How do you make sure the illustrations in your book convey exactly what you want them to? Well, you do them yourself.

Leo Lionni was born in The Netherlands in 1910 and always knew he wanted to be an artist. As a child he kept pets in his attic bedroom—minnows, birds and fish. He also built terrariums and had a lasting love for the details of nature, which later found their way into his books.

Lionni lived in Italy before migrating to the U.S. in 1939. He worked as an art director for advertising agencies and for several magazines including Fortune. He returned to Italy in 1962 when he began writing children’s books. The first story, Little Blue and Little Yellow was written for his grandchildren. He went on to write over thirty children’s books.

His most memorable titles are animal fables such as Swimmy and Inch by Inch. He won the Caldecott Award for best children’s book illustrations four times.

 

Tomie de Paola, born in Connecticut in 1934 to Irish and Italian parents, has written over two hundred children’s books. He taught college level art, speech and drama for a number of years before concentrating on writing and illustrating books for children. He is best known for his picture books with their beautiful, simple illustrations. Some of his best-loved books are the Strega Nona series and his folktale and legend books such as The Legend of the Bluebonnet and The Legend of the Poinsettia. Many of his books are autobiographical such as Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs which tells of life with his two grandmas living in the family home, or 26 Fairmount Avenue which chronicles his family’s move to a new home.

De Paola has won many awards over the years including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for Lifetime contribution to American Children’s Literature.

Each of these men have distinctive artistic styles. Lionni’s nature pictures make me want to reach in and pick up a leaf or pebble. De Paola’s make me smile every time.

Next time you’re at the library, make a point of checking out these two wonderfully talented authors and illustrators in the children’s section.