Peter Reynolds
Stories that Matter, Stories That Move
Peter Reynolds was born in Canada with his twin brother, Paul while their parents made a quick pit stop on a journey around the world. That was only a temporary stop on this eccentric British family's world travels. Scotland, England, New Zealand, Argentina, Canada and finally the USA.
Peter and his twin grew up in a very British house in a New England town called Chelmsford. Theirs was the only house in the neighborhood serving tea at 4 o'clock. There was no basketball hoop in the driveway, instead - a cricket bat and wicket. Dad Reynolds fixed the family car in a suit and tie always puffing on his pipe. PBS kept them nourished on Monty Python and Masterpiece Theatre. All to say that Peter's early years were a bit odd, a tad quirky, a splosh wonderful, and were blessed with a good dollop of whimsy.
It makes sense then that Peter, pencil in six-year-old hand, began dashing out simple, whimsical, quirky art. He soon plied his art and writing to a print and media company he and his brother began in 1st grade. Both he and Paul had an inexplicable desire to publish.
The seeds of FableVision had been planted.
Before long they had comic books and film pouring from a little company they started with another two quirky British bothers who had ironically moved onto their street. Perhaps Eric and Phil were the only kids who could make sense of Peter and Paul's dry, British humor.
An amazing teacher, Jim Matson changed Peter's life in 7th grade when he pulled Peter aside for doodling in class rather than paying attention. Rather than scold him, Mr. Matson asked Peter to try a project tapping into art and storytelling to help other student's understand a math concept. Peter, dizzy with excitement, ran off to make a comic book. He cracked open the dense math text book and saw, for the first time, that these numbers were only ways of quantifying things and actions. Things and actions he could see and put to paper. When he brought in the completed project, Mr. Matson saw not just a comic book but also a storyboard. "You've got the beginnings of an animated film if you're interested." A few months later Peter had finished his first animated film designed to teach.
The seeds of FableVision had been watered and had begun to bloom.
Peter's journey has been dedicated to helping kids, especially the "off the path" kids. "I was one of them myself. Not every student is lucky enough to have a teacher, or adult, see his or her potential. "
"When I visit students in schools they ask me what my hobbies are. I say ' thinking, dreaming, and sharing.' If my art and stories can help inspire others to do the same, I'll feel my life had meaning."
While he is delighted by drawing and storytelling, he is more fascinated by the "big idea." Making sense of the journey is a constant theme. "What more powerful mystery to solve than how to make the most of this one, precious life we are blessed with?" Peter asks. He explores the theme in inky, playful lines and in dreamy words.
His stories have emerged in over 30 interactive tales, as films including The Blue Shoe, an award-winning festival film, as children's books including The North Star (Voted 47th in National Education Association's (NEA) Top 100 Book List), Sydney's Star, Judy Moody (Candlewick Press) which Peter has brought to life with his tea and ink-washed illustrations. Judy Blume chose Peter to bring her classic characters in the Fudge series to life. Nickelodeon/Sesame Workshop's Noggin network tapped Peter on the shoulder for two fables: Cecile & Her Very Own Universe and SwampDog. More films and books are on the way from Peter and his mission-fueled FableVision (www.fablevision.com) in the years ahead!
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