Henry Cole (illustrator) facts for kids

Henry Cole, born in 1955, is an American author and artist who creates amazing books for kids. He is famous for both writing and drawing his own stories, and for illustrating books by many other popular authors. Some of the writers he has worked with include Julie Andrews, Harvey Fierstein, Margie Palatini, and Pamela Duncan Edwards.

About Henry Cole

Henry Cole was born in 1955 near Purcellville, Virginia, in the United States. He grew up on a dairy farm in Virginia. As a child, he loved art and often made birthday cards for his friends or signs for school events.

He later went to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to study Forestry. Even though he didn't go to art school, his mother was an illustrator who gave him helpful advice throughout his career. Henry Cole often uses a fun, cartoon-like style in his drawings. He likes to use bright colors and usually works with acrylic paints and colored pencils.

Henry Cole's Creative Work

Before Henry Cole became a full-time illustrator, he taught science at The Langley School in Virginia from 1984 to 1999. He often used art in his classes to help explain science ideas. As an elementary school teacher, he met many visiting authors and illustrators. This made him think about becoming a book illustrator himself.

Illustrating for Other Authors

Henry Cole has worked with many famous people, including actress Julie Andrews and actor Harvey Fierstein. One of his notable collaborations is The Sissy Duckling (2002), written by Harvey Fierstein. This book was even a finalist for an award in 2002.

Some of Henry Cole's most well-known illustrated books include:

• Moosestache (1999) and Mooseletoe (2000), both written by Margie Palatini.
• Big Chickens (2008), written by Leslie Helakoski.
• Honk! The Story of a Prima Swanerina (2000), written by Pamela Duncan Edwards. This book was even turned into an animated video by Disney!

Henry Cole also illustrated And Tango Makes Three (2005). This book tells the true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo in New York City who raised a chick together. While some schools have debated how to categorize this book, the Library of Congress still lists it as juvenile fiction. For this book and a few others, Henry Cole's drawings were praised for looking very realistic, which is different from his usual cartoon style. A reviewer from Booklist said that Cole's pictures "complement the perfectly cadenced text."

Critics have often praised Henry Cole's illustrations. For example, a review of Katy Duck is a Caterpillar (2009) said that his "comedic color drawings translate Katy's longing and disappointment and will easily appeal to young children." His work in Tubby the Tuba (2006) also received praise. A reviewer noted that "Cole's colorful retro-style artwork endows the instrument-characters great emotional expressiveness." His fun, cartoon-like style with bright colors helps make stories more exciting and draws young readers into the book.

Writing and Illustrating His Own Books

Besides illustrating for other writers, Henry Cole has also written and illustrated more than fifteen of his own children's books.

• I Took a Walk (1998) and On the Way to the Beach (2003) both show things you might see while exploring nature. A reviewer from Kirkus Reviews said that On the Way to the Beach had "marvelously detailed and accurate illustrations [that] give readers a peek into the natural world."
• On Meadowview Street (2007) is about a girl named Caroline who decides to let her lawn grow into a field of wildflowers instead of mowing it. A critic from Publishers Weekly described the illustrations as "beautifully portrayed in meticulously detailed, velvety acrylics." This book encourages kids to think about nature and the environment.
• A Nest for Celeste (2010) is one of Henry Cole's popular books. It's about a mouse looking for a home and also teaches about the work of naturalist John James Audubon. This book was named a "Best Book of the Month" by Amazon.com.

One of his most recognized books is "Unspoken" (2012). This book has won many awards, including:

• NY Times Best Picture Books
• ALA Notable Book
• Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
• Parents Choice Gold Award
• Publishers Weekly Best Books

In an interview, Henry Cole shared that writing and illustrating his own book feels like having his "own baby." He finds it very rewarding. However, he also enjoys working with other people to create something together.

Henry Cole's Inspirations

Henry Cole's love for the outdoors started when he was a child growing up on a dairy farm. He spent a lot of time observing nature, like birds and leaves, which has made it easier for him to draw them. He hopes to create more books about the environment in the future.

He is also inspired by famous artists such as Norman Rockwell, Paul Klee, John Singer Sargent, and N.C. Wyeth.