Ed Young (illustrator)
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Ed Tse-chun Young (; born November 28, 1931) is a Chinese-born American illustrator and writer of children's picture books. He won one Caldecott Medal for the year's best American picture book and for his lifetime contribution as a children's illustrator he was twice the U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award.


Biography

Ed Young was born on November 28, 1931 in
Tianjin Tianjin (; ; Mandarin: ), alternately romanized as Tientsin (), is a municipality and a coastal metropolis in Northern China on the shore of the Bohai Sea. It is one of the nine national central cities in Mainland China, with a total popul ...
, China. When he was three years old, he and his family moved to Shanghai. His mother would ring a bell at mealtimes, and he would slide down the banister with his brothers and sisters. "I have never lost the child in me. My father would spin endless tales of his own to entertain our imaginations on summer nights lying on the flat roof of our house. I have never forgotten the images I saw in my mind." From an early age, Ed loved to create stories and draw pictures and thought he could "disappear" into his own world, brought to life through his illustrations. In 1951, Young came to the U.S. to study architecture. Instead, he grew more interested in art, and soon switched his major. Young's first job was with a New York advertising agency where he spent his lunch breaks sketching animals at
Central Park Zoo The Central Park Zoo is a zoo located at the southeast corner of Central Park in New York City. It is part of an integrated system of four zoos and one aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). In conjunction with the Central ...
. During that time, he received a letter from his father which said, "A successful life and a happy life is one measured by how much you have accomplished for others and not one measured by how much you have done for yourself." According to Young, "I understood then that to realize my potential as an artist was subservient to my worth as a human being. To be truly successful, I needed to find a place where my work would also inspire others to fuller and happier lives. I wished to share with everyone my father's words about success – work can, in fact, be the rooftop from which we launch ourselves to higher places." In search of something more expansive, expressive, and timeless, Young discovered all this, and more, in children's books.


Work

Young's first book, ''The Mean Mouse and Other Mean Stories'', was published by Harper & Row in 1962. He expected it to be his first and last book, but it won an American Institute of Graphic Arts award and launched a career that has resulted in almost one hundred books for children. Most of his books are visual masterpieces using colors and images to convey hidden symbolism. His meticulously rendered works have utilized pencil, pastel, cut paper, collage, ink, photographs, and found materials.
"A Chinese painting is often accompanied by words. They are complementary. There are things that words do that pictures never can, and likewise, there are images that words can never describe. I feel the story has to be an exciting and moving experience for a child. Before I am involved with a project, I must be moved, and, as I grow, I try to create something exciting. It is my purpose to stimulate growth in the reader as an active participant. To get the story across for me, mostly it's the feeling. I think that if the book evokes a reaction of some sort, either positive or negative, I think it would have done what it is supposed to do."
The subject and style of each story provide Young with the initial inspiration for his art and with the motivation for design, sequence, and pace. Accuracy in research is essential to his work, too – whether he is illustrating fantasy, folk tale, or fact. According to Young, a strong foundation of credibility must be established in order to create new and exciting images. Through such images, he hopes to capture his readers and ultimately expand their awareness. Young won the 1990
Caldecott Medal The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...
for illustrating '' Lon Po Po'', his version of a Red-Riding Hood story from China. The annual award from the
American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members a ...
recognizes the previous year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". He has also been a runner-up twice (two Honor Books), for ''
The Emperor and the Kite ''The Emperor and the Kite'', written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Ed Young, is a 1967 picture book. ''The Emperor and the Kite'' was a Caldecott Medal Honor Book for 1968 and was Young's first Caldecott Honor Medal of a total of three durin ...
'' and '' Seven Blind Mice''. For his lifetime contribution as a children's illustrator, he was U.S. nominee in both 1992 and 2000 for the biennial, international
Hans Christian Andersen Award The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...
, the highest international recognition available to creators of children's books. In 2016, Young was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award (Contemporary) from the Society of Illustrators. According to Young, "Producing a book becomes part of the spirit of each person who touched it and those who'd touched them." During a Horn Book acceptance speech, Young spoke about the 'Eight Matters of the Heart', the place where he said that he puts his mind before he does his work (for more information, read Young's book, ''Voices of the Heart''.) When asked to elaborate, he said, "We put ourselves in jeopardy in life if we don't have our mind and body in the right place. The eight matters must accompany me wherever I tread so that I know the time that I have in this world is well spent."


Exhibits

Young's original art for his books has been the subject of exhibits such as "Journey Without End" at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature in Abiline, Texas (2011–2012). He has participated in many group shows such as the Michaelson Gallery's Children’s Illustration Celebration.


T'ai chi

In 1964, Young met the renowned
t'ai chi Tai chi (), short for Tai chi ch'üan ( zh, s=太极拳, t=太極拳, first=t, p=Tàijíquán, labels=no), sometimes called " shadowboxing", is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for defense training, health benefits and meditation. ...
master,
Cheng Man-ch'ing Cheng Man-ch'ing or Zheng Manqing (29 July 1902 - 26 March 1975) was a notable Chinese expert of t'ai chi ch'uan, Chinese medicine, and the so-called three perfections: calligraphy, painting and poetry. He was born in Yongjia (present-day Wen ...
. He became one of Cheng's top disciples in America, and was one of his two principal translators. Besides being a master of t'ai chi and Chinese medicine, Cheng was a highly respected master of Chinese painting, poetry and calligraphy. Being Chinese and an artist, Young was able to appreciate and absorb much of what Cheng had to say in those fields. Young is now a respected t'ai chi master in his own right, and has been teaching t'ai chi students for over three decades. He also enjoys swimming and says that his favorite sound is the sound of waves lapping the shore.


Awards and honors

Young has received over fifty awards and honors for his work, among them: *
Caldecott Medal The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...
: ''Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China'' 1990 *
Caldecott Honor The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...
: ''The Emperor and the Kite'' 1967 *
Caldecott Honor The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...
: ''Seven Blind Mice'' 1992 *
Hans Christian Andersen Award The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...
U.S. nominee 1992 and 2000 *
Mazza Medallion of Excellence for Artistic Diversity Mazza is a surname of Italian origin. Notable people with the surname include: * Aldo Mazza, Italian drummer * Benedetta Mazza (born 1989), Italian beauty queen, actress, television presenter and model * Bruno Mazza, Italian footballer * Chris M ...
: 2002 *
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards are a set of American literary awards conferred by ''The Boston Globe'' and ''The Horn Book Magazine'' annually from 1967. One book is recognized in each of four categories: Fiction and Poetry, Nonfiction, and P ...
- Nonfiction: ''The Double Life of Pocahontas'' 1984 *
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards are a set of American literary awards conferred by ''The Boston Globe'' and ''The Horn Book Magazine'' annually from 1967. One book is recognized in each of four categories: Fiction and Poetry, Nonfiction, and P ...
- Picture book: ''Seven Blind Mice'' 1992 *
Boston Globe–Horn Book Award The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards are a set of American literary awards conferred by ''The Boston Globe'' and ''The Horn Book Magazine'' annually from 1967. One book is recognized in each of four categories: Fiction and Poetry, Nonfiction, and P ...
- Picture book: ''Lon Po Po'' 1990 * Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor - Picture book: ''Yeh Shen'' 1983 *
Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature The Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature (APAAL) are a set of literary awards presented annually by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA). The APALA was formed in 1980 "to create an organization that would address the n ...
- Picture book: ''Wabi Sabi'' 2008-2009 *
Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature The Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature (APAAL) are a set of literary awards presented annually by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA). The APALA was formed in 1980 "to create an organization that would address the n ...
- Picture book: ''The House Baba Built: An Artist's Childhood in China'' 2011-2012 * Washington Irving Children's Choice Book Award: ''Pinocchio'' 1997, ''The Hunter'' 2000 *
Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...
Best Illustrated Books selection: ''The House Baba Built'' 2011 *
Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...
Best Illustrated Books selection: ''Nighttime Ninja'', 2012 * Children's Book Council Children's Choice Award: ''Nighttime Ninja'' 2013 *
Society of Illustrators The Society of Illustrators is a professional society based in New York City. It was founded in 1901 to promote the art of illustration and, since 1959, has held an annual exhibition. History Founding The Society of Illustrators was founded on ...
Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 * ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' Best Illustrated Books 2016: ''Cat From Hunger Mountain'' *
Eric Carle Museum The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is a museum devoted to the art of the picture book and especially the children's book. It is a member of Museums10 and is adjacent to the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Carle wa ...
Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 Young's books have received the ALA Notable, Junior Library Guild, Parents' Choice, New York Times' Best Illustrated, Publishers Weekly Best Illustrated, and Boston Globe Horn Book Honors, among others. Many of his books have been translated into other languages.


Works


Self-Illustrated; for children

*(With Hilary Beckett) ''The Rooster's Horns: A Chinese Puppet Play to Make and Perform'', 1978. *(Reteller) ''The Terrible Nung Gwama: A Chinese Folktale'', 1978. *(Adaptor) ''The Lion and the Mouse: An Aesop Fable'', 1979. *''High on a Hill: A Book of Chinese Riddles'', 1980. *''Up a Tree'', 1983. *''The Other Bone'', 1984. *(Translator) ''Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China'', 1989. *(Reteller) ''Seven Blind Mice'', 1992 (a version of ''The Blind men and an elephant''). *(Reteller) ''Moon Mother: A Narrative American Creation Tale'', 1993. *(Reteller) ''Red Thread'', 1993. *(Reteller) ''Little Plum'', 1994. *(Reteller) ''Donkey Trouble'', 1995. *(Adaptor) ''Pinocchio'', 1995. *(Reteller) ''Night Visitors'', 1995. *''Cat and
Rat Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ''Rattus''. Other rat genera include ''Neotoma'' ( pack rats), ''Bandicota'' (bandicoot ...
: The Legend of the
Chinese zodiac The Chinese zodiac is a traditional classification scheme based on the lunar calendar that assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle. Originating from China, the zodiac and its variations remain ...
'', 1995. *(Reteller) ''Mouse Match: A Chinese Folktale'', 1997 (a version of
The Mouse Turned into a Maid The Mouse Turned into a Maid is an ancient fable of Indian origin that travelled westwards to Europe during the Middle Ages and also exists in the Far East. The story is Aarne-Thompson type 2031C in his list of cumulative tales, another example o ...
). *(Adaptor) ''Genesis'', 1997. *''Voices of the Heart'', 1997. *(Reteller) ''The Lost Horse: A Chinese Folktale'', 1998. *''Monkey King'', 2001. *''What About Me?'', 2002. *''I, Doko: The Tale of the Basket'', 2004. *''Sons of the Dragon King'', 2004. *''Beyond the Great Mountains'', 2005. *''My Mei Mei'', 2006. *''Tiger of the Snows'', 2006. *''Hook'', 2009. *''The House Baba Built'', 2011. *''Should You Be a River'', 2015. *''Cat From Hunger Mountain'', 2016. *''Voices of the Heart'', 2019. (New edition). *''(Reteller, with Stephen Cowan)The Weather’s Bet'', 2020 (a version of
Aesop Aesop ( or ; , ; c. 620–564 BCE) was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as ''Aesop's Fables''. Although his existence remains unclear and no writings by him survive, numerous tales cre ...
The Wind and the Sun).


Illustrator

*
Janice May Udry Janice May Udry (born 1928) is an American author. She was born in Jacksonville, Illinois and graduated from Northwestern University in 1950. Her first book, '' A Tree is Nice'', was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1957 for Marc Simont's illustrat ...
, ''The Mean Mouse and Other Mean Stories'', 1962. *Leland B. Jacobs and Sally Nohelty, editors, ''Poetry for Young Scientists'', 1964. *
Margaret Hillert Margaret Hillert (January 22, 1920 – October 11, 2014) was an American author, poet and educator. Hillert, a lifelong resident of the state of Michigan, was known for her children's literature, having written over eighty books for beginning re ...
, ''The Yellow Boat'', 1966. *
Jane Yolen Jane Hyatt Yolen (born February 11, 1939) is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, and children's books. She is the author or editor of more than 350 books, of which the best known is '' The Devil's Arithmetic'', a Holocaust novella. H ...
, ''The Emperor and the Kite'', 1967. *Robert Wyndam, editor, ''Chinese Mother Goose Rhymes'', 1968. *Kermit Krueger, ''The Golden Swans: A Picture Story from Thailand'', 1969. *Mel Evans, ''The Tiniest Sound'', 1969. *
Jane Yolen Jane Hyatt Yolen (born February 11, 1939) is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, and children's books. She is the author or editor of more than 350 books, of which the best known is '' The Devil's Arithmetic'', a Holocaust novella. H ...
, ''The Seventh Mandarin'', 1970. *Renee K. Weiss, ''The Bird from the Sea'', 1970. *
Diane Wolkstein Diane Wolkstein (November 11, 1942 – January 31, 2013) was a folklorist and author of children's books. She was New York City's official storyteller from 1967 to 1971. Biography As New York's official storyteller beginning in 1967, Wolkstein visi ...
, ''Eight Thousand Stones: A Chinese Folktale'', 1972. *Jane Yolen, ''The Girl Who Loved the Wind'', 1972. *L. C. Hunt, editor, ''The Horse from Nowhere'', 1973. *Donnarae MacCann and Olga Richard, ''The Child's First Books'', 1973. *
Elizabeth Foreman Lewis Elizabeth Foreman Lewis (May 24, 1892 – August 7, 1958) was an American children's writer. She received the Newbery Award and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Early years and education Elizabeth Foreman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, May 24, 18 ...
, ''
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze ''Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze'' is a book by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis that won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1933. The story revolves around Fu Yuin-fah, the son of a widow from the countryside of western C ...
'', 1973. *
Diane Wolkstein Diane Wolkstein (November 11, 1942 – January 31, 2013) was a folklorist and author of children's books. She was New York City's official storyteller from 1967 to 1971. Biography As New York's official storyteller beginning in 1967, Wolkstein visi ...
, ''The Red Lion: A Tale of Ancient Persia'', 1977. * Feenie Ziner, ''Cricket Boy: A Chinese Tale'', 1977. *N. J. Dawood, ''Tales from the Arabian Nights'', 1978. *
Diane Wolkstein Diane Wolkstein (November 11, 1942 – January 31, 2013) was a folklorist and author of children's books. She was New York City's official storyteller from 1967 to 1971. Biography As New York's official storyteller beginning in 1967, Wolkstein visi ...
, ''White Wave: A Chinese Tale'', 1979. *Priscilla Jaquith, ''Bo Rabbit Smart for True: Folktales from the Gullah'', 1981. *Al-Ling Louie, ''Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China'', 1982. *Mary Scioscia, ''Bicycle Rider'', 1983. *Rafe Martin, ''Foolish Rabbit's Big Mistake'', 1985. *
Jean Fritz Jean Guttery Fritz (November 16, 1915 – May 14, 2017) was an American children's writer best known for American biography and history. She won the Children's Legacy Literature Award for her career contribution to American children's literature ...
, ''The Double Life of Pocahontas'', 1985. *Margaret Leaf, ''Eyes of the Dragon'', 1987. *James Howe, ''I Wish I Were a Butterfly'', 1987. *Tony Johnston, ''Whale Song'', 1987. *Richard Lewis, ''In the Night, Still Dark'', 1988. *Nancy Larrick, editor, ''Cats Are Cats'', 1988. *
Robert Frost Robert Lee Frost (March26, 1874January29, 1963) was an American poet. His work was initially published in England before it was published in the United States. Known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloq ...
, ''Birches'', 1988. *
Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...
, ''The Happy Prince'', 1989. *Lafcadio Hearn, ''The Voice of the Great Bell, retold by Margaret Hodges'', 1989. *Ruth Y. Radin, ''High in the Mountains'', 1989. *Nancy Larrick, editor, ''Mice Are Nice'', 1990. *Richard Lewis, ''All of You Was Singing'', 1991. *Nancy White Carlstrom, ''Goodbye, Geese'', 1991. *Barabara Savage Horton, ''What Comes in Spring?'', 1992. *Mary Calhoun, ''While I Sleep'', 1992. *Audrey Osofsky, ''Dreamcatcher'', 1992. *Laura Krauss Melmed, ''The First Song Ever Sung'', 1993. *Eleanor Coerr, ''Sadako and The Thousand Paper Cranes'', 1993. *Isaac Olaleye, ''Bitter Bananas'', 1994. *Shulamith Levey Oppenheim, reteller, ''Iblis'', 1994. * Penny Pollock, reteller, ''The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story'', 1996 ( a Native American version of
Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...
) *Lisa Westberg Peters, ''October Smiled Back'', 1996. *
Jack London John Griffith Chaney (January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916), better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors to ...
, ''
White Fang ''White Fang'' is a novel by American author Jack London (1876–1916) — and the name of the book's eponymous character, a wild wolfdog. First serialized in ''Outing'' magazine between May and October 1906, it was published in book form in Oct ...
'', 1999. *Mary Casanova, ''The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale'', 2000. *Dorothea P. Seeber, ''A Pup Just for Me—A Boy Just for Me'', 2000. *Tony Johnston, ''Desert Song'', 2000. *
Nikki Grimes Nikki Grimes (born October 20, 1950) is an American author of books written for children and young adults, as well as a poet and journalist. Background and career Grimes was born in Harlem, New York. In a conversation with a Reading Is Fundamenta ...
, ''Tai Chi Morning: Snapshots of China'', 2004. *Andrea Cheng, ''Shanghai Messenger'', 2005. *Dennis Haseley, ''Twenty Heartbeats'', 2008. *Mark Reibstein, ''Wabi Sabi'', 2008. *Kimiko Kajikawa, ''Tsunami!'', 2009. *Brenda Z. Guiberson, ''Moon Bear'', 2010. *Robert Burleigh, ''Tiger of the Snows: Tenzing Norgay: The Boy Whose Dream Was Everest'', 2010. *Ashley Ramsden, ''Seven Fathers'' 2011. *Michelle Cuevas, ''The Masterwork of a Painting Elephant'' 2011. *Marilyn Singer, ''A Strange Place to Call Home: The World's Most Dangerous Habitats & the Animals That Call Them Home'', 2012. *Barbara DaCosta, ''Nighttime Ninja'', 2012. *Gary Golio, ''Bird and Diz'', 2015. *Barbara DaCosta, ''Mighty Moby'', 2017. *Gary Golio, ''Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)'', 2019. *Mark Reibstein, ''Yugen'', 2019. *Brenda Peterson, ''Catastrophe by the Sea'', 2019. *Barbara DaCosta, ''Night Shadows'', 2020.


Film

*''
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes ''Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes'' is a children's historical novel written by Canadian-American author Eleanor Coerr and published in 1977. It is based on the story of Sadako Sasaki. The book has been translated into many languages and ...
'', based on the story by
Eleanor Coerr Eleanor Coerr (née Page; May 29, 1922 – November 22, 2010) was a Canadian-born American writer of children's books, including ''Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes'' (historical fiction) and many picture books. Biography She was born in Kams ...


Art Exhibits

*"Picturing Poetry." Group exhibit. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. November 17, 2012 – May 12, 2013. *"Journey Without End." Solo exhibit. National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, Abiline, Texas (2011–2012). *“Ed Young” solo exhibition at the Tang Gallery in Bisbee, Arizona. (2010).


See also


References

*"Ed (Tse-chun) Young." ''Major Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults, 2nd ed.'', 8 vols. Gale Group, 2002. *Kotch, Laura and Leslie Zackman. ''The Author Studies Handbook: Helping Students Build Powerful Connections to Literature.'' New York: Scholastic Professional Books, 1995. *Primm, E. Russell III, ed. ''Favorite Children's Authors and Illustrators.'' Excelsior, Minn.: Tradition Books, 2003. *Silvey, Anita, ed. ''The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators.'' Boston:Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.


External links


Biographicon: On-line Biography of Ed Young

Ed Young's Website

Northeast Children’s Literature Collection, University of Connecticut: main archive of Ed Young's artwork



Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast: Interview with Ed Young

Video interview with Ed Young




An exhibit of forty pieces of Ed Young's art for books.

All the Wonders podcast interview, 2017 {{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Ed 1931 births American children's writers Caldecott Medal winners Chinese children's writers Chinese illustrators American children's book illustrators Chinese children's book illustrators 20th-century illustrators of fairy tales 21st-century illustrators of fairy tales Chinese tai chi practitioners Living people Writers from Tianjin Artists from Tianjin Artists from Shanghai People from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York Writers who illustrated their own writing