Jerry Pinkney (December 22, 1939 – October 20, 2021) was an American illustrator and writer of children's literature. Pinkney has illustrated over 100 books since 1964, including picture books, nonfiction titles, and novels. Pinkney's works addressed diverse themes and were usually done in watercolors.
Pinkney was born in Philadelphia on December 22, 1939, to Williemae and James Pinkney. He was the middle child in a family of five siblings. Pinkney struggled in school due to dyslexia but excelled at drawing, even at a young age. During his youth, his mother encouraged him to develop his skills by enrolling him in art classes. Still, Pinkney's father did not consider art a sustainable career until he grew older.
In 2000, Pinkney received the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award from Kent State University, and in 2004, he was awarded the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for outstanding contributions to children's literature. Pinkney received the Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement 2016.
Jerry Pinkney's childhood and lived experiences influenced his work as a children's book illustrator in many ways:
Pinkney struggled with reading and spelling as a child, which he later realized was due to dyslexia. He believed his dyslexia made him see things differently and helped him become the artist he is today. Pinkney grew up in a supportive, all-Black neighborhood in Philadelphia. He attended an all-Black elementary school, and his junior high school was integrated. Pinkney was involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, believing art could be a voice for social justice. Pinkney drew to make sense of the world and cope with the stress of being a sensitive child. Drawing gave him a sense of calm, control, and confidence.
Video: CBS Sunday Morning Piece on Jerry Pinkney-Great Overview of who he was
From 2001: Children's book illustrator Jerry Pinkney (youtube.com)
Pinkney's work often centered on Black children and covered diverse themes and topics, such as African American history. His books appealed to a wide age range and conveyed powerful messages about social justice, resilience, and the history of the civil rights movement.
Research: Pinkney researched the period and accuracy of details, such as the characters' clothing.
Live models: Pinkney used live models to establish character poses.
Adapting stories: Pinkney often adapted and updated classic tales, sometimes making them more diverse. For example, he illustrated a version of The Little Mermaid with brown-skinned characters and focused on friendship.
Collaborating with writers: Pinkney sometimes wrote his own texts and collaborated with writers.
Creating meaningful visuals: Pinkney's illustrations were inspired by his love of literature and desire to create visuals that expanded and revitalized the narrative.
Using watercolor and pencil: Pinkney worked primarily in watercolor and pencil.
Focusing on clarity: When working with children, Pinkney aimed for clarity with a direct correlation between text and art.
Pinkney's beautiful paintings are created from pencil, colored pencil, pen and ink, and watercolor. His style is distinctive: his scenes are known for their vibrant color, finely crafted detail, and realistic portrayal of their characters.
Jerry Pinkney's textural and stylistic choices in his illustrations captivate children, drawing them into the stories he visualizes. Several critical aspects of his work explain this motivational impact:
Pinkney's illustrations are known for their intricate textures, often created with watercolors, pencil, and ink. This level of detail allows children to explore the artwork, noticing new elements upon repeated viewing. The layers of texture make the stories feel more immersive, inviting children to spend more time interacting with the illustrations.
His characters, whether animals or humans, are drawn with emotion and personality, making them relatable and engaging for young readers. The expressions he captures evoke empathy, curiosity, and understanding, encouraging kids to connect emotionally with the story.
Pinkney often uses a soft, warm color palette that feels inviting and soothing to children yet dynamic enough to sustain their interest. His use of color helps set the story's mood, guiding children's emotional responses and making the narrative more accessible.
In many of his books, such as The Lion and the Mouse, Pinkney uses wordless storytelling or minimal text, relying on visual cues to convey the plot. This empowers young readers to interpret the story independently, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a sense of accomplishment.
Video:
A Children's Read Aloud: The Lion and The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney - YouTube
Pinkney's illustrations often depict African American culture and folklore, offering children, particularly from underrepresented communities, a chance to see themselves in the stories. His commitment to diversity helps inspire a sense of belonging and self-confidence in readers.
Video:
IT'S STORYTIME! | KIDS READ ALOUD | THE LITTLE MERMAID | BY JERRY PINKNEY (youtube.com)
Podcasts on Jerry Pinkney:
A Conversation with Jerry Pinkney - Episode - Free Library
Reach Out and Read: Jerry Pinkney: An Artist Against the Odds (libsyn.com)
For More Information on Jerry Pinkney visit https://www.justjerrypinkney.com/
The Lion and the Mouse
I will teach a second-grade class the text of The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney.
Frontload: I would begin by asking questions to connect to students' existing knowledge. For example:
What do you know about lions?
How could a mouse ever help a lion?
Show the cover and explain that it's a picture book without words that tells an old fable using illustrations. Because the book has no words, you must quietly create meaning in your mind.
I would give them the definition of a story's moral and ask my students to pay attention to the story's meaning.
Do a "picture walk," slowly flipping through the pages without reading (since there are no words). Ask students what they notice about the pictures.
I would ask them to predict what they thought would happen before we turned the next page.
I might ask what they think the characters are thinking and feeling on each page.
We would then have an interactive discussion with guiding questions.
"How do you think the mouse felt when the lion caught him?"
"Why do you think the lion let the mouse go?"
"What does this story teach us about helping others?"
"What was the moral of the story?"
Since the book does not have any words, as an activity, I would have my students pick an illustration and write what they think is happening on that page. For second-grade students, this would be about three to four sentences.
End the lesson by asking students how to apply the story's lesson to their lives.
I would pair this book with another book by Jerry Pinkney: The Little Mermaid.
I would have them watch an animated version of the book and have them compare and contrast what they liked about the book vs the video.
The Little Mermaid
I will be teaching The Little Mermaid by Jerry Pinkney to second graders.
Before the text: Introduce the Story
Start by introducing Jerry Pinkney as a famous illustrator and author, mentioning how he brings diverse characters to life in classic stories. Briefly discuss The Little Mermaid, explaining that Pinkney's version focuses on friendship and themes of self-discovery.
Ask Questions:
"What do you know about mermaids?"
"What kinds of adventures do you think they might have?"
During the Read Aloud
Read the book aloud, pausing to show the illustrations on each page. Engage the students by asking prediction questions, like "What do you think will happen next?" or "How do you think the characters feel right now?"
Talk about the illustrations: "What do you notice about the colors or how the characters are drawn?" "How do the pictures help tell the story?"
"Why do you think the little mermaid made the choices she did?"
"How does friendship play a role in this version of the story?"
After the story. Class Discussion: Comparing Stories
If the students are familiar with another version of The Little Mermaid (like the Disney version), have a short discussion comparing Pinkney's version to the other one. Ask:
"What is different about this story?"
"Which story do you like better, and why?"
"How does the friendship theme in Pinkney's story change how we see the Little Mermaid?"
Closing questions
"What lesson did you learn from the Little Mermaid's story?"
"How do you think Jerry Pinkney's illustrations helped us understand the story better?"
I would compare five versions of The Little Mermaid, both in books and videos, and compare certain parts that were different in each version.
I would have my students write about what version of the story they liked the most and why.