Peter Spier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Spier
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| Born | June 6, 1927 Amsterdam, North Holland |
| Died | April 27, 2017 (aged 89) Port Jefferson, New York |
| Occupation | children's writer and illustrator |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | Dutch and American |
| Education | Rijksakademie in Amsterdam |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Noah's Ark won:
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Peter Spier (born June 6, 1927, died April 27, 2017) was a talented artist and writer from the Netherlands. He later became an American citizen. He created over 30 amazing children's books.
Contents
About Peter Spier
Peter Spier was born in Amsterdam, North Holland. He grew up in a town called Broek in Waterland. His father, Jo Spier, was also a famous artist.
During World War II, Peter and his father were held in a camp. After the war, he studied art at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. He then served in the Royal Netherlands Navy for four years. In 1950, his whole family moved to the United States.
Peter first worked as an artist for advertising companies. Later, he decided to focus on writing and illustrating children's books. He passed away on April 27, 2017, in Port Jefferson, New York.
Peter Spier's Art Style
Peter Spier was a very skilled artist. He used pen, ink, and watercolour paints on paper. His drawings are known for being super detailed and very accurate. If you look closely at his pictures, you might even find funny little scenes you didn't notice at first! This made his books fun for everyone.
Publishers of His Books
Many of Peter Spier's early books were published by Doubleday & Company, Inc.. This includes his "Mother Goose Library Series," like London Bridge Is Falling Down!. You can also find his newer books from Double Day Books For Young Readers, Dragonfly Books, and Random House.
Awards for His Books
Peter Spier won many awards for his wonderful books:
- His book Noah's Ark (published in 1977) won the important Caldecott Medal in 1978. This award is given to the artist of the best American picture book for children each year.
- Noah's Ark also won a National Book Award in 1982.
- It was also named to the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award list in 1978.
Another book, People (published in 1980), won a Christopher Award. It was also a finalist for the National Book Award in 1981. Disney even made a TV show based on People in 1995!
The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night (published in 1961) was recognized as a Caldecott Honor Book in 1962.
Books Written and Illustrated by Peter Spier
- Island City: Adventures In Old New York (1961)
- The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night (1961)
- London Bridge Is Falling Down! (1967)
- To Market! To Market! (1967)
- Hurrah, We're Outward Bound! (1968)
- And So My Garden Grows (1969)
- Of Dikes and Windmills (1969)
- The Erie Canal (1970)
- Gobble, Growl, Grunt (1971)
- Fast-Slow High-Low (1972)
- Crash! Bang! Boom! (1972)
- Tin Lizzie (1975)
- Noah's Ark (1977)
- Bored—nothing to do! (1978)
- Oh, Were They Ever Happy! (1978)
- The Legend of New Amsterdam (1979)
- People (1980)
- Peter Spier's Village Board Books (1981)
- Bill's Service Station
- Firehouse
- The Toy Shop
- My School
- Pet Store
- Food Market
- Peter Spier's Christmas
- Peter Spier's Little Bible Storybooks
- Genesis creation narrative|The Creation
- Noah
- Jonah
- Peter Spier's Little Animal Books
- Little Cats
- Little Dogs
- Little Ducks
- Little Rabbits
- Dreams
- We the People
- Peter Spier's Advent Calendar: Little Town of Bethlehem
- Peter Spier's Advent Calendar: Silent Night, Holy Night
- Rain (1982)
- No Such Things (1983)
- Christmas! (1983)
- The Book Of Jonah (1985)
- Big Trucks, Little Trucks (1988)
- Fast Cars, Slow Cars (1988)
- Here Come The Fire Trucks (1988)
- Trucks That Dig And Dump (1988)
- Circus (1995)
Books Illustrated by Peter Spier
Peter Spier also illustrated books written by other authors:
- The Cow Who Fell in the Canal (1957), by Phyllis Krasilovsky
- Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates (1958), by Mary Mapes Dodge
- Betty Crocker's Guide to Easy Entertaining (1959)
- The Sailing Ship (1964), by Jan de Hartog
- History of the Theater (1964), by Hannelore Marek
- Great Furniture Styles, 1660–1830 (1965), by Donald D. MacMillan
- Elizabethan England (1965), by Anthony West
- Here and There: 100 poems about places (1967), compiled by Elinor Parker
- The Erie Canal (1970), a version of the song "Low Bridge" by Thomas S. Allen
- The Star-Spangled Banner (1973), a version of the song by Francis Scott Key
- We The People: The Constitution Of The United States Of America (1987), which includes the text of the US Constitution
- The Last Hurdle (1988), by F. K. Brown
- The Little Riders (1988), by Margaretha Shemin (later made into a Disney film)
