Happy Birthday to Peter Sis

Peter Sis was born on this day in 1949 in Czechoslovakia. He attended the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague and the Royal College of Art in London. In 1982 he traveled to Los Angeles to work on a film project about the Olympic Games. When Eastern block countries decided to boycott the games, Peter was called home, but did not return. He was granted asylum and began his new life in the US.

I am a great fan of the work of Peter Sis. I absolutely adore The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin, an amazingly beautiful and different look at the life of Charles Darwin. I continue to be captivated with the story and illustrations in Tibet: Through the Red Box. You can view an animated excerpt of this amazing work on Peter's web site.

Peter was recognized for his inspired and unique work with a much deserved MacArthur Fellowship in 2003. “The MacArthur Fellows Program is designed to emphasize the importance of the creative individual in society. Fellows are selected for the originality and creativity of their work and the potential to do more in the future.”

Please head on over to Peter's site and check out his amazing body of work. While you're there, think happy thoughts and send a mental greeting his way. Happy birthday, Peter!

Celebrating Tana Hoban

Tana Hoban was born on this day in 1924. Long before she began writing and illustrating books for children, she was a well-known photographer. A master of the concept book, many of them wordless, Hoban created books on a variety of subjects including the alphabet, numbers, shapes, sizes, colors, opposites and animals. Many of her early books were in black-and-white, but the more recent works are in color.

Hoban once said of her work, “I like to draw the child into my photographs and say, ‘Come closer, take another look,’ and most important, ‘See everything!’”

Some of my favorite works by this amazing author/illustrator include:

• So Many Circles, So Many Squares
• Shapes, Shapes, Shapes
• Circles, Triangles and Squares - This one is out of print, but you may be able to find it in your school or public library.
• Is It Larger? Is It Smaller?

Ms. Hoban died in January, 2006 at the age of 88. You can read a wonderful tribute to her in the article Tana Hoban: She Made You Look Again and Again, courtesy of The Horn Book Magazine.