Joan Kiddell-Monroe facts for kids
Joan Kiddell-Monroe (born 1908, died 1972) was a talented British author and artist. She wrote and drew pictures for many children's books. She was especially famous for her amazing illustrations in books about folk tales and legends.
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About Joan Kiddell-Monroe
Joan Kiddell-Monroe was born on August 9, 1908. Her birthplace was Clacton-on-Sea in England. She studied art at the Chelsea School of Art. For a while, she worked in advertising. Later, she became a freelance artist. This meant she worked for herself.
In the late 1930s, Joan married Webster Murray. He was an illustrator from Canada. Sadly, he passed away in 1957. Before World War II, Joan and Webster traveled in Africa. After his death, she returned to Africa with her son. Joan spent her later years living in Majorca. This is where she passed away in 1972.
Her Amazing Artwork
Joan Kiddell-Monroe is best known for her book illustrations. She was a very busy artist. She created many drawings between the 1940s and 1960s. Her art often showed animals and life in other countries. She especially loved drawing scenes from Africa.
She illustrated a special series for OUP. It was called the Oxford Myths and Legends series. This series included stories from China, Scandinavia, the West Indies, and many other places. Joan also drew pictures for several Irish books. These included Long Ears and Orla of Burren by Patricia Lynch.
Joan illustrated all six books of the Ladybird series. These books were called The Adventures of Wonk. Wonk was a cute koala character. She also wrote and illustrated four of her own stories. These were called In His Little Black Waistcoat. The hero of these stories was a panda. Her artwork also appeared in the New Zealand School Journal. This happened in the 1950s.
Joan used different art styles and materials. These included scraperboard, wash, and pen and ink. For her version of Arabian Nights (1951), she used a fancy, decorative style. But for Aesop's Fables (1972), she used bright, flat colors.
Books She Illustrated
Joan Kiddell-Monroe illustrated many books for other authors. Here are a few examples:
- Patricia Lynch, Long Ears (1943)
- Pearl Buck, The Dragon Fish (1946)
- Muriel Levy, The Adventures of Wonk - The Snowman & Kidnapped (1948)
- Eileen, O'Faolain, Irish Sagas and Folk-Tales (1954)
- Rene Guillot, Grishka and the Bear (1970)
Books Written and Illustrated by Joan
Joan Kiddell-Monroe also wrote and illustrated her own books:
- The Irresponsible Goat (1948)
- In his Little Black Waistcoat to India (1948)
