TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - Children's book illustrator Michael P. White visited Pierce Street Elementary School to show the young people some of the characters he creates on paper.
White has illustrated books such as "The Library Dragon," "The Secret of Old Zeb," and "Harriet's Horrible Hair Day."
White said, "Once they realize their piece of paper is just like a Dr. Suess book or some of these other picture books, and the wildest idea wins like an elephant sitting on a tree, they say my idea is like that. Sometimes you have to think that way."
For the children, who got to draw and then show their work to the artist, this lesson is exciting.
One student said, "I got to draw."
Another student said, "I like to learn how to draw different things."
This day fits right in with the goals of Pierce Street Elementary, since it's a model school for the Mississippi Arts Commission.
Amy Chiles with Pierce Street Elementary said, "We try to integrate arts in our lessons no matter the subject."
White, who's from Atlanta, says he's fortunate to be able to take a lifelong love of drawing and earn a living doing it.
White said, "Always make sure they sign their name. That's the biggest thing a teacher taught me because if I hadn't signed my name I wouldn't have met a famous author and taken to a publisher."
And, who knows, a future illustrator may be in the works right here in this Tupelo school.
