Jan Brett Professions : Illustrator Born : December 1, 1949 Browse All Authors Top 33 quotes by Jan Brett A book is something that young readers can experience on their own time. They decide when to turn the page. They'll put their arm right on the page so you can't turn it because they're not ready to go to the next page yet. They just want to look at it again, or they want to read the book over and over because they really enjoy setting the pace themselves. Jan Brett pace book looks A lot of times it's the child that sees something and not the grownup. I love that because, when readers get older, they start looking for the most important ideas in the story. They don't look at things in the same way anymore. Children haven't really learned to do that yet. They take all their great, intellectual skills, look at the full page, and appreciate all of the different things. Jan Brett skills children ideas I've found places that are just as beautiful as New England, but this is my home. Jan Brett england home beautiful My parents would tell us to go outside and play or to do creative stuff, but television was very limited. So we used our own creativity to entertain ourselves. We were out in the woods a lot making huts and playing horses. Jan Brett horse creativity play I just love to draw. It's very intense for me. The day will just go by like the snap of a finger. A lot of times I'll draw or paint late into the night. When I am really concentrating, I kind of lose track of what I am doing. Jan Brett track kind night Children have such vibrant minds. They need to play. They need to be creative. They need to imagine. It's so important for their sense of self discovery. And it helps them learn problem-solving. Jan Brett important creative self children My optimism has helped me through some hard times. If you try to send out good things, good things come back to you. Jan Brett good me you good-things I have a hard time writing, and I usually have to put a timer at my desk and put it on for an hour. But I love to illustrate, and I can hardly stop myself. Jan Brett stop myself time love Sometimes I get ideas from childhood. In 'The Hat', Hedgie starts getting teased about his hat, and he just pretends that everything is okay. That's the advice that my mother gave me - not to get mad and pretend that everything is okay. And it worked. Jan Brett me childhood mother sometimes One of my favorite books is 'Armadillo Rodeo', and I got the idea from traveling to Texas and seeing armadillos. Jan Brett books got seeing texas When I was little, I would close my eyes and put my finger on a page. Then in my mind, I would go to that place. Jan Brett eyes place go mind My grandmother would give me a beautiful book each year. I especially loved the Beatrix Potter books. They were very detailed. And I promised myself that was what I'd do. I also loved the big words she used. I was excited because I knew what they meant from the context. I put a few big words in for just that reason. Jan Brett words myself me beautiful Imagination - that's the future for us. Jan Brett us future imagination Similar Authors Brian Froud illustrator Brian Selznick illustrator Arnold Friberg illustrator Arthur Rackham illustrator Alexander Anderson illustrator Bill Peet illustrator All Authors