Lillian Hoban facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lillian Hoban
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| Born | Lillian Aberman May 18, 1925 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | July 17, 1998 (aged 73) New York, New York, US |
| Occupation | Writer, illustrator |
| Nationality | American |
| Notable awards | Boys Club Award 1972 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award Christopher Award 1972 |
| Spouse | Russell Hoban (1944–1975, divorced); 4 children (Phoebe, Abrom, Esmé, Julia) |
Lillian Hoban (born May 18, 1925 – died July 17, 1998) was a talented American artist. She was an illustrator and children's writer. She is famous for the picture books she created. Many of these were made with her husband, Russell Hoban. Lillian Hoban published many books. Her stories and drawings have been enjoyed in 11 different languages.
Contents
Lillian Hoban's Life Story
Lillian Hoban was born in Philadelphia. She was the youngest of three sisters. From a young age, she loved art. She wanted to become an artist. At 14, she started art classes. There she met Russell Hoban, who would become her husband.
She earned a scholarship to the Philadelphia Museum School of Art. She studied illustration there. After marrying, Lillian moved to New York City. For ten years, she studied dance. She even danced professionally. She also taught dance for a while. She stopped dancing when her second child was born.
The Hobans raised their four children in Connecticut. Their children were Phoebe, Brom, Julia, and Esmé. In 1969, the family moved to London. However, Lillian and the children soon moved back to Connecticut. Russell stayed in London. After returning to the U.S., Lillian started writing her own stories. She often used her children and their friends as inspiration.
Working with Russell Hoban
Lillian Hoban's first big work was with her husband, Russell. This was in the 1960s and early 1970s. Their most famous collaboration was the Frances series. These books were about a badger named Frances. The character of Frances was inspired by a neighbor's daughter. This girl found many ways to avoid bedtime.
The Frances Books
The first book, Bedtime for Frances, was illustrated by Garth Williams. Russell Hoban felt he couldn't draw "soft and cuddly" animals. So, another artist was chosen. Williams drew Frances as a badger. Lillian Hoban took over illustrating with the second book. This was A Baby Sister for Frances. She continued to draw the badger family. Lillian's drawings showed the characters' feelings. Their body language and faces made them seem real. The Hobans' oldest daughter, Phoebe, was the model for Frances.
Why the Frances Series is Popular
A main idea in the Frances books is solving problems. The characters learn to think and be creative. Readers love the feeling of a warm, supportive family. This is shown through the stories and pictures. Another reason for their popularity is Frances's songs. Starting with the second book, Frances sings to share her feelings. Editors say the books are popular because of the kind parents. Also, they show common childhood moments. Frances herself is a strong and imaginative character.
Many Frances books were later made into "I Can Read" books. These are easier for young readers. Titles like Bread and Jam for Frances and A Birthday for Frances were republished.
Other Books by the Hobans
Lillian and Russell Hoban worked together on many books. They created at least 27 children's books. This was between 1964 and 1972. The Brute Family books are another example. These include The Little Brute Family. They tell a funny story about a grumpy family. The family learns how good feelings can spread.
Another famous book was Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. This story is about Emmet Otter and his mom. They enter a talent show to buy each other Christmas gifts. This book won an award in 1972. Later, it became a TV movie. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas was their last book together.
Lillian Hoban's Solo Career
After her divorce, Lillian Hoban became a successful author and illustrator. She created many "I-Can-Read" books. Her editor, Ursula Nordstrom, helped her a lot. Lillian wrote stories for children. Nordstrom saw that they fit the "I-Can-Read" format perfectly.
Arthur the Chimpanzee
The Arthur series became very popular. Arthur the chimpanzee and his sister Violet face common childhood challenges. These are similar to the ones in the Frances series. Lillian's first Arthur book was Arthur's Christmas Cookies (1972). This idea came from her own children. Her son once made clay cookies. He decorated them to sell as ornaments. In the book, Arthur makes clay cookies by mistake. Then he decides to make them into ornaments.
Arthur's Honey Bear (1974) was also inspired by her kids. They would sell toys to each other. One night, a dad called at 2 AM. He offered money for a Scooby-Doo toy. His son couldn't sleep without it! Other popular books by Lillian Hoban include the Tilly the Mole and Mr. Pig series.
Other Popular Series
Lillian Hoban also illustrated the Riverside Kids series. These books were written by Johanna Hurwitz. They are about growing up in New York City. Titles include Busybody Nora and Rip-Roaring Russell.
She also loved illustrating the First Grade Friends series. Miriam Cohen wrote these books. The series follows a classroom of children. The first book was Will I Have a Friend (1967). Other books include Best Friends and Starring First Grade.
Books for Older Kids
Lillian Hoban wrote one book for young adults. It was called I Met a Traveler (1977). This story was inspired by a young girl she met in Israel. It's about an 11-year-old girl visiting Jerusalem. She also illustrated books for older children by other authors. One was Russell Hoban's The Mouse and His Child (1967). This book is considered a classic.
The 1980s: A Busy Time
The 1980s were Lillian Hoban's busiest time. She illustrated over 40 books. This included more Arthur books and books in the Riverside Kids series. She also illustrated many books by Miriam Cohen.
Her book Harry's Song (1980) was about art. It tells the story of Harry Rabbit. He sings songs of summer as other animals prepare for winter. They tease him for not helping. But his mother loves his song. She says it will carry them through winter.
In No, No Sammy Crow (1981), Sammy Crow loves his baby blanket. His mom helps him find a solution. Sammy gives up his blanket to help hatch his new baby sibling. But he secretly keeps a small piece. This shows how well Hoban understood children's feelings.
The Silly Tilly series was different. It was about an elderly woman who forgets things. These books are set around holidays. Holidays were a big interest for Hoban. Her last Silly Tilly book, Silly Tilly's Valentine, was published after she passed away.
Working with Her Children
Lillian Hoban also worked with her own children. She collaborated with her daughter Julia on the Amy Loves series. These books show a child's joy in the changing seasons. They include Amy Loves the Sun and Amy Loves the Snow. Julia and Lillian also created Buzby the cat (1990).
Lillian worked with her oldest daughter Phoebe on two robot books. These were Ready-Set-Robot! (1982) and The Laziest Robot in Zone One (1983). These stories explored childhood lessons in a future setting. Lillian's son Brom also wrote and illustrated children's books. She encouraged him to write from his own experiences.
Lillian Hoban's Art and Ideas
Early Life and Inspiration
Lillian Hoban grew up in a family that loved reading. Her interest in books started early. She remembered reading with her sisters. As a child, she spent Sundays drawing characters from comics. Her older sister, Sarah, had a great imagination. She loved telling stories. Lillian felt this helped her enjoy inventing stories too.
Her parents supported her art. They took her to museums and bought her art supplies. She also went to special drawing classes at school. Lillian spent many hours at the Rittenhouse Square Library. It had a low bench where kids could easily reach books. She read countless books there.
Her Artistic Style
Lillian Hoban focused on capturing feelings in her illustrations. When drawing characters, she would practice making many expressions. She would look in a mirror to find the best face. Her children sometimes found her making funny faces!
Many of her early books used only two colors plus black. She used a process called three-color separation. By layering red and yellow over black, she could create purple, green, and orange. Later, books were printed in full color. She then used pastels, watercolors, and colored pencils.
For Lillian Hoban, the words were always most important. As an author, she wanted the words to sound natural. She wanted the rhythm of the sentences to be pleasing. This was important for both her and for children reading her books.
Lillian Hoban passed away in 1998 at age 73. She died from heart failure.
Images for kids
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Lillian Hoban, a talented writer and illustrator.
