Mark Teague Illustrates A Love of Dinosaurs at Providence Academy

September 17, 2007- Mark Teague, best-selling illustrator and author, drew a character from his latest book, How Do Dinosaurs Go To School?, for students at Providence Academy.  Mr. Teague’s first book, The Trouble with the Johnsons, was published in 1989 and it also included a dinosaur illustration.  He was soon paired with author Jane Yolen to illustrate How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? and How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon.

Mr. Teague admitted to Providence students that he has always liked dinosaurs.   Initially fascinated by his childhood source, The Golden Book of Dinosaurs, he continues to be amazed at new paleontology findings including dinosaurs with feathers.  He reported that recent fossil discoveries show that the Brontosaurus has a longer, narrower head than originally depicted.  Putting fossilized bones together is like a puzzle, and long ago the wrong head apparently ended up on a Brontosaurus’ body.   A vivid imagination determines the coloration of Mr. Teague’s dinosaurs, since original skin patterns and colors are very hard to accurately determine.

When looking at a blank sheet of paper, Mr. Teague first tries to imagine the image on the page.  He encouraged students to use light, loose lines when drawing the initial shape of a figure, then go back and fill in the detail.  After the initial drawing, three or four days of work are needed to carefully color in the illustration with acrylic paint.  After they are scanned and digitized, the publisher returns Mr. Teague’s original paintings to him.

A “doodler” all his life, Mr. Teague is also inspired by his surroundings.  Living on a farm, he noticed that chicken’s feet and dinosaurs’ feet are quite similar and used this knowledge to improve his drawings.  His habitation led him to his current work-in-progress, a book for the very young about farm life.  Mr. Teague mentioned that his two daughters attend a school that is attached to a dairy farm. 

Asked if he had a favorite book growing up, Mr. Teague promptly replied that he adored Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. 

The Bookcase in Wayzata graciously sponsored Mr. Teague’s visit to students in Pre-kindergarten to second grade at Providence Academy. 

Providence Academy Lower School students watch Mark Teague, best-selling children’s author and illustrator, as he works on a dinosaur character.

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