Floyd cooper illustrator biography examples

American illustrator of children's books (1956–2021)

Floyd Cooper (January 8, 1956 – July 15, 2021) was an American illustrator of children's books whose art frequently explored the African American experience.^[1] He was based in Easton, Pennsylvania,^[2] and worked with authors such as Jane Yolen, Nikki Grimes, Eloise Greenfield, Howard Bryant, Joyce Carol Thomas, and Bill Martin Jr, among others.^[3] He illustrated more than 100 titles.^[1]

Personal

Floyd Donald Cooper Jr.

was born in 1956 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Ramona (Williams) Cooper and Floyd Cooper Sr.^[1] His mother was a beautician while his father built houses. Floyd grew up in low income housing and attended 11 different elementary schools.^[1]

In school his teachers began to notice his illustrations and submitted his work to a scholarship committee.

Floyd earned a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, where he Floyd Cooper (illustrator) - Wikipedia HAK