Kelly Dupre
The Raven's Gift: A True Story from Greenland (linocut)
Kelly Dupre, illustrator/author
Houghton Mifflin 2004
http://www.kellydupre.com
Kelly Dupre had wanted to become an author/illustrator for many years. During that time, she worked with youth in various capacities. In 1998 she took a leave of absence from her special education teaching position to develop her art and writing skills. Art of the natural environment and indigenous cultures had greatly influenced her. During this time, she wrote and illustrated a curriculum called 'Arctic Challenge,' that was used on the website of the International Greenland Expedition. Finally, in 2001, the dream she had had of combining her work with children with her interests in illustration and writing was realized in her first book, The Raven's Gift: A True Story from Greenland. Joy, symbolism, and a dash of humor are what she has strived for in her art and writing.