NORMAL - Glenn Elementary School third-grader Nathaniel Jahiel figures he spends nearly a half hour each day drawing.

So, he was glad for a school visit Friday from children's book illustrator Christopher Canyon - best-known for his adaptations of John Denver folksy classics such as - "Sunshine On My Shoulders," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

"I thought that was cool how he made the paintings look like a quilt," said Nathaniel, after hearing Canyon describe the creative process that led to the detailed rolling hills pictured in "Take Me Home" and its West Virginia landscape.

The Columbus, Ohio, artist projected images from his works on a screen for students assembled in the gym. He also talked about how he researches and brainstorms for his works.

Glenn students weren't strangers to his work. They've been reading his books and hearing CDS that go along through Jacque Bethmann, who leads classes in Glenn's Instructional Materials Center, where today's students get combined student library and technology learning.

Having a famous illustrator visit the school is inspiring to children, said Bethmann. "Its important children see these people are real, that they can see maybe they can do this," she added.

Canyon drew cheers when he pulled out a guitar and led a karaoke-style sing-along to a Denver tune, with Kindergarten teacher Donna Matlock changing each screen by remote control.

Matlock's student, Megan Wallace, 5, is a huge Canyon fan, said Megan's mom Elizabeth Wallace. She and Megan's grandmother, along with some other students' families, watched Canyon Friday.

St. Mary's School preschoolers' Sarah Stephens and Lillian Ridinger, both 5, came as guests of Lillian's older brother Glenn kindergartener Justin Ridinger.

Lillian liked when Canyon sang best, she said.

Besides his published works, Canyon offered the group a sneak peak at cover art for his upcoming book, based on Denver's "Grandma's Feather Bed."

A folk singer whose star rose highest in the 1970s, Denver died in 1997. Aileen Blomgren, the Glenn school secretary, counts herself among fans. She even attends an annual Aspen, Colo.-festival celebrating the singer. This fall will be her 10th visit. It's that festival where she first crossed paths with Canyon, as he unveiled each Denver-tied picture book.

"Every year, I'd have him sign a copy dedicated to Glenn School, and I'd bring it back," said Blomgren. She's worked two years to bring Canyon to visit the Normal school.

Showing children how picture books are created is a great way to teach artistic composition in its varying forms, Canyon said.

Add to that a picture book that includes words from a song and it brings even another layer, he said.

For a green tree viper native to Australia, he sketched and painted a Columbus Zoo resident. For "Stickeen," based on John Muir's accounts, he visited Alaskan glaciers to learn how to draw them, he said.

He also showed the youngsters photographs of his home studio in Ohio, and a drawing board he purchased in fourth grade - a $10 yard-sale buy he cherishes, he told them.

To create a realistic painting of a squirrel annoyed by a woodpecker in "The Tree In the Ancient Forest," he spent time in his yard - with a camera and journal, he told the kids.

"It takes time to do research. You have to be patient," he added.

Fifth-grader Peyton Hicks related to the naturalist in Canyon. "My dad is a photographer and sometimes I like to draw the animals he takes pictures of," she said.

Peyton said Canyon helped her understand the steps of illustrating a book. "You could actually get a picture of how he did his work," she said

Nathaniel liked the idea of combining interests in art and music. A big fan The Beatles, he thought it might be fun to illustrate "Hey Jude."

"Maybe show someone playing a piano," he said, the wheels turning.

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Creative endeavors

Children's book illustrator Christopher Canyon has worked on:

- Adaptations of John Denver songs including "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Ancient Rhymes: A Dolphin Lullaby," and "Grandma's Feather Bed" (2003-present).

- Earth series of "Earth and Me, Our Family Tree: Nature's Creatures," "Earth and Us, Continuous: Nature's Past & Future," and "Earth and You, A Closer View: Nature's Features" (2001 and 2002).

- "Stickeen," John Muir and the Brave Little Dog (1998).

- "Grand Canyon (1997).

- "Wonderful Nature, Wonderful You" (1996).

- "The Tree in the Ancient Forest" (1995).

- "The Ever-Living Tree" (1994).

SOURCES: Christopher Canyon; Dawn Publication Web site

Compiled by Michele Steinbacher