Shawn Harris got rave reviews from one of the harshest groups of critics out there: elementary school students.
Erupting fanfare and quiet awe rippled through the crowd when the children’s book author and illustrator entered the Cambridgeport School Library. Over 100 first, second and third graders have spent almost a month preparing for Harris’ arrival by reading his books in library class and discussing what it means to be an author and illustrator.
Thursday morning, Harris sat down with kids to discuss his most recent release, “Duel,” and share his creative process.
“Duel” tells the story of a medieval battle between two rulers who seek to win their place on the hill. Resolution comes when the two entities realize they are equally matched and merge into one. Though there is not a sentence that states the moral, Harris said, the book shows that often in competition, when two opposing sides are equally matched, they respect each other more, encouraging sportsmanship.
“Duel” is Harris’s 16th published children’s book since 2017. The California author was awarded the Caldecott Honor for his book “Have You Ever Seen a Flower?” in 2022. The Caldecott Honor is given to the runner-up selections in the distinguished picture book award.
Harris, 44, said he worked backwards for this book, motivated first by the painting technique colloquially known as “squish painting” or “butterfly painting,” in which paper is folded with paint applied to one half and opened to create a symmetrical, complete image. Harris said this technique served as the roots of “Duel” partially because it was a style familiar to children, and when kids see art that feels familiar it serves as “an entry way to make art more readily.”
“Picture books are amazing,” Harris said. “You can tell any kind of story in them.”
The children cheered as Harris demonstrated squish painting on a large piece of drawing paper, taking suggestions from them of different animals to use as the face of an animal-hybrid creature. Harris asked for anyone to define abstract art, to which one student said: “Go crazy and figure out what it is.” Harris nodded thoughtfully in agreement.
First-grader Arlo said after the presentation he recognized the squish art technique and liked learning the inspiration behind Harris’s book.
“I really liked him,” second-grader Ana said. “I like making art too.”
Ana said, for her, art is making comics. Arlo said he likes to draw. Someone asked when Harris started making books, and he answered it was when he was 7 years old. He showed a picture of himself, elementary school age, with his best friend Mac Barnett, with whom he has published books.
“He liked to tell stories,” Harris said. “And I liked to make pictures.” He told the children that any of them could one day do the same thing with their classmates.
The event was held in partnership with Porter Square Books Foundation, the nonprofit branch of a Cambridge bookstore that connects authors with various schools in the area. Through the foundation, Cambridgeport School Library was able to give 116 signed copies of “Duel” to students first through third grades. Hearing this news, the students cheered and giggled. Many high-fived or asked Harris questions at the end of the presentation.
Rosalie Norris, library media specialist at Cambridgeport School, said the students had been excited for weeks about Shawn Harris, reading a book of his and then completing a craft project to supplement the lesson. She described the classroom environment as having “Shawn Harris fever.”
This story is part of a partnership between Cambridge Day and the Boston University Department of Journalism’s Newsroom Initiative.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.