ABSTRACT
Pinkney grew up in an artistic family. His father, Jerry Pinkney, is an award-winning illustrator of children’s books and his mother, Gloria Jean Pinkney, an award-winning children’s book writer. From an early age, Pinkney knew he wanted to be an illustrator and later began to write also. He holds both a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and a master’s degree in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His illustrating career began with assignments for publications such as the New York Times, Woman’s Day, Ebony Man, Business Tokyo, and Amtrak Express magazines. His illustrations have also appeared in numerous textbooks. As a children’s book illustrator Pinkney has completed over twenty children’s books. He was awarded the Caldecott Honor Award and the Coretta Scott King Honor Award for The Faithful Friend and is also a four-time winner of the Parent’s Choice Award for illustrations that appeared in The Boy and the Ghost, The Ballad of Belle Dorcas, Where Does the Trail Lead? And Sukey and the Mermaid. Sukey and the Mermaid was also awarded the 1993 Coretta Scott King Honor Award for illustration, American Bookseller Pick of the List, Parenting magazine, Ten Best Books of 1992, Booklists, “Editors Choice for 1992,” and School Library Journal Best Books 1992.
