio, Jerry Pinkney Studio
- Overtime, illustrated for wide variety of clients
- In 2011, he was elected into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame
- Some Awards include: 5 Caldecott Honor Medals, 1 Caldecott Medal, 5 The New Yorks Times "Best Illustrated Books," 5 Coretta Scott King Awards, 4 Coretta Scott King Honor Awards --> Full List of Awards Here
- Illustrated over 100 titles and has books translated into 16 different languages and published in 14 different countries
Full Biography
Books to Know
The Lion and the Mouse
Pinkney, J. (2009). The lion & the mouse. New York: Little, Brown and Co. Books for Young Readers.
Preschool-Grade 3
"In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes."
reference
Video Clip
Preschool-Grade 3
"In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes."
reference
Video Clip
Little Red Riding Hood
Pinkney, J., Grimm, J., & Grimm, W. (2007). Little Red Riding Hood. New York, NY: Little, Brown.
Preschool-Grade 3
"In this delightful, old-fashioned version of a familiar tale, Little Red Riding Hood is a "sweet little girl" whose mother stitches her a lovely hood, which the child cherishes and all the village people affectionately recognize. Against a snowy, wooded background, the child sets out in her red cloak to bring Mother's chicken soup and raisin muffins to ailing Grandmother."
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Preschool-Grade 3
"In this delightful, old-fashioned version of a familiar tale, Little Red Riding Hood is a "sweet little girl" whose mother stitches her a lovely hood, which the child cherishes and all the village people affectionately recognize. Against a snowy, wooded background, the child sets out in her red cloak to bring Mother's chicken soup and raisin muffins to ailing Grandmother."
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The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll
McKissack, P., & Pinkney, J. (2007). The all-I'll-ever-want Christmas doll. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.
"It's Christmas and Nella is beside herself with excitement! She and her sisters have been given a real gift—a beautiful Baby Betty doll. But it's hard to share something you've waited your whole seven-year-old life for, and Nella grabs the doll for herself. It isn't long before she discovers that a doll can't do the fun things she and her sisters do together. So, as Christmas day fades, Nella shares it with her sisters."
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"It's Christmas and Nella is beside herself with excitement! She and her sisters have been given a real gift—a beautiful Baby Betty doll. But it's hard to share something you've waited your whole seven-year-old life for, and Nella grabs the doll for herself. It isn't long before she discovers that a doll can't do the fun things she and her sisters do together. So, as Christmas day fades, Nella shares it with her sisters."
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Ain't Nobody a Stranger to Me
Grifalconi, A., & Pinkney, J. (2007). Ain't nobody a stranger to me. New York: Jump at the Sun :.
Kindergarten-Grade 3
"The incredible journey of one man, as he recounts the story of his passage on the Underground Railroad to his granddaughter. His message is one of cheer, for although he and his family found troubles during their escape, he found that folks, black and white, "helped lift us up when we was down." How, then, could he ever turn his back on another human being?"
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Kindergarten-Grade 3
"The incredible journey of one man, as he recounts the story of his passage on the Underground Railroad to his granddaughter. His message is one of cheer, for although he and his family found troubles during their escape, he found that folks, black and white, "helped lift us up when we was down." How, then, could he ever turn his back on another human being?"
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The Old African
Lester, J., & Pinkney, J. (2005). The Old African. New York: Dial Books.
"No one on the plantation had ever heard the Old African’s voice, yet he had spoken to all of them in their minds. For the Old African had the power to see the color of a person’s soul and read his thoughts as if they were words on a page. Now it was time to act—time to lead his fellow slaves to the Water-That-Stretched-Forever, and from there back to Africa. Back to their home."
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"No one on the plantation had ever heard the Old African’s voice, yet he had spoken to all of them in their minds. For the Old African had the power to see the color of a person’s soul and read his thoughts as if they were words on a page. Now it was time to act—time to lead his fellow slaves to the Water-That-Stretched-Forever, and from there back to Africa. Back to their home."
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Noah's Ark
Pinkney, J. (2002). Noah's ark. New York: SeaStar Books.
"For 40 days and 40 nights rain poured from the heavens, enveloping the world. Only Noah had been warned by God of the great floodand only Noah could save life on earth. This powerful story of salvation has fascinated people of all ages for centuries."
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"For 40 days and 40 nights rain poured from the heavens, enveloping the world. Only Noah had been warned by God of the great floodand only Noah could save life on earth. This powerful story of salvation has fascinated people of all ages for centuries."
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The Ugly Duckling
Pinkney, J., & Andersen, H. C. (1999).The ugly duckling. New York: Morrow Junior Books.
Preschool-Grade 3
"The journey of the awkward little bird -- marching bravely through hecklers, hunters, and cruel seasons -- is an unforgettable survival story."
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Preschool-Grade 3
"The journey of the awkward little bird -- marching bravely through hecklers, hunters, and cruel seasons -- is an unforgettable survival story."
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Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman
Schroeder, A., & Pinkney, J. (1996).Minty: a story of young Harriet Tubman. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
"The story of young Harriet Tubman, then called "Minty". A slave in the Brodas household, she is often punished for her feisty, rebellious spirit, and always, above all, dreams of escape."
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"The story of young Harriet Tubman, then called "Minty". A slave in the Brodas household, she is often punished for her feisty, rebellious spirit, and always, above all, dreams of escape."
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The Talking Eggs
Souci, R. D., Pinkney, J., & Bierhorst, J. B. (1989). The talking eggs: a folktale from the American South. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
1st-4th Grade
"Blanche is kind, loving and patient, but her older sister Rose takes after their mean, sneaky mother. One day Blanche befriends a hideous old "aunty" on a path near her home and is rewarded with magic eggs. Of course, Rose and the girls' mother are beside themselves with envy, and Rose sets out to snag some eggs of her own. But greedy Rose's cruel nature gets her into trouble. She torments the old lady, grabs the wrong eggs and ends up "angry, sore and stung."
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1st-4th Grade
"Blanche is kind, loving and patient, but her older sister Rose takes after their mean, sneaky mother. One day Blanche befriends a hideous old "aunty" on a path near her home and is rewarded with magic eggs. Of course, Rose and the girls' mother are beside themselves with envy, and Rose sets out to snag some eggs of her own. But greedy Rose's cruel nature gets her into trouble. She torments the old lady, grabs the wrong eggs and ends up "angry, sore and stung."
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