As a teenager he became increasingly focused on life drawing and sharpened his skills by attending numerous extra-curricular art classes, and by drawing animals at the Philadelphia Zoo and the farms near his home.
Peter's hard work paid off when he was accepted into the Illustration program at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. After four years he received his B.F.A. with Distinction, and then spent a year traveling through Europe. Eventually he landed in New York City where he got down to business working on his first children's picture book, Flight of the Dodo, which was published in 2005. He's been writing and illustrating children's books ever since.
To learn more about Peter Brown and view other illustrations, visit his site at www.peterbrownstudio.com
Book Descriptions and Reviews:
THE CURIOUS GARDEN (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 2009)
 Book Description:
One day, a curious boy named Liam is out exploring his drab, gray city when he comes across a struggling garden. He decides to help the plants grow, never imagining what he is starting. As time passes, the garden takes on a life of its own and spreads across the city, changing everything in its path. Bit by bit, the city is transformed, becoming a lush, green world.
THE CURIOUS GARDEN is a magical story about a boy's dream and how the efforts of one small person can help change the world.
*** debut at #7 on the New York Times Bestseller List for picture books - April 24, 2009
STARRED REVIEW
The Curious Garden Peter Brown. Little, Brown, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-316-01547-9
Brown’s (Chowder) latest is a quiet but stirring fable of urban renewal, sure to capture imaginations. In exploring his bleak city neighborhood, thoughtful Liam—in Brown’s warm, almost fuzzy acrylic spreads, he looks a little like a friendly, redheaded wooden puppet—notices that some flowering plants have appeared on an old elevated railway track. He teaches himself to care for them (“The flowers nearly drowned and he had a few pruning problems, but the plants patiently waited while Liam found better ways of gardening”), and the garden responds by “growing restless. It wanted to explore.” In one of several wordless spreads, Liam stands against a bright blue sky, surrounded by a thick patch of daisies. Spring brings a burst of new energy: “the tough little weeds and mosses set out first. They popped up farther and farther from the railway.... but the most surprising things that popped up were the new gardeners.” In Brown’s utopian vision, the urban and the pastoral mingle to joyfully harmonious effect—especially on the final pages, which show a city filled with rooftop gardens, fantastic topiaries, windmills and sparkling ponds. Ages 3–6. (Apr.)
CHOWDER (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 2006)
 Booklist Starred Review:
Chowder has always been different." It's hard to disagree when the illustration shows Chowder the bulldog doing his business on the toilet. But that's not the only way he stands out: he rides mechanical horses, and though other dogs collect bones, he uses them in paleontology projects. His devoted owners, the Wubbingtons, are perhaps responsible for his singularity: they carry him in a baby pack and let him use their computer. Still, he longs for animal friends, so when a petting zoo opens, he eagerly makes a visit. Alas, while trying to play with the animals, he kicks their ball into a tree, thus alienating his potential pals. But distressed Chowder makes a comeback when he spots the ball in a tree and valiantly attempts to retrieve it. Yes, he starts to fall, but the other animals rescue him. Everything works here. The tongue-in-cheek humor melds delightfully with Brown's distinctive acrylic-and-pencil artwork. The characters have such a sturdy appearance, they look as though they could be carved from wood, and high-gloss finish gives the art a computer-enhanced look. Inventive is the best word to describe the design--as when Brown uses the book's gutter to move Chowder from the zoo's bathroom (where he's doing his business again) to the tree. But along with the glitz, there's also a real story here, starring a winsome protagonist. Ilene Cooper
FLIGHT OF THE DODO (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
 Book Description
FLIGHT OF THE DODO is a hilarious story about the search for adventure, the persistence needed to make your dreams come true, and the joy of target pooping.
Peter Brown's rich and striking paintings are filled with fun details and unique perspectives. Join Penguin and his charming flightless frends as they set out to redefine their view of the world.
Currently, Peter is working on illustrations for PURPLE KANGAROO (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers will publish in 2010) written by actor Michael Ian Black. Below is a sneak preview of the artwork:
|
Peter Brown grew up in Hopewell, New Jersey, where he spent most of his time exploring the rolling countryside. 
