I knew from the time I was in kindergarten that I would be an artist when I grew up. Between that early thought and today's reality, many worlds have been explored. In addition to the local school curriculum, I was given lessons in dance, horseback riding, tennis, swimming and acting, and I had ten years of piano lessons. But what I really wanted were lessons in art. My mother said that all artists were buried in the potter's field, and that was the end of that. From time to time, however, I was allowed to draw to my heart's content on shelf paper. There was plenty of it when spring cleaning required the changing of the paper in all the bureau drawers and kitchen cabinets. Circular stains from cold-cream jars, fly specks, and crinkly water marks were all worked into the background of drawings from my "shelf paper period".
Early reading was almost exclusively from National Geographic, The New York Sun, and Big Little Books. Ours was not a literary family. Other future authors might be reading classics by the fire, but I was swimming, sailing, tree climbing, playing "cops and robbers", "cowboys and Indians", games and cards, and listening to radio programs.
I went to Mills College in California - the oldest women's college west of the Rocky Mountains, founded in 1852. The buildings were Spanish style, the trees eucalyptus and palm, and the weather balmy. After New Jersey winters of slush, sleet, bare trees, radiators, and galoshes, Mills College seemed like paradise. In fact, it looked just like one of the pictures in National Geographic. I graduated as an art major. I also took lots of credits in English and told the creative-writing teacher that I wanted to write and illustrate children's books.
Back in New York City, and for twenty years, I slaved in the giant corporations of America. There is no aspect of publicity, sales promotion, or public relations that I do not know and understand. One day I said good-bye forever to filing cabinets, time clocks, desks, red tape, company politics, and windowless rooms, and I entered the world of children's books as an author and illustrator.
I like illustrating so much that I may spend an inordinate amount of time researching one item until it is perfect - such as the sarsaparilla bottles and labels in General Store. I like to write and rewrite and polish and edit unitl the sentence is perfect, too, as we learned in the seventh grade except I didn't know then what the teacher was talking about. If I ever forget how to write and illustrate books, I am eminently qualified to answer the phone at the United Nations or the American Museum of Natural History.
Message to Students:
I would direct children interested in fact rather than fiction to find a subject one is interested in, such as bears, Civil war, spiders, etc., and find the shelf in the library that has those books. Then read a lot of them. You will find that by the time you reach the sixth book on the subject, you know more than the author.
Tips on writing nonfiction: When using cards for notes, always put in the upper right-hand corner of the card the name of the book used, the author the library, and the location of the shelf, as well as the page number in the book. If you have to prove your source, or look it up again, you don't want to spend three days on the bus looking for the right library where the book is located (personal experience!)
NYSL Books:
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Bag I'm taking to Grandma's Juv-E N (1995)
In cumulative verses and rebuses a young boy and his mother have different views on how to pack a bag for a trip to Grandma's.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Barbara Frietchie Juv. 821 W (1992)
An illustrated edition of the poem describing Barbara Fritchie's dramatic stand with the Union flag against the rebel troops invading her town.
- GParker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Black crow, black crow Juv-E G (1991)
High up in a tree, a mother crow tends her young.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Bugs Juv. 595 P (1987)
Includes general information, jokes, and brief descriptions of the physical characteristics, habits, and natural environment of a variety of common insects.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Christmas camel Juv-E P Stack 8 (1983)
For christmas Charlie receives a camel from the Holy Lands that possesses an enchanting mysterious quality.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Dress I'll wear to the party Juv-E N (1992)
In cumulative verses and rebuses a girl describes how she is dressing up in her mother's party things.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Frogs, toads, lizards, and salamanders Juv. 597.8 P (1990)
Describes the physical characteristics, habits, and natural environment of a variety of frogs, toads, lizards, and salamanders.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, General store Juv-E F (1988)
A girl imagines the general store she will own some day and all the things for sale in it, from bolts of calico to bunches of bananas.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Here comes Henny Juv-E P (1994)
Henny carries to her picky chickies a sacky in which she has pack pack packed snicky-snackies.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, I'm not feeling well today Juv-E N (2001)
In cumulative verses using rebuses, a young boy describes all the things he will need since he is not feeling well--until he learns that school is closed because of a snow storm.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, I'm taking a trip on my train Juv-E N (1999)
In cumulative verses using rebuses, a young boy describes his experiences as engineer on the train in his room.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Land ho!: fifty glorious years in the age of exploration with 12 important explorers Juv. 910.9 P (2001)
Explains how the voyages of Columbus, Cabot, Ponce De Leon, and other European explorers to the American continents were the result of mistakes, accidents, and misses and discusses the explorers' cruel treatment of native peoples.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Locks, crocs & skeeters: the story of the Panama Canal Juv. 986 P (1996)
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Love from Aunt Betty Juv-E P (1983)
Aunt Betty sends Charlie an old Transylvanian gypsy recipe for chocolate fudge cake which calls for cobwebs and dried Carpathian tree toad flakes.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Money, money, money: the meaning of the art and symbols on United States paper currency Juv. 332.5 P (1995)
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Oh, a-hunting we will go Juv-E L (1983)
Old and new verses for a popular folk song about hunting and capturing an animal--and then letting him go. The book is oversized, with spiral binding.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Organs!: how they work, fall apart, and can be replaced (gasp!) Juv. 612 P (2009)
With bright pictures, astonishing facts, and incredible stories, Nancy Winslow Parker shows you just how amazing your insides are, and why it's so important to take care of them.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Our class took a trip to the zoo Juv-E N (2002)
A cumulative verse with rebuses in which a young boy has a wonderful day at the zoo, despite a series of mishaps with the animals.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Party at the old farm: a Halloween story Juv-F P (1975)
Just before Halloween, Plumber Bear seems to be losing his ability to fix things. He finds help at a costume party.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Paul Revere's ride Juv. 821 L (1985)
The famous narrative poem recreating Paul Revere's midnight ride in 1775 to warn the people of the Boston countryside that the British were coming.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Peter's pockets Juv-E R (1989)
Peter's new pants don't have any pockets, so Uncle Nick lets Peter use his until Peter's mother solves the problem in a clever and colorful way.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, Poofy loves company Juv-E P (1980)
Sally is overwhelmed by a large, overly friendly dog when she and her mother visit a friend.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow, President's cabinet and how it grew Juv. 353 P (1991)
Outlines the purpose and historical development of the President's cabinet, and explains the functions of each cabinet post.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Sheridan's ride Juv. 821 R (1993)
An illustrated version of the well-known poem describing the swift ride through the Virginia countryside of Union General Sheridan to rejoin his troops before the decisive battle of Cedar Creek in 1864.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, We're making breakfast for mother Juv-E N (1997)
Rhymes and rebuses show children making breakfast for their mother, complete with flowers and a tray.
- Lillie, Patricia., When the rooster crowed Juv-E L (1991)
Not until all his animals join voices is a farmer able to get out of bed in the morning.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Who will I be?: a Halloween rebus story Juv-E N Stack 8 (2005)
When an invitation to a Halloween party arrives, a child gathers supplies to make a costume but cannot decide what to be.
- Parker, Nancy Winslow - illustrator, Willy Bear Juv-E K Stack 8 (1976)
On the eve of his first day at school, a child projects some of his uneasiness onto his teddy bear, Willy.
|