Reading Rockets offers reading comprehension and language arts teaching strategies for kids, and is a free web site for parents and educators
star1 star2 star3

Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in working with struggling readers who require additional help in reading fundamentals and comprehension skills development.

You are here: > Books and Authors > Video Interviews > Kadir Nelson
A video interview with

Kadir Nelson

Kadir Nelson is a naturally gifted artist whose extraordinary talent continues to develop and be discovered. Before the age of 30, Nelson had already illustrated children's books, sold paintings to celebrities, and worked on a movie directed by Steven Spielberg.

In 2007 Kadir Nelson received a Caldecott Honor for his evocative illustrations in Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. In 2008 he won a second Caldecott Honor for his artwork in Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad.

You can watch the interview below, view the interview transcript, read a short biography on Kadir Nelson, or see a selected list of his children's books.

Kadir Nelson is a naturally gifted artist whose extraordinary talent continues to develop and be discovered. Before the age of 30, Nelson had already illustrated children's books, sold paintings to celebrities, and worked on a movie directed by Steven Spielberg. In 2007 Kadir Nelson received a Caldecott Honor for his evocative illustrations in Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. In 2008 he won a second Caldecott Honor for his artwork in Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad. A painter at heart: Kadir Nelson remembers the day when he decided to change his major from architecture to illustration. Wish upon a star… but do your homework, too: Nelson took art school seriously — and his hard work paid off. We Are the Ship: In this video clip, Kadir Nelson describes why this book took him seven years to complete. Word of mouth: Nelson explains how some of his paintings ended up in the hands of celebrities. Ellington was not a street: For this award-winning book, Kadir Nelson had to develop a visual narrative to accompany the sparse text. Moses: Nelson discusses his emotional illustrations in this Caldecott-Honor-winning book about Harriet Tubman. Painting African-American history: Kadir Nelson likes to share history by illustrating essential human truths. Say it out loud: Nelson shares some inspirational thoughts for kids who want to become artists.

Search

Free newsletters

Page tools

Save and share

del.icio.usdel.icio.us
Join Reading Rockets on Facebook!

"I work for a Head Start Program and we enjoy your ideas and children's book recommendations."
~ Audrey T.

AdLit.org
Find out what it really takes to turn our schools around with this PBS special narrated by Morgan Freeman called 'A Tale of Two Schools.' Go to store.