'The heart of everything we do'

 

 

"The illustrations in picture books are the first paintings most children see, and because of that, they are incredibly important. What we see and share at that age stays with us for life."  – Anthony Browne

  

A British writer and illustrator of children's books, Browne was born on Sept. 11 1946, and started drawing and writing when he was 5.   Browne said as a teenager his goals were to be either a journalist, a cartoonist, or a boxer, but he always gravitated back to doing things for kids.  

 

“Never forget that children are at the heart of everything we do,” he said. “Respect them, listen to them, talk to them as equals and most of all, care about them.”

 

With some 40 books to his credit – headed by the multiple award-winning book Gorilla – he has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal for his illustrations.  He also is recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international honor for children's book authors.

  

“I never want to make a child worried or afraid, and I don't think I do. My pictures are born from the belief that children are far more capable and aware of social complexities than we give them credit for.”