Paul O. ZelinskyCaldecott-winning illustrator

Assignment # 11

SLIS 5505- Dr. Mayo

Rebekah Haithcock

Background

1953- Born in Evanston, ILAge 2- lived in Japan while his father

studied there (he was a mathematician), became fascinated with Geishas

Age 3- moved back to IL, lived near a construction site, began to draw Geisha on steam shovels

Age 4- work published in Highlights magazine

Childhood

Mother was a medical illustrator- he liked to look at her anatomy books and draw skeletons

School age- other children would crowd around to watch him draw, even when he intentionally draw “badly” to get them to go away

Favorite books: The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown, The Story of Ferdinand, The Tawny Scrawny Lion, The 21 Balloons, The Fantastic Flight, books by William Pene de Bois

Finding his way

High school- illustrated stories being read in English class and friends’ poems, took up printmaking, etched linoleum cuts

At Yale- Natural History major, took a class taught by Maurice Sendak (his first) on the history and practice of children’s books his sophomore year

Grad school- Tyler school of art in Philadelphia and Rome, inspired by Renaissance and Italian art

Beginnings

Collaborated on a work in grad school which was bought, but never published because the publisher was bought out by another one

First publication- illustrated Avi’s Emily Upham’s Revenge

Caldecott books

First Caldecott honor award- Hansel and Gretel, patterned after 17th century paintings (Steen, etc) and a painting his great-grandmother did

Second Caldecott honor- Rumplestiltskin- was going for a museum quality, old-masters, folk art feel

Third Caldecott honor- Swamp Angel- Primitive-style oil paintings on superthin cherry, maple, and birch veneers to capture the folksy feel of life in 19th century Tennessee

Fourth- Caldecott medal! For Rapunzel Most popular book- Wheels on the bus

Rapunzel

Zelinsky took details of architecture and dress from the paintings of Rembrandt, Masaccio, and Raphael.

Started with a fast drying watercolor underpainting, sealed with a coat of clear matte acrylic medium (which keeps oil paint from seeping in and becoming dull), then paints with oil on top.

Texture is rich, brush strokes soft

Why did he win?

The Caldecott medal goes to the artist of the most distinguished picture book for children.

In describing Zelinsky's work, 1998 Caldecott Committee chair John Stewig said, "Richly detailed oil paintings convey dramatic emotions and feature distinctive architecture, lush landscapes and authentic costuming of Renaissance Italy. Classically beautiful illustrations portray this complex love story which can be appreciated on many levels and by all ages."

Style

Is known for not really having a style! Versatile Experimental “I’ve recently decided that I should be

recognized by my unrecognizability.” quoted in Detroit Free Press profile

“I try to make the book talk, as it talks to me, and not worry whether it is my style or not… I get a kick out of doing each book differently.” Interview in Horn Book

Bibliography

Avi, Emily Upham's Revenge; or, How Deadwood Dick Saved the Banker's Niece: A Massachusetts Adventure, Pantheon (New York, NY), 1978.

Boris Zhitkov, How I Hunted the Little Fellows, translated from the Russian by Djemma Bider, Dodd (New York, NY), 1979.

Avi, The History of Helpless Harry: To Which Is Added a Variety of Amusing and Entertaining Adventures, Pantheon (New York, NY), 1980.

Winifred Rosen, Three Romances: Love Stories from Camelot Retold, Knopf (New York, NY), 1981.

(Adapter) The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-shaped House: A Story in Rhyme, Dodd (New York, NY), 1981.

Naomi Lazard, What Amanda Saw, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1981. Beverly Cleary, Ralph S. Mouse (also see below), Morrow (New York, NY), 1982. Mirra Ginsburg, adapter, The Sun's Asleep behind the Hill, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1982,

reprinted, Walker Books (New York, NY), 2000. York, NY), 1982, reprinted, Walker Books (New York, NY), 2000. David Kherdian, The Song in the Walnut Grove, Knopf (New York, NY), 1982. Rika Lesser, Etruscan Things (poetry), Braziller (New York, NY), 1983. Beverly Cleary, Dear Mr. Henshaw, Morrow (New York, NY), 1983. Jack Prelutsky, Zoo Doings: Animal Poems, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1983. The Lion and the Stoat, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 1984. Rika Lesser, reteller, Hansel and Gretel, Dodd (New York, NY), 1984.

Bibliography continued

Lore Segal, The Story of Mrs. Lovewright and Purrless Her Cat, Knopf (New York, NY), 1985. (Reteller) Rumpelstiltskin, Dutton (New York, NY), 1986. Pamela Pollock, editor, The Random House Book of Humor for Children, Random House (New

York, NY), 1988. (Adapter) The Wheels on the Bus, Dutton (New York, NY), 1990, tenth anniversary edition,

Dutton (New York, NY), 2000. Beverly Cleary, Strider, Morrow (New York, NY), 1991. E. Nesbit, The Enchanted Castle, Morrow (New York, NY), 1992. Carl Sandburg, More Rootabagas, Knopf (New York, NY), 1993. Anne Isaacs, Swamp Angel, Dutton (New York, NY), 1994. (Reteller) Rapunzel, Dutton (New York, NY), 1997. E. Nesbit, Five Children and It, Morrow (New York, NY), 1999. Jack Prelutsky, Awful Ogre's Awful Day, Greenwillow Books (New York, NY), 2000. (With others) Beverly Cleary, The Mouse Collection: The Mouse and the Motorcyle/Runaway

Ralph/Ralph S. Mouse, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2001. (Adapter) Knick-Knack Paddywhack: A Moving Parts Book, Dutton (New York, NY), 2002. Rita Golden Gelman, Doodler Doodling, Greenwillow (New York, NY), 2003. Emily Jenkins, Toys Go Out, Schwartz & Wade (2006). Fran Manuschkin, The shivers in the fridge, Dutton (2006). Emily Jenkins, Toy Dance party, Schwartz& Wade (2008). Jack Prelutsky, Awful Ogre Running Wild, Greenwillow (2008). Anne Isaacs, Dust Devil, Schwartz & Wade (2010).

Awards

Best Books Award, School Library Journal, 1979, for How I Hunted the Little Fellows, 1981, for The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-shaped House: A Story in Rhyme, 1982, for Ralph S. Mouse, and 1986, for Rumpelstiltskin; American Institute of Graphic Arts Book Show selection, 1980, for How I Hunted the Little Fellows, and 1982, for The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-shaped House; Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year Award, New York Times, 1981, for The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-shaped House, and 1985, for The Story of Mrs. Lovewright and Purrless Her Cat; Society of Illustrators Show selection, 1982, for Three Romances, and 1986, for Rumpelstiltskin; Children's Choice Award, International Reading Association, 1982, for The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-shaped House; Bratislava Biennale selection, International Board on Books for Young People, c. 1983, for The Sun's Asleep beyond the Hill, 1987, for Rumpelstiltskin, and 1989 and 1991; Parents' Choice Award, Parents' Choice Foundation, 1984, for The Lion and the Stoat, 1985, for The Story of Mrs. Lovewright and Purrless Her Cat, 1986, for Rumpelstiltskin, and 1990, for Hansel and Gretel; "Graphic Gallery" outstanding picture book selection, Horn Book, 1984, for The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-shaped House; America's Children's Books of the Year Award, Child Study Association, 1985, for The Story of Mrs. Lovewright and Purrless Her Cat; Caldecott Honor Book Award, and Bologna International Children's Book Fair exhibition selection, both 1985, both for Hansel and Gretel; Ten Best Children's Books Award, Redbook, 1986, Caldecott Honor Book Award, 1987, and White Raven Book Award, International Youth Library, all for Rumpelstiltskin; Parents' Choice Picture Book award, Reading Magic Award, and Redbook award, all 1990, all for The Wheels on the Bus; Best Illustrated Book of the Year award, New York Times, and Best Books designation, Publishers Weekly, both 1994, and Caldecott Honor Book Award, 1995, all for Swamp Angel; Caldecott Medal, 1998, and Notable Books selection, American Library Association, 1998, both for Rapunzel; Best Illustrated Book of the Year award, New York Times, 2001, for Awful Ogre's Awful Day, and 2002, for Knick-Knack Paddywhack.

Websites consulted

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/1998caldecott.cfm

http://lookingglassreview.com/html/paul_o__zelinsky.html

http://biography.jrank.org/pages/976/Zelinsky-Paul-O-1953.html

Paul O. Zelinsky (1953-) Biography - Personal, Addresses, Career, Member, Honors Awards, Writings, Sidelights - Book, York, Review, Children, Books, and Rapunzel http://biography.jrank.org/pages/976/Zelinsky-Paul-O-1953.html#ixzz1IfQ5UmNs

Books consulted

Cummings, P., ed. Talking with artists: volume 3. Clarion: NY (1999).

Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children about Their Art. Philomel: New York

Changes in style? You decide.