Marc Simont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marc Simont
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| Born | November 23, 1915 Paris, France |
| Died | July 13, 2013 (aged 97) Cornwall, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation | Artist, cartoonist, illustrator |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1939–2013 |
| Genre | Children's literature including picture books |
| Notable works | Nate the Great series |
| Notable awards | Caldecott Medal 1957 |
Marc Simont (born November 23, 1915 – died July 13, 2013) was a very talented American artist. He was born in Paris, France. Marc became famous for illustrating more than one hundred children's books. He also drew political cartoons. His father, Joseph Simont, was a Spanish painter. He inspired Marc to draw from a very young age.
Contents
Marc Simont: A Life in Art
Marc Simont moved to New York City in 1935. His father encouraged him to pursue art. Marc studied at the New York National School of Design. He also served in the military for three years.
His first children's book was published in 1939. This was the start of a long and successful career. He loved creating pictures for stories.
Award-Winning Illustrator
Marc Simont won the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1957. This award is given for the best illustrations in a U.S. children's picture book. He won for his work on A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry.
He was also a runner-up for the Caldecott Medal twice. First, in 1950, for The Happy Day by Ruth Krauss. Then, in 2002, for The Stray Dog. Marc Simont both wrote and illustrated The Stray Dog.
He illustrated many other well-known books. These include The 13 Clocks and The Wonderful O by James Thurber. He also illustrated In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord. Another popular book he illustrated was My Brother, Ant by Betsy Byars.
Bringing Characters to Life
Marc Simont helped create the popular boy detective, Nate the Great. He worked with writer Marjorie W. Sharmat. Marc illustrated the first twenty books in the Nate the Great series. He drew these books from 1972 until 1998. His drawings helped bring Nate and his dog, Sludge, to life for many young readers.
Cartoonist for Social Justice
Besides children's books, Marc Simont was also a cartoonist. He drew cartoons for the Lakeville Journal, a newspaper in Connecticut. In 2007, he won the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism. This award recognized his cartoons that focused on important social issues.
Marc Simont passed away at his home in West Cornwall, Connecticut on July 13, 2013. He was 97 years old. He left behind a wonderful collection of art and stories for children.
Notable Works
- The Happy Day (1949, Caldecott Honor Book)
- The 13 Clocks (1950)
- A Tree Is Nice (1956, Caldecott Medal winner in 1957)
- The Wonderful O (1957)
- Nate the Great (1972)
- In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson (1984)
- Many Moons (1990)
- The Stray Dog (2000, author/illustrator; Caldecott Honor Book)
