Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire facts for kids
Ingri d'Aulaire (born December 27, 1904 – died October 24, 1980) and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire (born September 30, 1898 – died May 1, 1986) were a husband-and-wife team. They were famous American writers and illustrators of children's books. They worked together on almost all of their well-known stories. The couple moved to the United States from Europe. They created books that focused on history, like Abraham Lincoln. This book won the important Caldecott Medal in 1940. They were part of a group of artists who came from other countries. This group helped create the "Golden Age" of picture books in America in the mid-1900s.
Contents
About Ingri and Edgar
Edgar Parin was originally from Switzerland. He was born in Munich, Germany. His father, Gino Parin, was an Italian portrait painter. His mother, Ella Auler, was a talented artist and musician. She had moved from St. Louis to Paris. Edgar's parents separated when he was six. He spent time with both of them, traveling around Europe with his father. Edgar later took his mother's maiden name, d'Aulaire, after she changed it. He studied architecture for a year in Munich. Then he began art studies at the School of Arts and Crafts there. Edgar learned from famous artists like Hans Hofmann and Henri Matisse. He studied fresco painting in Florence, Italy. He also painted murals in France and Norway. He showed his art in Paris, Berlin, and Oslo. Edgar illustrated many books in Germany from 1922 to 1926. He painted frescoes in Norway from 1926 to 1927.
Ingri Mortenson was born in Kongsberg, Norway. She came from an artistic family. For example, her uncle was a clergyman and poet. He translated old Icelandic stories called the Eddas into Norwegian. He also set his own poems to music by the famous composer Edvard Grieg. When Ingri was 15, a Norwegian painter named Harriet Backer encouraged her to become an artist. Ingri later studied at art schools in Norway, Germany, and France.
Ingri and Edgar met in Munich when Ingri was an art student. They got married in 1925. Edgar later traveled to the U.S. to look for work. He got enough jobs illustrating books to send for Ingri. They moved into an apartment in Brooklyn in 1929.
At first, they worked separately. Edgar focused on illustrating books using wood block engravings and stone lithography. Ingri painted portraits of important business people.
The director of the New York Public Library noticed their work. She suggested they try making children's books together. So, the d'Aulaires decided to combine their talents. They created The Magic Rug in 1931. Soon after, they became U.S. citizens. They lived and worked in Wilton, Connecticut, from 1941 until they passed away in the 1980s. They also had a farm in Royalton, Vermont.
Their Books and Stories
Many of the d'Aulaires' first books were about the beautiful places and folktales of Norway. These included Ola, Children of the Northlights, and East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Later, they started focusing on their new home, America. They wrote books about American heroes like Pocahontas, Benjamin Franklin, and Buffalo Bill.
Ingri and Edgar used their research and travel experiences to inspire their work. Together, they created 27 illustrated books for children. Many of these were picture books. Edgar also illustrated Children of the Soil: A Story of Scandinavia by Nora Burglon.
The d'Aulaires won the third annual Caldecott Medal in 1940 for their book Abraham Lincoln. This book was a picture-book story about the life of the 16th U.S. President. They also won the 1953 Boy's Club award for their book Buffalo Bill (published in 1952).
Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths came out in 1962. It was a big book filled with amazing illustrations of Greek mythology. It had 192 pages and 46 chapters.
In 1967, they published Norse Gods and Giants. This book was based on old Norse stories called the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda. The 154-page book shared 30 Norse myths. It included most of the main stories about the Norse gods and goddesses.
D'Aulaires' Trolls was named one of The New York Times Book Review's outstanding books of 1972. It was also a finalist for the National Book Award. They wrote a follow-up book in 1976 called The Terrible Troll Bird. This was a new version of one of their earlier works, Ola and Blakken.
Popular Reprints
In 2005, New York Review Books reissued Norse Gods and Giants. They renamed it d'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths. This new edition was printed carefully to show the bright colors and textures of the original art. It became very popular right away. This led NYRB to reissue d'Aulaire's Trolls in 2006. This was also a careful reprint of the 1972 original. After that, they reprinted The Terrible Troll Bird.
Animals Everywhere was reprinted and renamed d'Aulaires' Book of Animals in 2007. Then came new editions of The Two Cars, Too Big, and Foxie. Foxie was their version of a short story by Anton Chekhov.
Books in Other Languages
In 2007 and 2008, an Italian publisher called Donzelli Editori reissued smaller Italian versions of Norse Myths (called Miti Del Nord) and Trolls (called Il Libro Dei Troll). Some of their books are also available in Korean and Japanese.
Awards and Recognition
The d'Aulaires received the Catholic Library Association Regina Medal in 1970. This award is given for "continued distinguished contribution to children's literature." In 1974, they were chosen as the U.S. nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award for children's illustrators. This award is given every two years.
The d'Aulaires and their book Abraham Lincoln won the Caldecott Medal from the American Library Association in 1940. This award recognizes the "most distinguished American picture book for children" from the previous year. Their book Buffalo Bill (1952) won the 1953 Boy's Club award. d'Aulaires' Trolls (1972) was a finalist for the annual National Book Award, Children's Literature. It was also named an "outstanding book" for 1972 by The New York Times Book Review.
List of Works
- The Magic Rug, Doubleday, 1931
- Ola, Doubleday, 1932
- Ola and Blakken, Doubleday, 1933
- The Conquest of the Atlantic, Viking Press, 1933
- The Lord's Prayer, Doubleday, 1934
- Children of the Northlights, Viking Press, 1935
- George Washington, Beautiful Feet Books, 1996
- East of the Sun and West of the Moon Viking Press, 1938
- Abraham Lincoln, Doubleday, Doran, 1939
- Animals Everywhere, Doubleday, 1940
- Leif the Lucky, Doubleday, Doran, 1941
- The Star Spangled Banner, Doubleday, Doran, 1942
- Don’t Count Your Chicks, Doubleday, 1943
- Wings for Per, Doubleday, 1944
- Too Big, Doubleday, 1945
- Pocahontas, Doubleday, 1946
- Nils, Doubleday, 1948
- Foxie, Doubleday, 1949
- Benjamin Franklin, Doubleday, 1950
- Buffalo Bill, Doubleday, 1952
- The Two Cars, Doubleday, 1955
- Columbus, Doubleday, 1955
- The Magic Meadow, Doubleday, 1958
- d'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths, Doubleday, 1962
- Norse Gods and Giants, Doubleday, 1967
- Trolls, Doubleday, 1972
- The Terrible Troll Bird, Doubleday, 1976
