David Shannon appeals to me the most among all authors writing books for children. He was born in 1949 in the state of Washington, D.C. (Shannon, 2017). The main reason I chose him over other distinguishable children’s writers lies in my nostalgia for his books that came from my childhood. However, there are other exciting notions about Shannon that I would like to mention. First, he is not only a writer but also an illustrator (Shannon, 2017). I find it essential for the author to have complete control over its creation since it ensures the delivery of intended feelings and emotions. Second, I respect his approach to creation – he understands the need for good and evil for a good story. In his childhood, he was fond of villains in the stories he read and saw (Shannon, 2017). Thus, the understanding of what can be described as a hero is as strong as the villain he faces came to him early and significantly influenced his creation. Finally, I respect his confidence and dedication to his chosen cause, which he has pursued from childhood until today.
Regarding how his works appeal to children, I would like to mention the combination of pictures and text. Children are drawn to colorful objects; that is why they greatly appreciate the presence of images in books. In this context, the story following the pictures immerses young readers even deeper into the world of the book. In addition, Shannon’s unique drawing style that combines realistic proportions with cartoon-like features can be appealing to children by itself. Last but not least appealing feature is the ease with which children can associate themselves with the main characters. For example, the book No, David! Showcases the playful and mischievous child having fun and always being stopped by his mother – a widespread situation among children overall.
References
David Shannon [Picture]. David Shannon. Web.
Shannon, D. (2017). David’s Bio. David Shannon. Web.
Shannon, D. (2004), A bad case of stripes, Scholastic, Recommended age level: 4-8, Grade K, 3.
Shannon, D. (1996), David gets in trouble, Blue Sky Press (1st ed.), Recommended age level: 4-8, Grade Preschool, 3.
Shannon, D. (1998), No, David!, Scholastic, Recommended age level: 4-8, Grade Preschool, 3.
Appendix
