All memorable children’s books feature original art that is filled with colors and depth to draw readers of any age into the magical world of words.
To celebrate the vibrant work of illustrators, Tulsa City-County Library presents the 15th annual “Books to Treasure,” promoting the beauty of children’s literature and introducing the community to popular book illustrators.
Hannah E. Harrison is the featured illustrator for Tulsa City-County Library’s 2017 “Books to Treasure.” Harrison will speak, answer questions and sign copies of her books during a special visit on Nov. 3, 7 p.m. at Hardesty Regional Library’s Connor’ s Cove, 8316 E. 93rd St. This event is free and open to the public.
Harrison, an award-winning author/illustrator who now calls Oklahoma home, discovered her knack for drawing and writing in elementary school. As a 5-year-old with an active imagination her pets became the stars of her first crayon masterpieces. After winning the “Young Author Book Award” in second- and third-grade for her works The Lost Tooth and The Bunny Ball, she knew a career in publishing was more than a dream.
She continued to hone her craft with the guidance from encouraging teachers. As a high school senior, her portfolio was selected as one of the 100 best in the nation by the Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards.
Majoring in art and minoring in creative writing at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, she interned with famed children’s book author/illustrator Kevin Hawkes. She helped with his book Handel: Who Knew What He Liked, and was surprised when he dedicated the book to her “with much gratitude.”
Harrison’s illustrated the books Just Like You and Remy and Lulu. She was the author and illustrator for her next three books Extraordinary Jane, Bernice Gets Carried Away and My Friend Maggie. 2018 brings the release of her next book, Friends Stick Together, that follows a refined rhinoceros through his tricky school day.
She has been selected as an Oklahoma Book Awards finalist in illustration for three consecutive years and the past two years was a finalist as an author as well.
Painting with oils and acrylics to bring her imaginative stories to life, Harrison has won more than 20 awards across the United States. She has painted portraits, signs, murals, theatre sets, fine art, children’s books, and, since moving to Oklahoma in 2006, even tombstones.
“Books to Treasure” is sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust through a grant from the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation. The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation is providing one free copy to each second-grader in Tulsa County of Harrison’s book Extraordinary Jane, which follows an everyday dog and her life in a family of circus performers. Every student also receives a bookmark and bookplate featuring illustrations from the featured book. Students have the opportunity to receive a special library card featuring artwork from the featured book.
To enhance the author’s visit, Tulsa City-County Library children’s librarians will visit second-grade classes at all public and private schools in Tulsa County to promote the program. Librarians will provide specific lesson plans using Harrison’s books focusing on curriculum areas such as reading, math, writing, science and social studies.
Previous recipients of the Book to Treasure award include: Rafael Lopez (2016), Derek Anderson (2015); Philip C. Stead (2014), Peter Brown (2013), Mo Willems (2012), Grace Lin (2011), Steve Jenkins (2010), Brad Sneed (2009), Jim Arnosky (2008), Floyd Cooper (2007), Lisa Campbell Ernst (2006), Janet Stevens (2005), Arthur Howard (2004) and Marla Frazee (2003).
For more information on “Books to Treasure,” call the AskUs Hotline, 918-549-7323, or visit the library’s webpage, www.tulsalibrary.org.
# # #