Brian Lies facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brian Lies
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Lies at the 2024 Gaithersburg Book Festival
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| Born | 1963 (age 61–62) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Author and illustrator of children's books |
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Notable work
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Brian Lies (pronounced Lees) is an American author and artist who creates amazing children's books. He was born in 1963. He is famous for his picture book The Rough Patch, which won a special award called the Caldecott Honor in 2019. He also wrote the very popular New York Times bestselling series about bats. This series includes books like Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, Bats at the Ballgame, and Bats in the Band.
Besides writing and illustrating his own books, Brian Lies also draws pictures for children's magazines. You might have seen his art in magazines such as Spider, Ladybug, and Babybug.
Contents
Early Life and Art Journey
Brian Lies was born in Princeton, New Jersey. Today, he lives in eastern Massachusetts. He has loved art since he was a child.
Discovering His Path
When Brian was in college at Brown University, he studied literature and psychology. During that time, he drew political cartoons for the student newspaper. After college, he tried to get jobs at different publications, but they didn't hire him. So, he decided to study art more seriously at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. This helped him become a political cartoonist for big newspapers and magazines.
However, Brian had always been interested in children's books. A person named Susan Sherman noticed how well he drew emotions on animal characters' faces. She asked him to illustrate a book. This led to him drawing the pictures for the first book in the Flatfoot Fox series, which was written by Eth Clifford.
Popular Books and Stories
Brian Lies has created many beloved books. His stories often feature animals with human-like feelings and adventures.
The Bats Series
One of Brian Lies's most famous books is Bats at the Beach. This book became very popular after it was read on a radio show called "Weekend Edition Saturday" on NPR. The publisher, Houghton Mifflin, had to work hard to print enough copies because so many people wanted it! Bats at the Beach also made it onto Publishers Weekly's list of bestselling children's picture books. It even won an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award.
The story of Bats at the Beach is about a group of bats, both young and old. They have funny adventures doing things like sailing, surfing, putting on lotion, and roasting marshmallows. Critics have praised the book for its simple and joyful idea. They also liked how the bat characters have soft, rounded features. Brian Lies shared that he tries to make his animal characters look as natural as possible, even when they act like humans.
The idea for Bats at the Beach came from Brian's daughter. She once described a frost pattern on a window as "a bat, with sea foam." As Brian thought about this, the verses for the book came to him suddenly. The paintings in the book use a lot of blues and browns. They often look like they are bathed in moonlight, even though you never actually see the moon.
The next book in the series, Bats at the Library, was also a big hit. It was named one of Time.com's Top 10 Children's Books of 2008. The ABA also chose it as the Best New Picture Book in the 2009 Indies Choice Book Awards. In 2010, Bats at the Library won the Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award from the Kansas Reading Association.
Other Notable Works
Brian Lies also illustrated Deep in the Swamp by Donna M. Bateman. A reviewer from School Library Journal said his acrylic paintings for this book reminded them of John James Audubon's famous bird paintings. This book also won a Southern Independent Booksellers Association Award in 2008.
Another book Brian Lies wrote and illustrated is Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle. This book was praised for its watercolor illustrations and funny details. It's about an optimistic pig named Hamlet and his "pessimistic" porcupine friend, Quince. They work together to protect a giant sandcastle from the ocean waves.
His book Popcorn! by Elaine Landau was nominated for the 2006 Rhode Island Children's Book Award. It was also part of the Children's Agriculture Book series in Wisconsin. This series chooses books that show modern agriculture accurately.
Books Written and Illustrated by Brian Lies
- The Rough Patch (2018) ISBN: 978-0-06-267127-1
- This book received a Caldecott Honor in 2019.
- Got to Get to Bear's! (2018) ISBN: 978-0-544-94882-2
- Gator Dad (2016) ISBN: 978-0-544-53433-9
- Hamlet and the Enormous Chinese Dragon Kite (2001) ISBN: 1-931659-01-X
- Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle (1994) ISBN: 0-9677929-2-4
The Bats Series
- Bats in the Band (2014) ISBN: 978-0544105690
- Bats at the Ballgame (2010) ISBN: 978-0-547-24970-4
- Bats at the Library (2008) ISBN: 0-618-99923-X
- Bats at the Beach (2006) ISBN: 0-618-55744-X
Books Illustrated by Brian Lies
- Malcolm at Midnight by W.H. Beck. ISBN: 978-0547681009
- MORE by I.C. Springman. ISBN: 978-0547610832
- Deep in the Swamp by Donna M. Bateman. (2007) ISBN: 978-1-57091-596-3
- Finklehopper Frog Cheers by Irene Livingston (Tricycle Press, 2005) ISBN: 1-58246-138-4
- Lucky Duck by Ellen Weiss (2004)
- Zoo Train by Lissa Rovetch
- Spy Hops and Belly Flops by Lynda Graham-Barber (2004) ISBN: 0-618-22291-X
- Finklehopper Frog by Irene Livingston (2003) ISBN: 1-58246-075-2
- Dinosaur Footprints (Reading Intervention for Early Success) (2003) ISBN: 0-618-23769-0
- Dinosaurs (Reading Intervention for Early Success) by Adam Karlson. (2003) ISBN: 0-618-23739-9
- Popcorn! by Elaine Landau. (2003) ISBN: 1-57091-443-5
- See the Yak Yak by Charles Ghigna. (1999) ISBN: 0-679-99135-2
- The Midnight Fridge by Bruce Glassman. (1998)
- Where are the Bears by Kay Winter. (1998)
- George and the Dragon Word by Dianne Snyder. (1991) ISBN: 0-395-55129-3
The Flatfoot Fox Series
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Schoolhouse by Eth Clifford (1997) ISBN: 0-395-81446-4
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Bashful Beaver by Eth Clifford. (1995) ISBN: 0-395-70560-6
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Whoooo by Eth Clifford (1992) ISBN: 0-395-60289-0
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Nosy Otter by Eth Clifford (1992) ISBN: 0-395-60289-0
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Eye by Eth Clifford (1990) ISBN: 0-395-51945-4
