Henry Cole (illustrator) facts for kids

Henry Cole (born in 1955) is an American author and artist who creates amazing books for kids. He has drawn pictures for many authors, like Julie Andrews Edwards and Harvey Fierstein.

About Henry Cole

Henry Cole was born in 1955 near Purcellville, Virginia, in the United States. He often uses a fun, cartoon-like style in his art. He loves bright colors and mainly works with acrylic paints and colored pencils.

Henry grew up on a dairy farm in Virginia. He loved art from a young age. He often made birthday cards for friends or signs for school events. Later, he studied Forestry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He never had formal art training. However, his mother was an illustrator, and she gave him helpful advice throughout his career.

His Work as an Illustrator

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

Henry Cole has worked with many famous authors and even celebrities. These include Julie Andrews and Harvey Fierstein. One book he illustrated is The Sissy Duckling (2002), written by Harvey Fierstein. Some of Cole's well-known works include Moosestache (1999) and Mooseletoe (2000), both written by Margie Palatini. He also illustrated Big Chickens (2008) by Leslie Helakoski. Another popular book is Honk! The Story of a Prima Swanerina (2000) by Pamela Duncan Edwards. This book was even made into an animated video by Disney.

Cole also illustrated And Tango Makes Three (2005). This book tells the true story of two male penguins. They raised a chick together at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. Some schools had discussions about how to categorize this book because of its unique story. The Library of Congress, however, still calls it juvenile fiction. Cole's drawings for this book and others are known for being very realistic. This is different from his usual cartoon style. A reviewer from Booklist said that Cole's pictures "complement the perfectly cadenced text."

Many of Cole's books get great reviews. For example, Booklist praised his drawings in Katy Duck is a Caterpillar (2009). They said his "comedic color drawings" show Katy's feelings well. He also received praise for his illustrations in Tubby the Tuba (2006). 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 better. It also makes young readers want to keep reading.

Henry Cole as an Author

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

Nature-Inspired Books

I Took a Walk (1998) and On the Way to the Beach (2003) both show things you might see in nature. A Kirkus Reviews writer said On the Way to the Beach had "marvelously detailed and accurate illustrations." Another reviewer said it was "an informative offering with a playful approach" for kids learning about nature.

On Meadowview Street (2007) is about a girl named Caroline. She decides to let her lawn grow into a field of wildflowers. A Publishers Weekly critic called the illustrations "beautifully portrayed in meticulously detailed, velvety acrylics." This book teaches kids about caring for the environment in a gentle way. All of these books end with a special section. It shows pictures of the wildlife seen in the book.

Recent Works and Awards

A Nest for Celeste was released in early 2010. It was very popular. The book is about a mouse looking for a home. It also teaches about the work of naturalist John James Audubon. Celeste becomes friends with Audubon's young helper. Amazon.com featured it as a Best Book of the Month. A Publishers Weekly review said it had "Evocative illustrations, compelling characters, and thoughtful reflections on the nature of home."

One important book, "Unspoken," (2012) has won many awards. These include the NY Times Best Picture Books and the ALA Notable Book. It also received the Parents Choice Gold Award and the Virginia Jefferson Cup Award.

In an interview with HarperCollins, Cole shared his thoughts. He said, "Your own book is your own baby. I think it's more fulfilling to both write and illustrate a book." But he also added, "However, it can be more fun and stimulating to collaborate with another person and create something jointly."

Personal Life and Inspirations

As a child, Henry Cole grew up on a dairy farm. He loved being outdoors. His passion for nature led him to study science. He has said that he spent a "lifetime" observing things in nature. This includes birds and leaves, which made his art easier. He hopes to create more environmental books in the future. Cole is also inspired by famous artists like Norman Rockwell, Paul Klee, John Singer Sargent, and N.C. Wyeth.