BRYAN COLLIER loves to paint. He has successfully channeled his creative energy and love of art into an illustrious career as a children’s book illustrator and writer. He began painting at the age of 15 and eventually landed a scholarship to attend Pratt Institute in New York. He has won four Caldecott Honors for his illustrations of   Rosa written by Nikki Giovanni, Martin’s Big Words  written by Doreen Rappaport, Trombone Shorty  written by Troy Andrews, and Dave the Potter by written by Laban Carack Hill. His first book, Uptown, won the Coretta Scott King Award and the Ezra Jack Keats Award. He has won five Coretta Scott King Awards and three Coretta Scott King Honors.

 ODE TO GRAPEFRUIT: HOW JAMES EARL JONES FOUND HIS VOICE

Before legendary actor James Earl Jones was recognized for his memorable, smooth voice, he was just James–a stutterer who stopped speaking for eight years as a child…and ultimately found his voice through poetry. Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice is James’ story which is written by Kari Lavelle and illustrated by Bryan Collier. Before there was Mufasa…before there was Darth Vader… there was a young boy names James Earl Jones, who spoke with a stutter and dreaded having to talk in class.

Whenever James tried to voice his thoughts, his words got stuck in his throat. But he figured out a solution for his shame: if he didn’t speak, he wouldn’t stutter. And so he was silent…until he wrote his own poem, Whenever James tried to voice his thoughts, his words got stuck in his throat. But he figured out a solution for his shame: if he didn’t speak, he wouldn’t stutter. 

And so he was silent…until he wrote his own poem, Ode to Grapefruit, and found a love for poetry. The lyrical text, stunning art, and compelling back matter about stuttering pair together for a remarkable picture book about how a boy who refused to speak for eight years learned to manage his stutter through poetry–and grew up to become an EGOT-winning performer with a voice few could forget.