Illustrator John Manders answers questions from elementary students. (By AJ Howard/Student contributor)
By LAUREN REMBOLD
Student contributor
“I have the best job in the world,” says John Manders, an illustrator who donated his time on Friday, April 5 to demonstrate illustration as well as read a story to students at Cranberry Elementary School.
As students sat eagerly waiting, Manders introduced himself. He graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh after he disclosed that he has “always been interested in illustrating” ever since he was a kid. He also took some classes at the School of Visual Arts and the Fashion Institute of Technology, located in New York. While at these institutions, he studied animation, children’s illustration, and life drawing.
During his one-hour demonstration, Manders read one of the books that he illustrated, “Jack and the Giant Barbeque”. The book was about a boy, Jack, whose mother wouldn’t cook barbeque although it is his favorite food. The mother tells Jack that his father made the best barbeque but his recipe book was stolen by a giant. Jack goes on a mission to steal the book back and meets a talking jukebox during the journey. After he steals the recipe book back, Jack and the jukebox escape from the giant and end up opening a barbeque restaurant together.
After he read the story, Manders began asking students what they wanted him to draw. After multiple suggestions, it was decided that he would draw a pink unicorn on a racetrack with a duck on his back.
John Manders demonstrates his skills based on the suggestions from elementary students.
(By AJ Howard/Student contributor)
He explained the entire process in vocabulary that the students would understand and even answered any questions the kids had. Overall, it was assumed that he was a great hit with the students as well as the staff, whom were also laughing along with the students.
Some of John’s many illustrations are included in the following books: “The Adventures of Mr. McGuire and Friends” by K.A. Yodock (Polliwog Press), “The Navy’s Night Before Christmas” by Christine Ford & Trish Holland (Golden Books), “P is for Pirate: A Pirate Alphabet” by Eve Bunting (Sleeping Bear Press), “Finnegan and Fox: The Ten-Foot Cop” by Helen L. Wilbur (Sleeping Bear Press), “Cowboy Christmas” by Rob Sanders (Golden Books), “Let’s Have a Tree Party!” by David Martin (Candlewick), “Dear Tyrannosaurus Rex” by Lisa McClatchy (Random House), “Jack and the Giant Barbecue” by Eric A. Kimmel (Amazon Children’s Publishing), “The Really Awful Musicians” (Clarion Books), “Pirates Go to School” by Corinne Demas (Orchard Books), “Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies” and “Henry & the Crazed Chicken Pirates” by Carolyn Crimi (Candlewick), “The Famous Nini: A Mostly True Story of How a Plain White Cat Became a Star” by Mary Nethery (Clarion Books), “Where’s My Mummy?” by Carolyn Crimi (Candlewick), “Santa’s Reindeer Games” by Samantha Berger (Scholastic), “Pete’s Disappearing Act” by Jenny Tripp (Harcourt Children’s Books), “The Year Without a Santa Claus” written by Phyllis McGinley (Marshall Cavendish Corp), and “The Perfect Nest” by Catherine Friend (Candlewick).
Lauren Rembold and AJ Howard are students at Cranberry High School and members of Cranberry Chronicles, the school’s journalism/publications group.
