Paul Oser Zelinsky (born 1953) is an American illustrator and writer who illustrated

children's A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''child ...

picture books A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The ima ...

. He won the 1998

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 U.S. picture book illustration for ''

Rapunzel "Rapunzel" ( ; ; or ) is a German fairy tale most notably recorded by the Brothers Grimm and it was published in 1812 as part of '' Children's and Household Tales'' (KHM 12). The Grimms' story was developed from the French literary fairy tale ...

''. His most popular work is ''The Wheels On the Bus'', a best-selling movable book. Zelinsky had been runner-up for the Caldecott Medal in 1985, 1987, and 1995, the latter for '' Swamp Angel'' by Anne Isaacs ( Dutton, 1994). Twenty years later, they were joint runners-up for the Phoenix Picture Book Award from the

Children's Literature Association The Children's Literature Association (ChLA) is a non-profit association, based in the United States, of scholars, critics, professors, students, librarians, teachers, and institutions dedicated to studying children's literature.Margaret W. Denman ...

, which annually recognizes the best picture book that did not win a significant award 20 years earlier. "Books are considered not only for the quality of their illustrations but for the way pictures and text work together.""Phoenix Picture Book Award"
. Children's Literature Association. Retrieved 2014-07-11.

Biography

Early life

Paul O. Zelinsky was born in

Evanston, Illinois Evanston is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, situated on the North Shore (Chicago), North Shore along Lake Michigan. A suburb of Chicago, Evanston is north of Chicago Loop, downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skok ...

, and grew up in

Wilmette Wilmette is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Bordering Lake Michigan, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Skokie, Northfield, Glenview, and Evanston, Illinois, it is located north of Chicago's downtown district. Wilmette had a populatio ...

. As a child, he spent much of his time drawing. He would make up imaginary worlds with his friends and draw them. When he was only four, he submitted work to '' Highlights'' magazine, and this is when his artwork was first showcased. Influential early childhood books included '' The Color Kittens'' and '' Tawny Scrawny Lion''. Regarding his memories of childhood reading, Zelinsky said, "Feelings come to me as a sort of flavor. I know that when I call up my earliest memories, what I remember seeing and hearing is accompanied by a flavor-like sense of what it felt like to be ''there'' and see ''that''." (This phenomenon is known as

synesthesia Synesthesia (American English) or synaesthesia (British English) is a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. People with sy ...

.) Later in his childhood, his favorite authors were

William Pène du Bois William Sherman Pène du Bois (May 9, 1916 – February 5, 1993) was an American writer and illustrator of books for young readers. He is best known for '' The Twenty-One Balloons'', published in April 1947 by Viking Press, for which he won the ...

and Robert Lawson. He especially loved the books ''

The Twenty-One Balloons ''The Twenty-One Balloons'' is a novel by William Pène du Bois, published in 1947 by the Viking Press and awarded the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1948. The story is about a retired schoolteacher whose ill- ...

'' by Du Bois, and ''The Fabulous Flight'' by Lawson.

Career

New Trier High School New Trier High School (, also known as New Trier Township High School or NTHS) is a public four-year high school whose main campus for sophomores through seniors is in Winnetka, Illinois, United States, with a campus in Northfield, Illinois, for ...

, Zelinsky was interested in natural history and architecture and saw himself following one of those paths for a career. However, he went to study at

Yale Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and one of the nine colonial colleges ch ...

. He took a class taught by

Maurice Sendak Maurice Bernard Sendak (; June 10, 1928 – May 8, 2012) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. Born to Polish-Jewish parents, his childhood was impacted by the death of many of his family members during the Holocaust. Send ...

on the history and art of children's books, and it inspired him to a career in the area. Zelinsky attended the

Tyler School of Art The Tyler School of Art and Architecture is part of Temple University, a large, urban, public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Tyler currently enrolls about 1,350 undergraduate students and about 200 graduate st ...

graduate school in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

and

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

. Renaissance and Italian art have always fascinated him, and this time in his life also influenced this love. His career in children's books began in 1978 with the illustrations for

Avi Avi is a given name, usually masculine, often a diminutive of Avram (given name), Avram, Avraham, etc. It is sometimes feminine and a diminutive of the Hebrew spelling of Abigail (name), Abigail. People with the given name include: * Avi (author ...

's ''Emily Upham's Revenge''. Since then, he has continued illustrating others' work and creating his own books. He won the 1998

for his illustrated retelling of ''

'' and three

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 ...

s (for ''

Hansel and Gretel "Hansel and Gretel" (; ) is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812 as part of ''Grimms' Fairy Tales'' (KHM 15). Hansel and Gretel are siblings who are abandoned in a forest and fall into the hands of a witch ...

'' (1985), ''

Rumpelstiltskin "Rumpelstiltskin" ( ; ) is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm in the 1812 edition of ''Children's and Household Tales''. The story is about an imp who spins straw into gold in exchange for a woman's firstborn child. Plot I ...

'' (1987), and '' Swamp Angel'' (1995)). His most popular book, '' Wheels On the Bus'', has sold millions.

Artistic style

Zelinsky does not have a recognizable style, suiting his artwork and techniques to the particular nature of the book to be illustrated. According to Linnea Lannon in the artist profile ''

Detroit Free Press The ''Detroit Free Press'' (commonly referred to as the ''Freep'') is a major daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest local newspaper owned by Gannett (the publisher of ''USA Today''), and is operated by the Detro ...

'', "What has raised Zelinsky into the first rank of children's book illustrators is not just the pictures but the way they integrate with text." Zelinsky says, "I want the pictures to speak in the same voice as the words. This desire has led me to try various kinds of drawings in different books. I have used quite a wide stretch of styles, and I'm fortunate to have been asked to illustrate such a range of stories." '' Wheels On the Bus'' and ''Knick-Knack Paddywhack!'' are engineered books with moving parts. Zelinsky is not a paper engineer himself; Rodger Smith engineered ''Wheels On the Bus'' and Andrew Baron ''Knick-Knack Paddywhack!''

Books

;As a writer and illustrator * '' The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-Shaped House: A Story in Rhyme'' (1981) – adapted from a school exercise * '' The Lion and the Stoat'' (

Greenwillow Books HarperCollins Publishers LLC is a British–American publishing company that is considered to be one of the "Big Five (publishers), Big Five" English-language publishers, along with Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group USA, Hachette, Macmi ...

, 1984) – based in part on natural history by

Pliny the Elder Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 79), known in English as Pliny the Elder ( ), was a Roman Empire, Roman author, Natural history, naturalist, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the Roman emperor, emperor Vesp ...

* ''

'', retold (1986) – Brothers Grimm * '' Wheels On the Bus'', paper engineer Rodger Smith ( Dutton, 1990) – adapted from the children's folk song ; "A Book with Parts that Move" — Cover * ''

'', retold (1997) – from the

Brothers Grimm The Brothers Grimm ( or ), Jacob Grimm, Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm Grimm, Wilhelm (1786–1859), were Germans, German academics who together collected and published folklore. The brothers are among the best-known storytellers of Oral tradit ...

(1812) * '' Knick-Knack Paddywhack!'', paper engineer Andrew Baron ( Dutton, 2002) – adapted from the nursery rhyme "

This Old Man "This Old Man" is an English language children's song, counting exercise, folk song, and nursery rhyme with a Roud Folk Song Index number of 3550. Origins and history The origins of this song are obscure and possibly very old. There is a ver ...

"; "A Moving Parts Book Adapted from the Counting Song" — Cover ;As illustrator * '' Emily Upham's Revenge, or How Deadwood Dick Saved the Banker's Niece: A Massachusetts Adventure'', written by

(

Pantheon Books Pantheon Books is an American book publishing imprint. Founded in 1942 as an independent publishing house in New York City by Kurt and Helen Wolff, it specialized in introducing progressive European works to American readers. In 1961, it was ...

, 1978) * '' How I Hunted the Little Fellows'', Boris Zhitkov, transl. from

Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...

by Djemma Bider (

Dodd, Mead Dodd, Mead and Company was one of the pioneer publishing houses of the United States, based in New York City. Under several names, the firm operated from 1839 until 1990. History Origins In 1839, Moses Woodruff Dodd (1813–1899) and John S. ...

, 1979) * '' The History of Helpless Harry, to Which is Added a Variety of Amusing and Entertaining Adventures'',

(1980) * '' What Amanda Saw'', Naomi Lazard (1981) * '' Three Romances: Love Stories from Camelot Retold'',

Winifred Rosen Winifred is a feminine given name, an anglicization of Welsh ''Gwenffrewi'', from ''gwen'', "fair", and ''ffrew'', "stillness". It may refer to: People * Saint Winifred, 7th century Welsh saint * Winifred Atwell (1914–1983), British pianist * Wi ...

(1981) * ''

Ralph S. Mouse ''Ralph S. Mouse'' is the third in a children's novel trilogy that was written by Beverly Cleary. It features Ralph, a mouse with the ability to speak, but only with certain people who tend to be loners. It was first published in 1982, illustra ...

'',

Beverly Cleary Beverly or Beverley may refer to: Places Australia * Beverley, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide * Beverley, Western Australia, a town * Shire of Beverley, Western Australia Canada * Beverly, Alberta, a town that amalgamated with the City ...

(1982) * '' The Sun's Asleep Behind the Hill'',

Mirra Ginsburg Mirra Ginsburg (June 10, 1909 - December 26, 2000) was a 20th-century Jewish Russian-American translator of Russian literature, collector of folk tales and children's writer. Born in Bobruysk then in the Russian Empire she moved with her family t ...

(1982) – adapted from an

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

song * '' The Song in the Walnut Grove'',

David Kherdian David Kherdian (born December 17, 1931) is an Armenian- American writer, poet, and editor. He is known best for his book, '' The Road from Home'' (1979), depicting his mother's childhood. His works have been translated into 14 languages. Early ...

(1982) * '' Dear Mr. Henshaw'',

(1983) * '' Zoo Doings: Animal Poems'',

Jack Prelutsky Jack Prelutsky (born September 8, 1940) is an American writer of children's poetry who has published over 50 poetry collections. He served as the first U.S. Children's Poet Laureate (now called the Young People's Poet Laureate) from 2006 to 200 ...

(1983) * ''

'', retold by

Rika Lesser Rika Lesser (born 1953 Brooklyn, New York) is an American poet, and is a translator of Swedish and German literary works. Life Lesser earned her bachelor's degree at Yale University in 1974. She studied at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden ...

(1984) * '' The Story of Mrs. Lovewright and Her Purrless Cat'',

Lore Segal Lore Vailer Segal (née Groszmann; March 8, 1928 – October 7, 2024) was an Austrian-American novelist, translator, teacher, short story writer, and author of children's books. She was the author of five novels, and was known for her autobiogr ...

(1985) * '' The Random House Book of Humor for Children'', selected by Pamela Pollack (1988) * '' The Big Book for Peace'',

Myra Cohn Livingston Myra Cohn Livingston (August 17, 1926 – August 23, 1996) was an American poet, writer, and educator who is primarily known for her books of free verse children's poetry. Biography Early life and education Myra Cohn was born in Omaha, Nebra ...

(1990) * '' Strider'',

(1991) * '' The Enchanted Castle'', E. Nesbit (1992; orig. 1907) * '' More Rootabagas'', posthumous collection by

Carl Sandburg Carl August Sandburg (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967) was an American poet, biographer, journalist, and editor. He won three Pulitzer Prizes: two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln. During his lifetime, Sandburg w ...

, ed.

George Hendrick George Andrew Hendrick Jr. (born October 18, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder between and , most prominently as an integral member of the St. Louis Cardinals ...

(1993) * ''Swamp Angel'', Anne Isaacs (

Dutton Children's Books Dutton Children's Books is a US publisher of children's books and a division of the Penguin Group. It is associated with the Dutton adult division. It was previously an imprint of E. P. Dutton, prior to 1986. They have been publishing books si ...

, 1994) * ''

Five Children and It ''Five Children and It'' is a fantasy children's novel by English people, English author E. Nesbit. It was originally published in 1902 in the ''Strand Magazine'' under the general title ''The Psammead, or the Gifts'', with a segment appearing ...

'', E. Nesbit (1999; orig. 1902) * '' Awful Ogre's Awful Day'',

(2000) – poems * '' Doodler Doodling'',

Rita Golden Gelman Rita Golden Gelman (born July 2, 1937) is an American writer who has written more than 70 children's books and 2 adult books. Her organization, Let's Get Global, is dedicated to encouraging and assisting recent high school graduates to have a ga ...

(2004) * '' Toys Go Out'' series, children's novels by Emily Jenkins, published by Schwartz & Wade ** '' Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone called Plastic'' (2006) ** '' Toy Dance Party: Being the Further Adventures of a Bossyboots Stingray, a Courageous Buffalo, and a Hopeful Round Someone called Plastic'' (2008) ** '' Toys Come Home: Being the Early Experiences of an Intelligent Stingray, a Brave Buffalo, and a Brand-New Someone called Plastic'' (2011) ** '' Toys Meet Snow: Being the Wintertime Adventures of a Curious Stuffed Buffalo, a Sensitive Plush Stingray, and a Book-Loving Rubber Ball'' (forthcoming 2015) * '' The Shivers in the Fridge'', Fran Manushkin (2006) * '' Awful Ogre Running Wild'',

(2008) – poems * ''Dust Devil'', Anne Isaacs (

Random House Random House is an imprint and publishing group of Penguin Random House. Founded in 1927 by businessmen Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer as an imprint of Modern Library, it quickly overtook Modern Library as the parent imprint. Over the foll ...

/ Schwartz & Wade, 2010) – sequel to '' Swamp Angel''"Paul O. Zelinsky's Bookmaking Saga"
Sally Lodge. July 29, 2010. ''Publishers Weekly''. Retrieved 2014-07-16. *'' Z is for Moose'', Kelly Bingham (2012) * '' Earwig and the Witch'',

Diana Wynne Jones Diana Wynne Jones (16 August 1934 – 26 March 2011) was a British novelist, poet, academic, literary critic, and short story writer. She principally wrote fantasy and speculative fiction novels for children and young adults. Although usually d ...

(2012) *'' Circle, Square, Moose'', Kelly Bingham (2014) – sequel to '' Z is for Moose''

References

External links

* *
Biographical sketch from ''The Scoop''

Essay on Zelinsky and his work

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zelinsky, Paul 1953 births American children's book illustrators American children's writers American fantasy artists Caldecott Medal winners 20th-century American illustrators Illustrators of fairy tales Living people 21st-century American illustrators