David Wiesner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Wiesner
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Wiesner at the Mazza Museum in 2011
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| Born | David Wiesner February 5, 1956 Bridgewater Township, New Jersey |
| Occupation | Illustrator, writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1980–present |
| Genre | Children's picture books |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Caldecott Medal 1992, 2002, 2007 |
David Wiesner (born February 5, 1956) is an American artist and writer who creates amazing children's books. He is especially famous for his picture books, including some that tell fantastic stories using only pictures, without any words!
David has won three Caldecott Medals. These are very important awards for the best-illustrated children's books in America. He was also a finalist for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2008. This is one of the biggest honors for children's book creators worldwide.
Contents
About David Wiesner
David Wiesner grew up in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey. He went to Bridgewater-Raritan High School. Later, he studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. He earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Today, David lives with his family outside of Philadelphia.
David Wiesner's Career
David Wiesner's first book was Honest Andrew. It was a picture book with words by Gloria Skurzynski. This book came out in 1980. In the same year, he also drew pictures for a novel called Man From the Sky by Avi.
After illustrating many books for other writers, David worked with his wife, Kim Kahng. They wrote a picture book together called Loathsome Dragon. This book was published in 1987.
Since then, David Wiesner has created many picture books all by himself. He writes the stories and draws all the pictures. Some of his books don't even have words!
Famous Wordless Books
His book Free Fall (1988) was a Caldecott Honor Book. This means it was a runner-up for the main Caldecott Medal. Free Fall was the first book to show his special style. He tells a magical, dream-like story using only illustrations.
David later won three Caldecott Medals for his solo picture books:
- Tuesday (1991)
- The Three Pigs (2001)
- Flotsam (2006)
He was also a runner-up for the award with his books Sector 7 (1999) and Mr. Wuffles! (2013).
In January 2017, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art held a special art show. It was called David Wiesner & the Art of Wordless Storytelling. The exhibition showed many of his best works from throughout his career.
David Wiesner's Books
Books Written and Illustrated by David Wiesner
- 1987 Loathsome Dragon (retold with Kim Kahng)
- 1988 Free Fall
- 1990 Hurricane
- 1991 Tuesday
- 1992 June 29, 1999
- 1999 Sector 7
- 2001 The Three Pigs
- 2006 Flotsam
- 2010 Art & Max
- 2013 Mr. Wuffles!
- 2017 Fish Girl
- 2018 I Got It!
- 2020 Robobaby
Books Illustrated by David Wiesner
- 1980 Honest Andrew by Gloria Skurzynski
- 1980 Man from the Sky by Avi
- 1981 Ugly Princess by Nancy Luenn
- 1981 One Bad Thing about Birthdays by David R. Collins
- 1981 Boy who Spoke Chimp by Jane Yolen
- 1982 Owly by Mike Thaler
- 1982 Neptune Rising: Songs and Tales of the Undersea Folk by Jane Yolen
- 1983 Miranty and the Alchemist by Vera Chapman
- 1984 Dark Green Tunnel by Allan W. Eckert
- 1985 Wand: the Return to Mesmeria by Allan W. Eckert
- 1985 E.T., the Storybook of the Green Planet by William Kotzwinkle (based on the film story by Steven Spielberg and Melissa Mathison)
- 1986 Kite Flier by Dennis Haseley
- 1988 Firebrat by Nancy Willard
- 1989 The Rainbow People by Laurence Yep
- 1989 The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Marianna Mayer
- 1991 Tongues of Jade by Laurence Yep
- 1994 Night of the Gargoyles by Eve Bunting
