Who was Floyd Cooper? Have you ever heard his name mentioned before? Were Floyd Cooper’s illustrations synonymous with Eric Carle’s or Lois Ehlert’s? Does Floyd Copper’s work compare to Margaret Wise Brown’s, Maurice Sendak’s, or perhaps even Beatrix Potter’s? Honestly, we may never know why Floyd Cooper’s artistic renderings were not as renowned for their brilliant artistry.
Before I saw an article covering Floyd Cooper’s passing last evening, I wasn’t very familiar with him. Then, Iread Ruthand theGreen Book, and his detailed representations astounded me. Afterward, I felt the desire to honor Cooper’s dedication to children’s literature.
Floyd Cooper grew up impoverished in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was influenced by his Grandfather’s stories. As a child, Cooper demonstrated an innate ability to excel in the art of illustration. He was rewarded with a scholarship to The University of Oklahoma.
After graduation Cooper designed greeting cards for Hallmark. Later, he relocated to New York City where Cooper illustrated his first published children’s book Eloise Greenfield’sGrandpa’s Face.
Cooper took great pleasure in the powerful images he created. Cooper adopted “oil eraser” a style dating back to his childhood for which he used an eraser on canvas to create shapes.
When signing on for a book deal, he would read the document repeatedly until impressions formed in his mind.
sometimes I get a flurry of images from the first reading.! That is what we illustrators call “finding the connect. I connect with the story in a special way, as if that story was written just for me.”
His mission to provide positive images of Black history led Cooper to collaborate on book topics such as the Jim Crow laws, the green book, and the civil rights movement. Floyd Cooper’s illustrated children’s books will leave a favorable imprint on readers’ lives.
In his bio, Floyd Cooper explained
giving kids a positive alternative to counteract the negative impact of what is conveyed in today’s media is a huge opportunity.
Floyd Cooper’s Awards include the Coretta King Scott Award 2009, NJ Center for the Book Inaugural Award, Simon Wiesenthal Gold Medal 2011, IPPY Gold Medal 2011, Pennsylvania School Librarians Outstanding Illustrator 2011, the prestigious Sankae Award of Japan 2012, the Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award 2012-2013, NAACP IMAGE
Featured Image courtesy of Tima Miroshnichenko Pexels
