Children's author inspires students

By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News

An art project at Red Feather Lakes Elementary School has students proudly displaying four quilts made of drawings based on the style of Ezra Jack Keats, the late children's book author and illustrator known for breaking down social boundaries.

The project was funded with a $485 grant from the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation through the efforts of area resident Judy Viola. With grant in hand, Viola recruited teachers and volunteers to work with students on the technical details of making quilts.

The students worked together in groups--preschool, grades one and two, grades three and four, and grades five and six--to design 48 fabric blocks. Volunteer quilters sewed together the pieces, and each student made two ties to hold the layers in place.

The grant allowed the school to buy the quilting supplies and more of Keats' books for its library collection. The project also became a study of Keats' writing and illustrating techniques.

Born to impoverished Polish immigrants in 1916, Keats made his first attempt at writing a children's book in 1960 with "My Dog Is Lost." He is now known for his innovative use of minority children as central characters.

To complete the project, students used library time to read and discuss Keats' books and used art classes to mimic his illustrations. Among his new fans are Anna Wright, 8; Harley Jackson, 8; and Maia Lilley, 10. Anna likes the way Keats used collages for illustrations. Harley likes the animals in the stories, and Maia loves the way Keats used bright or dark colors to express feelings.

Quilts are on display at the school.