Leonard Weisgard

Leonard Weisgard (1916–2000) was an American illustrator and author of children’s books. Born on December 13, 1916, in New Haven, Connecticut, he spent part of his childhood in England before returning to the United States. Weisgard studied at the Pratt Institute and began publishing illustrations in magazines while still a student.

Over the course of his career, he illustrated more than 200 books, working with many prominent authors, though his partnership with Margaret Wise Brown was the most celebrated. Together they created some of the iconic titles of mid-century American picture books, including The Noisy Book series and The Little Fur Family. Weisgard received the Caldecott Medal in 1947 for his illustrations for The Little Island, written by Brown under the pseudonym Golden MacDonald.

Known for his experimentation with artistic techniques, Weisgard used collage, gouache, lithography, and bold color palettes that helped modernize American picture book illustration in the 1940s and 1950s.

In the late 1960s, he moved to Denmark, where he continued to work until his death on January 14, 2000.

Instagram | instagram.com/leonard_weisgard
Website | leonardweisgard.com
Amazon | Leonard Weisgard


Books

Who dreams of cheese

Who dreams of cheese?

Who Dreams of Cheese? is a picture book built around simple riddles about what different animals might dream of. Each riddle becomes an entry point into a small dream world, and the reading experience turns into a journey through shifting moods and images. Weisgard uses a warm palette, soft transitions, […]

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

Leonard Weisgard’s 1949 edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass is one of those rare encounters with a classic that feels both familiar and completely new. His illustrations, bold and textured, bring a distinctly mid-century sensibility to Carroll’s world — a mix of graphic clarity and imaginative […]

Look at the Moon

Look at the Moon

In Look at the Moon, Leonard Weisgard uses collagraph, a layered printmaking technique in which a collage is inked, pressed, and then hand-colored to create images that feel rich, textured, and vivid. The visual result is striking: depth and detail emerge from what might otherwise seem simple, turning each page […]

The Little Island

The Little Island

The Little Island is a classic picture book written by Margaret Wise Brown under the pseudonym Golden MacDonald and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard. Released in 1946, it won the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1947. The story centers on a small island in the ocean and the creatures that inhabit […]

«Secret river» of Leonard Weisgard

Secret river

«Secret River», illustrated by Leonard Weisgard, was first published in 1955, after the death of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. The story follows a girl named Calpurnia from a poor family, who, during the Great Depression, sets out with her puppy in search of a mysterious river to help feed her village. […]

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