Best illustrated books all over the world
Vladimir Radunsky (1954–2018) was an artist, writer, and designer who never liked to stay in one style for long. He was born in Perm, grew up in Moscow, and studied art, design, and architecture before moving to New York in 1982, where he discovered the world of children’s books. He […]
Paul Rogers is an American illustrator and graphic designer best known for his bold, poster-like style that often draws on mid-20th-century design traditions. He studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and later worked in advertising and editorial illustration before moving more heavily into book projects. […]
Sean Qualls is an American illustrator and author of children’s books. He grew up in New Jersey and later moved to New York City, where he studied at Pratt Institute. His art is known for its layered, collage-like style that blends drawing, painting, and mixed media. Qualls often explores themes […]
Brian Pinkney (b. August 28, 1961) is an American illustrator of children’s books. He was born in Boston into a creative family — his father, Jerry Pinkney, was a celebrated illustrator, and his mother, Gloria Jean, was an author, milliner, and silversmith. Both parents kept studios at home, and Brian […]
Chris Raschka is an American author and illustrator of children’s books, known for his loose, expressive style and the way he often lets the pictures carry as much meaning as the words. Raschka often writes about feelings in a way that’s simple enough for children, but very true to life. […]
Maurice Sendak (1928-2012) was an American children’s writer, illustrator, producer, actor, and director. He was born in America to Polish immigrants. At the age of 12, he was deeply impressed by the animated film Fantasia and decided to become an illustrator. He wrote his first book in 1951. He received […]
Ingri d’Aulaire (1904-1980) and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire (1898-1986) were American children’s book writers and illustrators who worked primarily in collaboration with each other. Ingri Mortenson was born in Norway and drew as a child; her artistic abilities were highly praised by the famous Norwegian artist Harriet Backer. From the age […]
Ingri d’Aulaire (1904-1980) and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire (1898-1986) were American children’s book writers and illustrators who worked primarily in collaboration with each other. Edgar Parin, a Swiss-born artist, was born in Munich, the son of Italian portrait artist Gino Parin and talented artist and musician Ella Auler (he later took […]
Ed Emberley (born 1931) is an American artist and illustrator. Emberley was born in Malden, Massachusetts. He graduated from the Massachusetts School of Art in Boston, then studied at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1955, he married Barbara, a librarian and writer, with whom he collaborated on several […]
Nicholas Mordvinoff (1911-1973) was an American artist, caricaturist, and sculptor of Russian origin. Nicholas Mordvinoff was born in St. Petersburg. In 1918, after the Revolution, the family emigrated to Paris. There Nicholas studied at the Paris University of Painting and Drawing, after graduating he published his illustrations and drawings in […]
Viktor Aleksandrovich Chizhikov (1935-2020) was a Soviet artist and illustrator. He graduated from the Moscow Polygraphic Institute in 1958. He worked in the children’s magazines Murzilka, Vesyolye Kartinki, the humorous publication Krokodil and other periodicals. For many years he worked as an illustrator in the popular magazine Vokrug Sveta. Since […]
Esphyr Slobodkina (1908-2002) – avant-garde artist, illustrator. Esther was born in Chelyabinsk, a part of Siberia that, as she later wrote, “can be a wonderful place to spend your early childhood, especially if you are fortunate enough to have parents who can provide you with food, a good home, warm […]
Robert McCloskey (1914-2003) was an American author and illustrator of children’s books. McCloskey wrote and illustrated eight books, two of which won the Caldecott Medal, the prestigious American award for children’s illustrated literature. McCloskey was born in Hamilton, Ohio, and moved to Boston in 1932, where he attended the Vesper […]
Maud Fuller Petersham (1890-1971) and Miska Petersham (1888-1960) were American authors and illustrators of children’s books. Their work greatly influenced the development and formation of children’s illustrated books; in America, Maud and Miska Petersham are revered as classics of this genre today. They took part in the creation of more […]
Maud Fuller Petersham (1890-1971) and Miska Petersham (1888-1960) were American authors and illustrators of children’s books. Their work greatly influenced the development and formation of children’s illustrated books; in America, Maud and Miska Petersham are revered as classics of this genre today. They took part in the creation of more […]
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 […]
David Wiesner (born February 5, 1956) is an American illustrator and writer of children’s books, known best for picture books including some that tell stories without words. As an illustrator he has won three Caldecott Medals recognizing the year’s “most distinguished American picture book for children” and he was one […]
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 […]
Matthew Cordell is an American author and illustrator. He has illustrated many books for children including works of poetry, novels, and picture books including The Only Fish in the Sea by Philip C. Stead and the Justin Case series by Rachel Vail. He has written and illustrated several picture books […]
Berta Hoerner Hader (1890-1976) and Elmer Stanley Hader (1889-1973) were an American couple who illustrated more than seventy children’s books together, about half of which they wrote. They won the 1948 Caldecott Medal for The Big Snow, and were two Caldecott Award winners (in 1940 for Cock-a-doodle-doo and in 1944 […]