Jan Pieńkowski facts for kids

Jan Michał Pieńkowski (born August 8, 1936 – died February 19, 2022) was a famous Polish-born British artist. He was known for creating amazing children's books. He worked as an illustrator, writer, and even designed special movable books, also known as pop-up books.

Jan Pieńkowski is most famous for drawing the pictures for the Meg and Mog series of books. These books are loved by many young readers. He also used his talents to design sets for the theatre. His work was so important that he was nominated twice for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. This award is one of the highest honors for people who create children's books.

Early Life and Education

Jan Pieńkowski was born in Warsaw, Poland. His father, Jerzy, managed a farm, and his mother, Wanda, was a scientist. When Jan was three years old, World War II started in Europe. Poland was invaded in September 1939.

During a Nazi air raid, Jan was in a shelter. There, a Polish fighter showed him how to make paper cut-outs. This simple technique later became a big part of his art style. He used paper cut-outs in more than 150 picture books.

After 1944, his family moved through different countries like Bavaria, Austria, and Italy. Finally, in 1946, they settled in Herefordshire, England. Jan went to Lucton School there.

When he was ten, Jan could not speak English. But just one year later, he passed an important exam. He then went to the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in London. Later, he studied English Classics at King's College, part of the Cambridge University. It was at Cambridge that he met Angela Holder, who became his friend and later his agent. She encouraged him to turn one of his poster designs into a greeting card.

Starting a Creative Career

After university, Jan and Angela started a company called Gallery Five. They made greeting cards. Jan began illustrating children's books in his free time. Soon, this hobby became his full-time job.

In 1968, Jan Pieńkowski started working with the children's author Joan Aiken. He won the important Kate Greenaway Medal for their book, The Kingdom Under the Sea and other stories, published in 1971. This book featured eleven fairy tales from Eastern Europe and Russia, retold by Joan Aiken. The Kate Greenaway Medal is given to the best children's book illustration by a British artist each year. Librarians praised his work, calling it "brilliantly illustrated in a highly original and recognisable silhouette style."

Famous Books and Awards

Jan Pieńkowski is perhaps most famous for his illustrations in the Meg and Mog books. These popular books were written by Helen Nicoll. He also became very well-known for his amazing pop-up books. Some of his famous pop-up titles include Haunted House, Robot, Dinner Time, and Good Night. He created 17 pop-up books in total.

His book Haunted House, published in 1979, earned him his second Kate Greenaway Medal. No other artist has won this award three times. Librarians described Haunted House as "the house of petrifying pop-ups." This pop-up book was incredibly successful. By 1992, it had sold over one million copies. It was also translated into 13 languages and sold in nearly 30 countries around the world.

In 2019, Jan Pieńkowski received the Booktrust's Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized his long and important career in children's literature.

Other Creative Work

Jan Pieńkowski had a strong interest in stage design throughout his life. He was asked to create designs for the Théâtre de Complicité. He also designed for Beauty and the Beast for the Royal Ballet. Another one of his designs was for Sleeping Beauty at Disneyland Paris.

In December 2008, he was a guest on a music discussion show called Private Passions on BBC Radio 3. He shared his favorite music, which showed his Polish background and his love for Italy and England.

Personal Life

In October 2009, Jan Pieńkowski was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. He talked about his childhood travels across Europe. He also spoke about his long relationship with his partner and collaborator, David Walser. They met in a pub in West London.

Jan Pieńkowski lived and worked in Barnes, London. He was also a supporter of the Barnes Literary Society. He passed away on February 19, 2022, at the age of 85.