Jan Brett is one of my favorite contemporary children’s book authors and illustrators. Her books are a visual treat with covers and end papers designed to reinforce the story and complement her detailed illustrations. In most of her books, each two page spread contains border panels or bottom decorations that allow a young child to anticipate what will happen next in the story, or the panels extend the story beyond the words written on the page.
I have so many favorites, starting with one of the earliest Jan Brett books I discovered and began to collect, long before my son was born: Annie and the Wild Animals. Other favorites, many of which I own, include: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, The Hat, The Mitten, Armadillo Rodeo, Trouble with Trolls, Berlioz the Bear, The First Dog, Gingerbread Baby, and Hedgie’s Surprise.
Wait, there’s more! Jan Brett, on her web site, at no charge, and under no obligation, generously makes available to the user: free art, free crafts, free coloring pages, free full color bookmarks, free calendar pages illustrated with her myriad characters, free ABC and 123 pages, and free online games. She also links to information sites for educators, and craft sites that relate to her stories and her themes.
All in all, she includes over 4,800 free coloring and activities pages. And, just if you want, she adds convenient links to information about her books and where you can buy them. She also has a blog, where she discusses her travels, her research, writing and illustration, and the bookmaking process.