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Ursula Nordstrom
Ursula Nordstrom (February 2, 1910 – October 11, 1988) was publisher and editor-in-chief of juvenile books at Harper & Row from 1940 to 1973. She is credited with presiding over a transformation in children's literature in which morality tales written for adult approval gave way to works that instead appealed to children's imaginations and emotions. She also authored the 1960 children's book ''The Secret Language''. A collection of her correspondence was published in 1998, as ''Dear Genius: the Letters of Ursula Nordstrom''. Biography Early life Ursula Nordstrom was born in Manhattan on February 2, 1910 to Henry E. Dixey and Marie Nordstrom, vaudeville comedians, and grew up in New York City. She took business courses at The Scudder School for Girls in New York. Career Nordstrom was hired in 1936 as a clerk in the textbook department of Harper & Brothers, and later as an assistant in the Harper Books for Boys and Girls section for Louise Raymond. She was promoted to Harp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manhattan, New York
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state of New York. Located near the southern tip of New York State, Manhattan is based in the Eastern Time Zone and constitutes both the geographical and demographic center of the Northeast megalopolis and the urban core of the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass. Over 58 million people live within 250 miles of Manhattan, which serves as New York City’s economic and administrative center, cultural identifier, and the city’s historical birthplace. Manhattan has been described as the cultural, financial, media, and entertainment capital of the world, is considered a safe haven for global real estate investors, and hosts the United Nations headquarters. New York City is the headquarters of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harriet The Spy
''Harriet the Spy'' is a children's novel written and illustrated by Louise Fitzhugh that was published in 1964. It has been called "a milestone in children's literature" and a "classic". In the U.S., it ranked number 12 in the 50 Best Books for Kids and number 17 in the Top 100 Children's Novels on two lists generated in 2012. It was followed by two "companion books", the sequels, '' The Long Secret'' (1965) and ''Sport'' (1979). Plot summary Eleven-year-old Harriet M. Welsch is an aspiring writer who lives in New York City's Upper East Side. Encouraged by her nanny, "Ole Golly", Harriet observes others and writes her thoughts down in a notebook as practice for her future career. Several standalone episodes highlight the various eccentric characters she meets on her afternoon "spy route". Harriet's best friends are Simon "Sport" Rocque, a serious boy who wants to be a certified public accountant or a ball player, and Janie Gibbs, who wants to be a scientist. Harriet's enemies ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shel Silverstein
Sheldon Allan Silverstein (; September 25, 1930 – May 10, 1999) was an American writer, poet, cartoonist, singer / songwriter, musician, and playwright. Born and raised in Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, Silverstein briefly attended university before being drafted into the United States Army. Though perhaps best known for his children's books, Silverstein did not limit his audience to children. During his rise to prominence in the 1950s, his illustrations were published in various newspapers and magazines, notably the adult-oriented ''Playboy''. He also wrote a satirical, adult-oriented alphabet book, ''Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book'', under the stylized name "Uncle Shelby", which he used as an occasional pen name. As a children's author, some of his most acclaimed works include ''The Giving Tree'', ''Where the Sidewalk Ends'', and ''A Light in the Attic''. His works have been translated into more than 47 languages and have sold more than 20 million copies.Rogak, Lisa. ''A Boy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Karla Kuskin
Karla Kuskin (née Seidman) (July 17, 1932 – August 20, 2009) was a prolific American author, poet, illustrator, and reviewer of children's literature. Kuskin was known for her poetic, alliterative style. She sometimes wrote under the pseudonym Nicholas J. Charles. Kuskin reviewed children's literature in ''The New York Times Book Review''. Biography Born in 1932 in Manhattan, New York, Karla Seidman was the only child of Sidney and Mitzi Seidman, and was raised in Greenwich Village, New York City. She attended the Little Red School House, followed by Elisabeth Irwin High School. She then attended Antioch College in 1950–53, and transferred to Yale University where she studied with, among others, Josef Albers, Herbert Matter and Alvin Eisenman. She earned her B.F.A in graphic design in 1955 from Yale. Before working as a full-time author, she worked as an assistant to a fashion photographer, a design assistant, and in advertising. Her first book, ''Roar and More'' (Harp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Danny And The Dinosaur
''Danny and the Dinosaur'' is a children's picture book by Syd Hoff, first published by Harper & Brothers in 1958. It has sold over ten million copies and has been translated into a dozen languages. The book inspired six other sequels by Syd Hoff. ''Danny and the Dinosaur'' is designated as an I Can Read! Book. The idea for ''Danny and the Dinosaur'' came when Hoff began drawing for one of his daughters, who, at the time, was going through a physical therapy. The story spawned an animated short in 1990 by Weston Woods. Plot The story opens up with a young boy named Danny going to a science museum. He sees Indians, bears, Eskimos, guns, and swords. Finally, he immediately gets drawn to the dinosaur exhibit and would be delighted to find a living dinosaur. The dinosaurs in the dinosaur exhibit are really models and not real. Then he says he thinks it would be nice to play with one. One of the dinosaurs come up to Danny and says, "And I think it would be nice to play with you". B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Syd Hoff
Syd Hoff (September 4, 1912 – May 12, 2004) was an American cartoonist and children's book author, best known for his classic early reader '' Danny and the Dinosaur''. His cartoons appeared in a multitude of genres, including advertising commissions for such companies as Eveready Batteries, Jell-O, OK Used Cars, S.O.S Pads, Rambler, Ralston Cereal, and more. Biography Hoff was born in Bronx, New York. While he was still at high school, Milt Gross, a popular 1930s cartoonist, told him at an assembly, "Kid, someday you'll be a great cartoonist!"Syd Hoff:Autobiography Official Syd Hoff Website, retrieved May 10, 2021 At 16, he enrolled at the in New ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harold And The Purple Crayon
''Harold and the Purple Crayon'' is a 1955 children's book by Crockett Johnson. Published by Harper Collins Publishers, it is Johnson's most popular book, and has led to a series of other books, as well as many adaptations. Plot The protagonist, Harold, is a curious 4-year-old boy who, with his purple crayon, has the power to create a world of his own simply by drawing it. Harold wants to go for a walk in the moonlight, but there is no moon, so he draws one. He has nowhere to walk, so he draws a path. He has many adventures looking for his room, and in the end, he draws his own house and bed and goes to sleep. Book series *''Harold and the Purple Crayon'' (1955) *''Harold's Fairy Tale'' (1956) *''Harold's Trip to the Sky'' (1957) *''Harold at the North Pole'' (1958) *''Harold's Circus'' (1959) *''A Picture for Harold's Room'' (1960) *''Harold's ABC'' (1963) *''Harold and His Friends: A Harold and the Purple Crayon Treasury'' (2003) *''Adventures of Harold and His Friends'' (2005 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crockett Johnson
Crockett Johnson (October 20, 1906 – July 11, 1975) was the pen name of the American cartoonist and children's book illustrator David Johnson Leisk. He is best known for the comic strip ''Barnaby'' (1942–1952) and the ''Harold'' series of books, beginning with ''Harold and the Purple Crayon''. From 1965 until his death Johnson created over a hundred paintings relating to mathematics and mathematical physics. Eighty of these are found in the collections of the National Museum of American History. Biography Born in New York City, Johnson grew up in Corona, Queens, New York, attended PS 16 and Newtown High School. He studied art at Cooper Union in 1924, and at New York University in 1925."Harold, Barnaby, and Dave: A Biography of Crockett Johnson" Philip Nel. He explai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Goodnight Moon
''Goodnight Moon'' is an American children's book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. It was published on September 3, 1947, and is a highly acclaimed bedtime story. This book is the second in Brown and Hurd's "classic series", which also includes ''The Runaway Bunny'' and '' My World''. The three books have been published together as a collection titled ''Over the Moon''. Publication history Illustrator Clement Hurd said in 1983 that initially the book was to be published using the pseudonym "Memory Ambrose" for Brown, with his illustrations credited to "Hurricane Jones". ''Goodnight Moon'' had poor initial sales: only 6,000 copies were sold upon initial release in fall 1947. Anne Carroll Moore, the influential children's librarian at the New York Public Library (NYPL), regarded it as "overly sentimental". The NYPL and other libraries did not acquire it at first.Meagan Flynn"Who could hate 'Goodnight Moon'? This powerful New York librarian."''Th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charlotte's Web
''Charlotte's Web'' is a book of children's literature by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams; it was published on October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. The novel tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur is in danger of being Slaughterhouse, slaughtered by the farmer, Charlotte writes messages praising Wilbur such as "Some Pig" and "Humble" in her web in order to persuade the farmer to let him live. Written in White's dry, low-key manner, ''Charlotte's Web'' is considered a classic of children's literature, enjoyed by adults as well as children. The description of the experience of swinging on a rope swing at the farm is an often-cited example of rhythm in writing, as the pace of the sentences reflects the motion of the swing. In 2000, ''Publishers Weekly'' listed the book as the best-selling children's paperback of all time. ''Charlotte's Web'' was adapted into an Charlotte's We ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stuart Little
''Stuart Little'' is a 1945 American children's novel by E. B. White. It was White's first children's book, and it is now widely recognized as a classic in children's literature. ''Stuart Little'' was illustrated by the subsequently award-winning artist Garth Williams, also his first work for children. The book is a realistic yet fantastical story about a mouse-like human boy named Stuart Little. According to the first chapter, he looked very much like a mouse in every way. Background In a letter White wrote in response to inquiries from readers, he described how he came to conceive of Stuart Little: "Many years ago, I went to bed one night in a railway sleeping car, and during the night I dreamed about a tiny boy who acted rather like a rat. That's how the story of ''Stuart Little'' got started". He had the dream in the spring of 1926, while sleeping on a train on his way back to New York from a visit to the Shenandoah Valley. As Sims (2011) wrote that Stuart "arrived in hit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clement Hurd
Clement Gazzam Hurd (January 12, 1908 – February 5, 1988) was an American artist. He is known for illustrations of children's picture books, especially collaborations with writer Margaret Wise Brown including ''Goodnight Moon'' (1947) and ''The Runaway Bunny'' (1942). Biography Early life Hurd was born in New York City to Richard Melancthon Hurd, an economist and mortgage banker, and Lucy Gazzam Hurd. He was educated at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, then studied architecture at Yale University and painting with Fernand Léger in Paris. Career Hurd returned to New York in 1933 to work as a commercial artist. There Margaret Wise Brown was an editor at W. R. Scott, as well as a writer of picture book texts. On seeing two of his paintings, she asked him if he would consider illustrating children's books. She wrote a text herself, for what became ''Bumble Bugs and Elephants'' (1938) —"perhaps the first modern board book for babies." Hurd's next collaboration with B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
