Anita Lobel facts for kids

Anita Lobel (born June 2, 1934) is a talented Polish-American artist. She is famous for illustrating children's books. Some of her well-known works include On Market Street and A New Coat for Anna.

On Market Street was even recognized as a Caldecott Honor Book. This award celebrates amazing illustrations in children's books. Her book One Lighthouse, One Moon was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. It is one of three books she made about her cat, Nini. Anita Lobel also wrote a book about her childhood called No Pretty Pictures. It was a finalist for a big award, the National Book Award.

About Anita Lobel

Early Life and Moving to America

Anita Lobel was born in Kraków, Poland, in 1934. Her family were merchants. When she was five years old, World War II began. She, her brother, and their nanny had to hide for over four years. They hid in the countryside, then in a ghetto, and finally in a convent.

Sadly, the Nazis found them. Anita and her brother were sent to a camp in Germany. In 1945, the Swedish Red Cross rescued them. They were reunited with their parents in 1947.

Even though she could read and write, Anita did not start school until she was 13. In 1952, her family moved from Sweden to New York City. She finished high school there. Then, she studied fine arts at Pratt Institute.

Meeting Arnold Lobel and Starting Her Career

While at Pratt, Anita met her future husband, Arnold Lobel. He was directing a school play she was in. They got married in 1955.

After college, Anita worked as a textile designer for several years. Then, a publisher named Susan Hirschman asked her to create a book. Her first book, Sven's Bridge, was published in 1965. She wrote and illustrated it. The pictures in the book show Swedish folk designs from her childhood.

Her book Potatoes, Potatoes was partly inspired by her childhood in Poland. The Troll Music was inspired by old tapestries with plants and animals.

Working with Her Husband and Later Works

Anita Lobel worked with her husband, Arnold Lobel, for many years. He was also a writer and illustrator. They had two children, Adrianne and Adam. They also had three grandchildren.

They worked together on books like How the Rooster Saved the Day and A Treeful of Pigs. In 1982, Anita received a Caldecott Honor for On Market Street. This book was another collaboration with Arnold.

After her husband passed away in 1987, Anita continued to create books. She wrote and illustrated Alison's Zinnia and Away from Home. Away from Home was a companion book to Alison's Zinnia, focusing on boys.

In 1998, she wrote No Pretty Pictures. This book is a memoir about her childhood experiences during the war. It tells her story from age five in 1939 until she reunited with her parents in 1947. After that, she illustrated a counting book called One Lighthouse, One Moon. She has also illustrated books for other authors, like Charlotte S. Huck and Kevin Henkes.

Awards and Recognition

Anita Lobel's memoir, No Pretty Pictures, received many honors. It was one of five finalists for the 1998 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. It also won the Judy Lopez Memorial Medal for Children's Literature. Other awards include an Orbis Pictus Award and a Golden Kite Award.

Two picture books she created with Arnold Lobel were recognized by the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. These were On Market Street in 1981 and The Rose in My Garden in 1984. On Market Street was also a finalist for the Caldecott Medal.

The New York Times Book Review has chosen Anita Lobel's books as "Best Illustrated Books" three times. These were for Sven's Bridge (1965), On Market Street (1981), and One Lighthouse, One Moon (2000). How the Rooster Saved the Day was also named a New York Times Outstanding Book in 1977.

Books by Anita Lobel

As Writer and Illustrator

• Sven's Bridge (1965)
• The Troll Music (1966)
• Potatoes, Potatoes (1967)
• Under a Mushroom (1970)
• The Seamstress of Salzburg (1970)
• A Birthday for the Princess (1973)
• The Dwarf Giant (1991)
• Alison's Zinnia (1990)
• Pierrot's ABC Garden (1992)
• This Quiet Lady (1992)
• Away from Home (1994)
• One Lighthouse, One Moon (2000)
• Animal Antics: A to Z (2005)
• Nini Here and There (2007)
• Hello, Day! (2008)
• Nini Lost and Found (2010)
• 10 Hungry Rabbits: Counting and Coloring Concepts (2012)
• Lena's Sleep Sheep: A Going-to-Bed Book (2013)
• Taking Care of Mama Rabbit (2014)
• Playful Pigs from A to Z (2015)
• Ducks on the Road: A Counting Adventure (2021)
• Good Morning, Good Night (2023)

As Writer Only

• No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War (1998) – This is her memoir about her childhood during World War II.

As Illustrator for Other Authors

• Puppy Summer (1966), written by Meindert DeJong
• The Little Wooden Farmer (1968), written by Alice Dalgliesh
• How the Rooster Saved the Day (1977), written by Arnold Lobel
• A Treeful of Pigs (1979), written by Arnold Lobel
• On Market Street (1981), written by Arnold Lobel
• The Rose in My Garden (1984), written by Arnold Lobel
• A New Coat for Anna (1986), written by Harriet Ziefert
• Princess Furball (1989), retold by Charlotte Huck
• So Happy! (2005), written by Kevin Henkes