Joseph Rudyard Kipling (30 Dec 1865 - 18 Jan 1936) died in England at the age of 70, the most famous and highly paid writer of his time. Born to Victorian parents who named him after Staffordshire's Rudyard Lake, Kipling split his boyhood between the markets of Bombay India and an abusive English foster home. His life of travel and tragedy led to two near nervous breakdowns, but made his creative work accessible to both the aristocracy and the everyman.
Children's Book Week is the perfect time to explore the lives of the authors, illustrators, and publishers who've played a key role in the history of children's literature. In Part 1, we looked at contributors like Noah Webster, Samuel Goodwin, and even John Locke. Today, discover more prominent figures in children's literature...
This year, May 13-19 is Children's Book Week. The event is a celebration of children's literature and a reminder that books for children play a vital role in education and literacy. But children's books are a relatively new addition to the world of literature. Here's a look at some of the people who contributed to the rich tradition of children's books and literature that exists today.
This week we celebrate the life-changing power of books and literacy with Children's Book Week. Since 1916, Children's Book Week has taken various forms, but its mission has stayed the same: to promote excellence in children's books.
Born in Johannesburg in 1966 and raised in Vancouver, Charles van Sandwyk began selling his drawings and watercolors in the early 1980's. In 1986, he won the Alcan Award for his limited edition book A Selection of Neighbourly Birds. The book, illustrated with etchings printed on an antique intaglio press, was his first venture into the world of handmade books.
Today we celebrate the birthday of legendary author William Shakespeare, whose works have inspired countless generations of readers and writers. Shakespeare has been adapted innumerable times for various editions and performances, but a perennial favorite among rare book collectors is Tales from Shakespeare (originally published in 1807) by Charles and Mary Lamb. The pair sought to make Shakespeare truly accessible to children through this work.
Born on March 22, 1846, Randolph Caldecott is best known for his namesake, the Caldecott Medal. Though he's now best known as an illustrator of children's books, Caldecott actually had a wide ranging career. His illustrations depicted foreign travel, high society, and Houses of Parliament. His paintings and sculptures found their way to the Royal Academy.
Today we celebrate the birthday of Daniel Handler, who is perhaps better known by his pseudonym, Lemony Snicket. The American author became an international sensation thanks to his 13-book Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.Handler was born on February 28, 1970 in San Francisco, California.
Randolph Caldecott, the namesake of the Caldecott Medal, started his career as a banker. Yet he was always sketching the buildings and landscapes that surrounded him. In 1861, Caldecott had his first drawing published in the Illustrated London News. After more of his work appeared in both local and London publications, Caldecott finally took the plunge and moved to London to make a life for himself as an artist.
Clement Clarke Moore forever changed our Christmas traditions with his iconic poem, A Visit from St Nicholas, now better known as The Night before Christmas. Thanks to Moore, Christmas became a more child-centered holiday, with gifts and goodies for the younger generation.
