Paul O. Zelinsky facts for kids

Paul Oser Zelinsky, born in 1953, is a famous American artist and writer. He is best known for illustrating children's picture books. In 1998, he won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for his amazing illustrations in the book Rapunzel. One of his most popular works is The Wheels On the Bus, which is a best-selling book with moving parts.

He was also a runner-up for the Caldecott Medal three other times: in 1985, 1987, and 1995. The 1995 honor was for Swamp Angel, written by Anne Isaacs. Twenty years later, in 2015, these two books were recognized again. They were joint runners-up for the Phoenix Picture Book Award. This award celebrates great picture books that did not win a major prize 20 years earlier. Books are chosen for their beautiful pictures and how well the pictures and words work together.

Biography

Early life and interests

Paul O. Zelinsky was born in Evanston, Illinois. He grew up in Wilmette. As a child, he loved to draw. He would create imaginary worlds with his friends and draw them. When he was only four years old, he sent his artwork to Highlights magazine. This was the first time his art was shown to others.

Some of his favorite books when he was very young included The Color Kittens and Tawny Scrawny Lion. He remembers that reading these books gave him a special feeling. Later, his favorite authors were William Pène du Bois and Robert Lawson. He especially loved The Twenty-One Balloons by Du Bois and The Fabulous Flight by Lawson.

Career path and achievements

When Paul Zelinsky was in high school, he was interested in nature and building design. He thought he might have a career in one of those areas. However, he went to study at Yale University. There, he took a class about children's books taught by the famous artist Maurice Sendak. This class inspired him to work in children's literature.

Zelinsky also studied at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and Rome. He has always been fascinated by Renaissance and Italian art. This time in his life greatly influenced his love for art. His career in children's books began in 1978. He illustrated Emily Upham's Revenge by Avi. Since then, he has continued to illustrate books by other authors and create his own stories.

He won the 1998 Caldecott Medal for his illustrated version of Rapunzel. He also received three Caldecott Honor awards. These were for Hansel and Gretel (1985), Rumpelstiltskin (1987), and Swamp Angel (1995). His most popular book, Wheels On the Bus, has sold millions of copies.

Artistic style

Paul Zelinsky does not have just one artistic style. He changes his artwork and techniques to fit each book he illustrates. Linnea Lannon, a writer for the Detroit Free Press, said that Zelinsky is a top children's book illustrator not just because of his pictures, but because of how well they work with the words.

Zelinsky himself explains, "I want the pictures to speak in the same voice as the words." This goal has led him to try many different kinds of drawings in his books. He has used a wide range of styles. He feels lucky to have been asked to illustrate so many different kinds of stories.

Some of his books, like Wheels On the Bus and Knick-Knack Paddywhack!, are "engineered books." This means they have moving parts, like pop-ups. Zelinsky does not design these moving parts himself. Rodger Smith engineered Wheels On the Bus, and Andrew Baron engineered Knick-Knack Paddywhack!.

Books

As a writer and illustrator

• The Maid and the Mouse and the Odd-Shaped House: A Story in Rhyme (1981)
• The Lion and the Stoat (Greenwillow Books, 1984)
• Rumpelstiltskin, retold (1986) – from the Brothers Grimm
• Wheels On the Bus, paper engineer Rodger Smith (Dutton, 1990) – adapted from the children's folk song
• Rapunzel, retold (1997) – from the Brothers Grimm
• Knick-Knack Paddywhack!, paper engineer Andrew Baron (Dutton, 2002) – adapted from the nursery rhyme "This Old Man"

As illustrator

• Emily Upham's Revenge, or How Deadwood Dick Saved the Banker's Niece: A Massachusetts Adventure, written by Avi (Pantheon Books, 1978)
• How I Hunted the Little Fellows, Boris Zhitkov, translated from Russian by Djemma Bider (Dodd, Mead, 1979)
• The History of Helpless Harry, to Which is Added a Variety of Amusing and Entertaining Adventures, Avi (1980)
• What Amanda Saw, Naomi Lazard (1981)
• Three Romances: Love Stories from Camelot Retold, Winifred Rosen (1981)
• Ralph S. Mouse, Beverly Cleary (1982)
• The Sun's Asleep Behind the Hill, Mirra Ginsburg (1982) – adapted from an Armenian song
• The Song in the Walnut Grove, David Kherdian (1982)
• Dear Mr. Henshaw, Beverly Cleary (1983)
• Zoo Doings: Animal Poems, Jack Prelutsky (1983)
• Hansel and Gretel, retold by Rika Lesser (1984)
• The Story of Mrs. Lovewright and Her Purrless Cat, Lore Segal (1985)
• The Random House Book of Humor for Children, selected by Pamela Pollack (1988)
• The Big Book for Peace, Myra Cohn Livingston (1990)
• Strider, Beverly Cleary (1991)
• The Enchanted Castle, E. Nesbit (1992; originally 1907)
• More Rootabagas, by Carl Sandburg, edited by George Hendrick (1993)
• Swamp Angel, Anne Isaacs (Dutton Children's Books, 1994)
• Five Children and It, E. Nesbit (1999; originally 1902)
• Awful Ogre's Awful Day, Jack Prelutsky (2000) – poems
• Doodler Doodling, Rita Golden Gelman (2004)
• Toys Go Out series, children's novels by Emily Jenkins, published by Schwartz & Wade
  • Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone called Plastic (2006)
  • Toy Dance Party: Being the Further Adventures of a Bossyboots Stingray, a Courageous Buffalo, and a Hopeful Round Someone called Plastic (2008)
  • Toys Come Home: Being the Early Experiences of an Intelligent Stingray, a Brave Buffalo, and a Brand-New Someone called Plastic (2011)
  • Toys Meet Snow: Being the Wintertime Adventures of a Curious Stuffed Buffalo, a Sensitive Plush Stingray, and a Book-Loving Rubber Ball (2015)
• The Shivers in the Fridge, Fran Manushkin (2006)
• Awful Ogre Running Wild, Jack Prelutsky (2008) – poems
• Dust Devil, Anne Isaacs (Random House/Schwartz & Wade, 2010) – sequel to Swamp Angel
• Z is for Moose, Kelly Bingham (2012)
• Earwig and the Witch, Diana Wynne Jones (2012)
• Circle, Square, Moose, Kelly Bingham (2014) – sequel to Z is for Moose