Fred Marcellino (1939–2001) was an American illustrator and author of children’s books.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Marcellino began his career as a painter working in the field of abstract expressionism. He studied in Venice on a Fulbright scholarship, and after returning to the United States, turned to design and illustration. Early in his career, he created album covers for artists such as Loretta Lynn, Manhattan Transfer, and Fleetwood Mac.
Marcellino entered the world of book illustration in 1974, and by the mid-1980s had become deeply involved in children’s literature. His first full-color picture book, Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault, earned him a Caldecott Honor in 1991. Many of his other works — including The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Wainscott Weasel, The Pelican Chorus and Other Nonsense, and The Story of Little Babaji — received numerous awards and critical acclaim.
Fred Marcellino had a profound influence on the development of modern children’s book illustration. Publisher Nan Talese once said that in a single picture, Marcellino could capture the full range of emotions and the entire spirit of a book.
Website | fredmarcellino.com
Amazon | Fred Marcellino
Charles Perrault’s Puss in Boots has attracted generations of illustrators since its first publication in 1697 — and yet Fred Marcellino’s version still feels completely new. His cover alone breaks every convention: a witty feline face dressed in Renaissance finery stares straight at the viewer, without a single word of […]
