Tibor Gergely facts for kids

Tibor Gergely (born August 3, 1900 – died January 13, 1978) was a talented Hungarian-American artist. He is most famous for drawing pictures in many popular children's picture books. His illustrations brought stories to life for kids around the world.

A Life in Art

Early Life and Moving to America

Tibor Gergely was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1900. He briefly studied art in Vienna. In 1939, he moved to the United States. He made New York City his new home. He became a U.S. citizen in 1948.

Drawing for Children's Books

Gergely was mostly a self-taught artist. He became well-known for his work on children's picture books. He drew pictures for many books published by Little Golden Books. Some of his most popular books include The Happy Man and His Dump Truck and Busy Day Busy People. He also illustrated The Magic Bus and The Fire Engine Book.

Two of his most famous books are The Little Red Caboose and Tootle. He also drew for Five Little Firemen and Five Hundred Animals from A to Z. Another well-loved book he illustrated is Scuffy the Tugboat. His best work is collected in "The Great Big Book of Bedtime Stories".

Olympic Art Competition

Tibor Gergely also participated in an art competition. His painting was part of the art competition at the 1928 Summer Olympics. This shows his wide range of artistic talents.

Best-Selling Books

Gergely's books have been very popular for a long time. As of 2001, Tootle was the third best-selling hardcover children's book ever in English. Scuffy the Tugboat was the eighth best-selling book of all time. These books continue to be loved by children and families.

Tibor Gergely passed away in 1978 in New York. His art continues to bring joy to many young readers.