Roger Duvoisin facts for kids

Roger Antoine Duvoisin (born August 28, 1900 – died June 30, 1980) was a talented writer and illustrator. He was born in Switzerland but later became an American citizen. He is most famous for creating wonderful children's picture books.

In 1948, he won the important Caldecott Medal for his work. In 1968, he was also a highly praised runner-up for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award for children's illustrators.

Roger Duvoisin's Life Story

Roger Duvoisin was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1900. He loved to draw from a young age. His father, who was an architect, and his godmother, a famous painter, both encouraged him.

He studied art at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. His first jobs involved designing scenery for plays, making posters, and painting large pictures called murals. He even managed an old French pottery factory for a while.

Later, he started designing textiles, which are fabrics. This job brought him to the United States. In 1927, he moved to New York City with his wife, Louise Fatio, who was also an artist from Switzerland. In New York, he began working on children's books and illustrations for magazines. He became an American citizen in 1938.

Roger Duvoisin passed away in June 1980.

Amazing Books and Awards

Roger Duvoisin wrote his first book in the U.S. He became very well-known for his beautiful illustrations.

Winning the Caldecott Medal

He won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for a book called White Snow, Bright Snow. This book was written by Alvin Tresselt and published in 1947. The Caldecott Medal is a special award given each year by the American Library Association. It celebrates the best illustrations in an American picture book for children.

Roger Duvoisin and Alvin Tresselt worked together again in 1965 on Hide and Seek Fog. This book was also recognized as one of the top three runners-up for the Caldecott Medal that year.

The Happy Lion Series

Roger Duvoisin's wife, Louise Fatio, wrote a popular picture book called The Happy Lion. Roger illustrated it, and it was published in 1954. This was Louise's first book, and it started a whole series! They created ten Happy Lion books together between 1954 and 1980. The German version of The Happy Lion even won a special award in Germany in 1956.

Petunia and Veronica

Roger Duvoisin also wrote and illustrated his own successful series of books. These stories featured a goose named Petunia and a hippopotamus named Veronica. The first book, Petunia, came out in 1950. Veronica followed in 1961.

He also worked on translating and illustrating old European folk tales, like The Crocodile in the Tree (1973).

Other Recognitions

In 1961, Roger Duvoisin received an award from the Society of Illustrators. In 1966, he was given the Rugers Bi-Centennial award. His books were published by The Bodley Head Ltd in London, Sydney, and Toronto.

List of Roger Duvoisin's Books

• And There Was America (1938)
• Fairy Tales from Switzerland. The Three Sneezes and Other Swiss Tales (1941)
• The Talking Cat and Other Tales of French Canada by Natalie Savage Carlson illustrated by Roger Duvoisin (1952)
• Crocus (1977)
• Day and Night (1960)
• Donkey–Donkey (1934)
• The Crocodile In The Tree (1972)
• Easter Treat (1954)
• Happy Lion (1954)
• The Happy Hunter (1961)
• Hide and Seek Fog (1965)
• The House of Four Seasons (1956)
• Jasmine (1973)
• Our Veronica Goes to Petunia's Farm (1962)
• Petunia (1950)
• Petunia and the Song (1951)
• Petunia's Christmas (1952)
• Petunia Takes A Trip (1953)
• Petunia, Beware! (1958)
• Petunia, I love You (1965)
• Petunia's Treasure (1975)
• Snowy and Woody (1979)
• Spring Snow (1963)
• The Miller, His Son, and Their Donkey, a retelling of the fable (1962)
• The Night Before Christmas (1954)
• Veronica's Smile (1964)
• The Christmas Whale (1945)