Thomas Handforth

Thomas Handforth (1897–1948) was an American artist and printmaker. He studied painting at the University of Washington and at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in France. He traveled extensively throughout France, China, North Africa, India, and Mexico. He is best known as the author and illustrator of Mei Li, a book based on his personal experiences in China; it is the story of a Chinese girl who escapes the traditional tragic fate of her native country. The book won the 1939 Caldecott Medal, the prestigious American award for children’s book illustration.