Throughout the month of March, Moraine Park volunteers traveled to several local elementary schools to donate books written and illustrated by Grant Maniér, an MPTC Graphic Communications student, author, artist, and special needs advocate.
The books are part of his Grant the Jigsaw Giraffe and Friends book series. There are currently six books in the collection. The newest book, GRANT The Eco-Friendly Artist, celebrates Maniér’s passion for creating eco-art. Other topics include dyslexia, the autism spectrum, childhood cancer, the pandemic and more.
Maniér, originally from Houston, TX, is a passionate eco-artist and children’s book illustrator.
“An eco-artist is not a normal artist,” Maniér said. “Being an eco-artist is taking recycled materials like paper from magazines, discarded puzzles, old calendars and wallpaper, and turning them into something beautiful. If it is recyclable, I can create eco-art out of it.”
When people would ask about Jigsaw Grant and Maniér’s other art pieces, Julie Coy, Grant’s mom, made-up stories about who the characters were and where they came from. Eventually, she started writing them down, and that is how Grant the Jigsaw Giraffe children’s book series was brought to life.
“I have come to know a lot of people and make many friends who have different challenges or disabilities,” Maniér said. “We figured if we talked about them in a children’s book format, we could help teach people from an early age about disabilities and how they can support people with differences.”
Learn more about Grant’s journey: morainepark.edu/today/a-passion-for-eco-art/.
