John Robbins (illustrator) facts for kids
John Nelson Robbins, Jr. was a talented artist and teacher. He was famous for hosting a TV show called Cover to Cover. This show helped kids across the United States and Canada discover amazing books. It aired from the 1960s to the 1990s.
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Early Life and Education
John Robbins was born in Greensboro, North Carolina on January 18, 1938. He loved art and music from a young age. He studied both subjects at East Carolina University. During his summer breaks from college, he played the piano in jazz bands. After finishing his studies in 1959, he became a fifth-grade teacher. He taught at Forestville Elementary School in Prince George's County, Maryland.
Bringing Stories to Life on TV
In 1962, John Robbins joined the Greater Washington Educational Television Association (WETA). His job was to create educational TV shows for elementary school students. He worked with WETA for 26 years, making many wonderful programs.
The Cover to Cover Show
His most famous show was Cover to Cover. On this program, John Robbins would introduce young viewers to exciting books. He or another person would read parts of the story aloud. As the story was being read, Robbins would draw a picture of a scene from the book. He used colored pencils or other art supplies. Viewers could watch the drawing come to life while listening to the story. The episode usually ended at an exciting part, like a cliffhanger. Then, Robbins would show the actual book. He encouraged children to visit their local library to read the rest of the story.
The original Cover to Cover series was very popular. It led to other shows with a similar idea. These included More Books from Cover to Cover, Readit, Storybound, and The Book Bird. These shows were broadcast on PBS stations all over the country. They were shown for many years, even as reruns, until the 1990s.
Other Educational Programs
John Robbins also created other educational shows for WETA.
- Portraits: The Americans: This series shared stories about important people from American history.
- Across Cultures: This show explored different people and cultures from around the world.
- The Short Story: This program was made for high school students.
He also helped produce a ballet called The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore. Another production was Gian Carlo Menotti's opera The Old Maid and the Thief.
Awards and Recognition
John Robbins received many awards for his work in educational television.
- In 1966, he won two National Educational Television Awards. One was for Cover to Cover. The other was for a poetry series called Mr. Smith and Other Nonsense.
- He won two awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1969 and 1970.
- In 1992, he received a Producer's Lifetime Achievement Award. This award came from the National Academy for School Television and Video.
Sharing His Passion
John Robbins traveled across the country to meet students. He spoke to elementary school children about the joy of reading. He also encouraged them to use their imaginations to create their own stories.
In 1989, he published a children's book called The Tooth Fairy is Broke. It was written for children aged five to seven.
In a 1978 interview, Robbins shared his love for travel. He said he would spend weeks in different states. He enjoyed speaking with librarians, kids, and college groups. His hobbies included birdwatching, playing the piano, sailing, and water skiing.
John Robbins passed away on December 11, 2016, after a long illness.
