Floyd Cooper started drawing when he was three years old and has never stopped. He has been awarded the Coretta Scott King Award forThe Blacker the Berry, three Coretta Scott KingHonorsforBrownHoney in Broomwheat Tea,Meet Danitra Brown, andIHave Heard ofa Land,and an NAACPimage award. He was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and graduated with a degree in fine arts from the University of Oklahoma.
Coretta Scott King Award-winning Cooper has created a gentle, comforting story that will reassure children that those who love us are always with us. --Booklist Cooper uses his signature style to illustrate both the landscape--sometimes viewed from the car windows or reflected in the vehicle's mirror--and the expressive faces of his characters. Coupled with the story's lyrical text, this is a lovely mood piece. A quiet, warm look at the bond between grandfather and grandson. --Kirkus Reviews The full moon is a friendly presence on each spread, and the varied vantage points incorporate soothing imagery, such as a bird silhouetted against the sky. Signs with arrows point the way home, reassuring readers that despite the lengthy trip, Max is heading in the right direction. His face is expressive, clearly conveying his varied emotions, from wonder to happiness and wistfulness. Perfect for one-on-one readings --School Library Journal Writing in poetic, evocative prose, Cooper offers just the right amount of support to the lush illustrations and the thoughtful, observant hero. --Publishers Weekly There's a softness to the naturalistic double-page scenes, particularly when the moon glow illuminates the night drive through the peaceful landscape and in the close-ups of Max's bedtime preparations. The paintings created using a subtractive process in mixed media help define Cooper's characteristic humanistic images. --Children's Literature Coretta Scott King Award winning Cooper has created a gentle, comforting story that will reassure children that those who love us are always with us. Booklist Cooper uses his signature style to illustrate both the landscape--sometimes viewed from the car windows or reflected in the vehicle's mirror--and the expressive faces of his characters. Coupled with the story's lyrical text, this is a lovely mood piece. A quiet, warm look at the bond between grandfather and grandson. Kirkus Reviews The full moon is a friendly presence on each spread, and the varied vantage points incorporate soothing imagery, such as a bird silhouetted against the sky. Signs with arrows point the way home, reassuring readers that despite the lengthy trip, Max is heading in the right direction. His face is expressive, clearly conveying his varied emotions, from wonder to happiness and wistfulness. Perfect for one-on-one readings School Library Journal Writing in poetic, evocative prose, Cooper offers just the right amount of support to the lush illustrations and the thoughtful, observant hero. Publishers Weekly There's a softness to the naturalistic double-page scenes, particularly when the moon glow illuminates the night drive through the peaceful landscape and in the close-ups of Max's bedtime preparations. The paintings created using a subtractive process in mixed media help define Cooper's characteristic humanistic images. Children s Literature