Lisbeth Zwerger facts for kids

Lisbeth Zwerger (born May 26, 1954) is an amazing Austrian illustrator. She is famous for drawing pictures in children's books. In 1990, she won the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal. This award is like a Nobel Prize for children's literature. It honors her lasting contributions to books for young readers.

Lisbeth Zwerger was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1954. She studied art at the Applied Arts Academy of Vienna. She attended from 1971 to 1974. However, she left before finishing her studies. Later, she married an English artist named John Rowe. Since 1977, she has worked as a freelance illustrator. She lives in Vienna and specializes in drawing for fairy tales.

Her first illustrated book was Das Fremde Kind. It was published in 1977 by Michael Neugebauer Verlag. Lisbeth Zwerger continued to work with Neugebauer. He sometimes helped with the lettering and design of her books. Her drawing style looks a lot like English illustrators from the 1800s. She has said that Arthur Rackham greatly influenced her work.

Awards and Honors

Lisbeth Zwerger has won many important awards for her illustrations. These awards celebrate her talent and hard work.

Hans Christian Andersen Medal

The Hans Christian Andersen Award is given every two years. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) presents it. It is the highest honor for a writer or illustrator of children's books. Lisbeth Zwerger received the illustration award in 1990.

Other Recognitions

She has also been honored at other big events. These include the Bologna International Children's Book Fair. She also received recognition at the Biennial of Illustrators in Bratislava.

In 2000, she won a Silver Brush award. This was for her beautiful illustrations in Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Here are some other awards she has received:

• Österreichischer Kunstpreis - Kinder- und Jugendliteratur, 1998
• H.C. Andersen Prize "Mit Livs Eventyr", 2011
• Großer Preis 2012, from Die Deutsche Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur
• Rattenfänger-Literaturpreis 1994

Exhibitions Worldwide

Lisbeth Zwerger's artwork has been shown in many places. Her illustrations have traveled around the world. People in different countries have enjoyed seeing her original drawings.

Here are some places where her work has been exhibited:

• Salzburg Toy Museum, 1979
• Klingspor Museum/Offenbach, 1983
• Otani Memorial Art Museum/Nishinomiya, 1987
• Sembikiya Gallery/Tokyo, 1987
• Sano Gallery/Mishima, 1987
• Museo Civico, Bologna, 1990
• Paris Espace Saint-Ouen (Salon du livre de jeunesse), 1991
• Bratislava (BIB), 1991
• International Book Fair/Taipei, 1992
• Franz Meier Museum/Mexico City, 1993

Published Books Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

Lisbeth Zwerger has illustrated many classic stories. She has brought famous fairy tales and novels to life with her unique art. Here is a list of some of the books she has worked on:

• E.T.A. Hoffmann, "The Strange Child", 1977
• Clemens Brentano, "The Legend of Rosepedal", 1978
• Brothers Grimm, "Hansel and Gretel", 1979
• E.T.A. Hoffmann, "Nutcracker and Mouseking", 1979 (first version)
• Hans Christian Andersen, "Thumbelina", 1980
• Brothers Grimm, "The Seven Ravens", 1981
• Hans Christian Andersen, "The Swineherd", 1982
• O.Henry, "The Gift of the Magi", 1982
• Brothers Grimm, Le Petit Chaperon Rouge ("Little Red Cap"), 1983
• Oscar Wilde, Le Géant égoïste ("The Selfish Giant"), 1984
• Hans Christian Andersen, "The Nightingale", 1984
• Edith Nesbit, "The Deliverers of their country", 1985
• Oscar Wilde, "The Canterville Ghost", 1986
• Charles Dickens, Un Chant de Noël ("A Christmas Carol"), 1988
• Aesop, Fables, 1989
• Till L'Espiègle ("Till Eulenspiegel"), 1990
• Hans Christian Andersen, Fairy Tales, 1991
• Christian Morgenstern, "Gallows Songs", 1992
• Wilhelm Hauff, "Dwarf Nose", 1993
• "The Art of Lisbeth Zwerger" (a collection of her illustrations from 1977–1993), 1993
• Theodor Storm, "Little Hobbin", 1995
• Frank L. Baum, "The Wizard of Oz", 1996
• Heinz Janisch L'Arche de Noé ("Noah's Ark"), 1997
• Lewis Carroll, Alice au pays des merveilles ("Alice in Wonderland"), 1999
• "The Bible", 2000
• Rudyard Kipling "How the Camel got his Hump", 2001
• Peter I. Tchaikowsky-Lisbeth Zwerger "Swanlake", 2002
• E.T.A. Hoffmann, "Nutcracker", 2003 (second version)
• Hans Christian Andersen, "The Little Mermaid", 2004
• Clement C. Moore, "The Night before Christmas", 2005
• Brothers Grimm, "The Bremen Town Musicians", 2006
• Jurg Amann, "Leonce and Lena", 2014
• J. K. Rowling, "The Tales of Beedle the Bard", 2018