Cooper Edens facts for kids

Cooper Edens is a talented author and illustrator. He has created more than 25 children's books. He is famous for books like If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow. Another well-known book is Add One More Star to the Night.

His stories are special because they use a "horizontal" way of telling tales. Instead of following a main character, readers solve small "problems." For example, "If you're afraid of the dark..." makes you think. Cooper Edens has also worked with other artists. He helps put together collections of classic children's story pictures.

About Cooper Edens

Cooper Edens' real name is Gary Drager. He was born in 1945 in the Seattle area. He grew up in a house near Lake Washington. This place was perfect for daydreaming and reading.

When he was in first grade, his principal told his mom he was too creative. His mom thought this was a good thing! He took a year off from school. During this time, he spent hours with coloring books. Soon, he was drawing like famous artists such as Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. He used crayons and cardboard for his art.

His First Book

Cooper Edens used crayons on cardboard for his first book. It was a mix of words and art. Publishers helped him connect with Harold and Sandra Darling. They ran Green Tiger Press.

In 1978, Green Tiger Press published his book, If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow. The book has old-looking pictures. They are colored in a bright, dreamy style. Short, poem-like sentences go with the pictures. This style became very popular. Over 1.3 million copies of ...Night Rainbow have been sold. Many of his books are now published by Chronicle Books.

Working with Others

Cooper Edens has written other books with his unique "horizontal" style. These include The Starcleaner Reunion and Caretakers of Wonder. He has also worked with many other artists. He partnered with Sandra Darling, also known as Alexandra Day. She wrote the popular "Good Dog Carl" books. Together, they created seven books.

Edens also helps put together books using art from old children's stories. This shows how different artists make stories come alive. He is now working on digital versions of his classic books. These will be interactive.

Cooper Edens believes in endless possibilities. He says, "If you don't like the way the world looks straight ahead, use your peripheral vision." He also wrote songs for the band White.

Awards and Recognition

Cooper Edens has won several awards for his work.

• In 1980, he received the Children's Critic Award. This was for his book The Starcleaner Reunion.
• In 1983, he was nominated for the Golden Apple Award. This award is given in Prague. He was recognized for his book Caretakers of Wonder.

Books by Cooper Edens

Cooper Edens has created many books. Here are some of them, grouped by how he contributed.

As Author and Illustrator

• If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow, 1978.
• The Starcleaner Reunion, 1979.
• Caretakers of Wonder, 1980.
• With Secret Friends, 1981.
• Paradise of Ads, 1987.
• Now Is the Moon's Eyebrow, 1987.
• Hugh's Hues, 1988.
• Nineteen Hats, Ten Teacups, an Empty Birdcage, and the Art of Longing, 1992.
• The Little World, 1994.
• If You're Still Afraid of the Dark, Add One More Star to the Night, 1998.

As Author

• Emily and the Shadow Shop, illustrated by Patrick Dowers, 1982.
• A Phenomenal Alphabet Book, illustrated by Joyce Eide, 1982.
• The Prince of the Rabbits, illustrated by Felix Meroux, 1984.
• Santa Cows, illustrated by Daniel Lane, 1991.
• The Story Cloud, illustrated by Kenneth LeRoy Grant, 1991.
• A Present for Rose, illustrated by Molly Hashimoto, 1993.
• Shawnee Bill's Enchanted Five-Ride Carousel, illustrated by Daniel Lane, 1994.
• Santa Cow Island, illustrated by Daniel Lane, 1994.
• How Many Bears?, illustrated by Marjett Schille, 1994.
• The Wonderful Counting Clock, illustrated by Kathleen Kimball, 1995.
• Santa Cow Studios, illustrated by Daniel Lane, 1995.
• Nicholi, illustrated by A. Scott Banfill, 1996.
• The Christmas We Moved to the Barn, with Alexandra Day, 1997.
• Taffy's Family, with Alexandra Day, 1997.
• Invisible Art, with Harold Darling and Richard Kehl, 1999.
• The Animal Mall, with Daniel Lane, illustrated by Edward Miller, 2000.
• Special Deliveries, with Alexandra Day, illustrated by Alexandra Day, 2001.

As Illustrator

• Alexandra Day, Helping the Sun, 1987.
• Alexandra Day, Helping the Flowers and Trees, 1987.
• Alexandra Day, Helping the Night, 1987.
• Alexandra Day, Helping the Animals, 1987.

Other Works (Compiler/Collaborator)

• Children from the Golden Age, 1880–1930, with Alexandra Day and Welleran Poltarnees, 1987.
• The Glorious Mother Goose, (compiler), 1988.
• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: The Ultimate Illustrated Edition, (compiler), 1989.
• Beauty and the Beast, (compiler), 1989.
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears, (compiler), 1989.
• Little Red Riding Hood, (compiler), 1989.
• The Glorious ABC, (compiler), 1990.
• Day and Night and Other Dreams, (compiler), 1990.
• Hansel and Gretel, (compiler), 1990.
• Jack and the Beanstalk, (compiler), 1990.
• Favorite Fairy Tales, (compiler with Harold Darling), 1991.
• The Three Princesses, (compiler), 1991.
• An ABC of Fashionable Animals, with Alexandra Day and Welleran Poltarnees, 1991.
• The Flower Shop, (compiler with Richard Kehl), 1992.
• The Heart Shop, (compiler with Richard Kehl), 1992.
• The Night before Christmas, (compiler with Harold Darling), 1998.
• Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio, (compiler), 2001.
• E. Charles Vivian, Robin Hood, (compiler), 2002.
• A Classic Illustrated Christmas Treasury, (compiler), 2003.
• Robert Louis Stevenson, A Child's Garden of Verses, (compiler), 2004.
• Princess Stories, (compiler), 2004.
• The Glorious American Songbook, (compiler), 2005.