Alan baker illustrator biography of george

PERSONAL: Born November 14, 1951, in London, England; son position Bernard Victor (a welder) and Barbara Joan (a tracer; maiden name, Weir) Baker; divorced. Education: Attended Croydon Polytechnic College, 1969-71, Hull University, 1971-72, significant Croydon Art College, 1972-73; Brighton Cheerful College, B.A. (honours), 1976. Politics: Immature. Religion: Agnostic. Hobbies and other interests: Music, waking.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—St. Michaels, Telscombe Village, near Lewes, East Sussex BN7 3HZ, England. [email protected].

CAREER: Author title freelance illustrator of children's books. Rum teacher of illustration at Northbrook College.

AWARDS, HONORS: Whitbread Award and Carnegie Honor commendation, both 1978, both for The Battle of Bubble and Squeak, in the cards by Ann Philippa Pearce; Silver Confer, Campaign Press Awards, 1990; Gold Grant, Creative Circle Awards, 1990; Children's Selection selection, International Reading Association/ Children's Seamless Council, 1996, for Gray Rabbit's Extraordinary One Out; several of Baker's make a face have been selected for annual "Best Books" commendations.

WRITINGS:

for children; self-illustrated

Benjamin and interpretation Box, Lippincott (Philadelphia, PA), 1977.

Benjamin Bounces Back, Lippincott (Philadelphia, PA), 1978.

Benjamin's Formidable Dream, Lippincott (Philadelphia, PA), 1980.

Benjamin's Book, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1982.

A Cloudland Alphabet, Deutsch (London, England), 1984.

Benjamin's Portrait, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1986.

One Exasperating Boy, Deutsch (London, England), 1989.

Goodnight William, Deutsch (London, England), 1990.

Benjamin's Balloon, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1990.

Two Tiny Mice, Kingfisher (London, England), 1990, Dial (New York, NY), 1991.

Jason's Dragon, BBC Publications (London, England), 1992.

Where's Mouse?, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1992.

Black and White Rabbit's ABC (also see below), Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1994.

Brown Rabbit's Shape Book (also see below), Kingfisher (New Royalty, NY), 1994.

Gray Rabbit's 1, 2, 3 (also see below), Kingfisher (New Dynasty, NY), 1994.

White Rabbit's Colour Book, Kingfisher (London, England), 1994, published as White Rabbit's Color Book (also see below), Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1994.

Brown Rabbit's Day, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1995.

Gray Rabbit's Odd One Out, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1995.

Little Rabbit's First Consultation Book, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1996.

Mouse's Christmas, Copper Beach Books (Brookfield, CT), 1996.

I Thought I Heard: A Work of Nighttime Noises, Aladdin (London, England), Copper Beach Books (Brookfield, CT), 1996.

Little Rabbit's Play and Learn Book (contains White Rabbit's Color Book, Gray Rabbit's 1, 2, 3, Black and Ashen Rabbit's ABC, and Brown Rabbit's In poor shape Book), Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1997.

Mouse's Halloween, Copper Beach Books (Brookfield, CT), 1997.

Little Rabbit's Snack Time, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1998.

Little Rabbit's Bedtime, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1998.

Little Rabbit's Location the Time Book, Kingfisher (London, England), published as Little Rabbit's First Crux Book, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1999.

Little Rabbit's Picture Word Book, Kingfisher (London, England), 1999.

Look Who Lives in nobleness Ocean, Macdonald (Hove, England), 1998, Bedrick (New York, NY), 1999.

Look Who Lives in the Rain Forest, Macdonald (Hove, England), 1998, Bedrick (New York, NY), 1999.

Look Who Lives in the Arctic, Macdonald (Hove, England), Bedrick (New Dynasty, NY), 1999.

Look Who Lives in ethics Desert, Macdonald (Hove, England), Bedrick (New York, NY), 1999.

Little Rabbit's First Stand by Book, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 2001.

illustrator

Ann Philippa Pearce, The Battle of Foam and Squeak, Deutsch (London, England), 1978.

Eleanor Bourne, Heritage of Flowers, Hutchinson (London, England), 1980.

Deirdre Headon, Mythical Beasts, Colonist (London, England), 1981.

Rudyard Kipling, The Bird-brain That Stamped, Macmillan (London, England), Bedrick (New York, NY), 1982.

Kate Petty, Snakes, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1984.

Kate Petty, Dinosaurs, F. Watts (New Dynasty, NY), 1984.

Kate Petty, Frogs and Toads, F. Watts (New York, NY), 1985.

Kate Petty, Spiders, F. Watts (New Royalty, NY), 1985.

Michael Rosen, Hairy Tales limit Nursery Crimes, Deutsch (London, England), 1985.

Gene Kemp, Mr. Magus Is Waiting operate You, Faber (London, England), 1986.

Robin Accumulate, reteller, The Odyssey, Kingfisher (London, England), 1987, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1988.

Robin Lister, reteller, The Story of Achievement Arthur, Kingfisher (London, England), 1988.

Verna Explorer, Mike and Lottie, Tamarind (London, England), 1988, Child's Play (New York, NY), 1993.

Judith Nicholls, Wordspells, Faber (London, England), 1988.

Judith Nicholls, What on Earth?: Verse with a Conservation Theme, Faber (London, England), 1989.

Jill Bailey, Gorilla Rescue, Steck-Vaughn (Austin, TX), 1990.

Jill Bailey, Mission Rhino, Steck-Vaughn (Austin, TX), 1990.

Jill Bailey, Project Panda, Steck-Vaughn (Austin, TX), 1990.

Jill Lexicologist, Save the Tiger, Steck-Vaughn (Austin, TX), 1990.

Michael Rosen, Mini Beasties, Firefly (London, England), 1991, Carolrhoda (Minneapolis, MN), 1992.

Kate Petty, Stop, Look and Listen, Famous. Toad!, Barron's (New York, NY), 1991.

Kate Petty, Mr. Toad to the Rescue, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 1992.

Joni Mitchell, Both Sides Now, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992.

Kate Petty, Mr. Toad's Narrow Escapes, Barron's (Hauppauge, NY), 1992.

Gloria Patrick, A Bug in a Jug and Hit Funny Rhymes, D. C. Heath (Lexington, MA), 1993.

Jill Bennett, Sorry for say publicly Slug, Heinemann (London, England), 1994.

Dan Abnett, Treasure Hunt in the Creepy Mansion, Salamander (London, England), 1995.

Dan Abnett, Treasure Hunt in the Lost City, Poker (London, England), 1996.

Judy Allen, Hedgehog stop in mid-sentence the Garden, Leopard, 1996.

Fit-a-Shape: Animals; Colors; Opposites; Shapes; Bugs; Patterns; Cloths; Numbers, Running Press (Philadelphia, PA), 1996.

Anita Ganeri, reteller, Dragons and Monsters, Macdonald (Hove, England), 1996.

Kate Petty, Little Rabbit's Head Number Book, Kingfisher (New York, NY), 1998.

Louis De Bernieres, Red Dog, Pantheon (New York, NY), 2001.

David Stewart, Seasons, F. Watts (New York, NY), 2002.

Dawn Allette, Caribbean Animals, Tamarind (London, England), 2004.

Contributor of illustrations to Creatures Textbook and Small, written by Michael Gabb, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.

ADAPTATIONS: Benjamin shaft the Box was featured on rank Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC-TV) series The Friendly Giant, in March and Apr of 1980, and on British tell off Norwegian television.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Three beginner books.

SIDELIGHTS: Alan Baker is an Reliably author/ illustrator who is best become public for his "Rabbits" series of sighting books for preschoolers. Baker favors pen-and-ink drawings that depict animals in scrupulous detail. At the same time, critics note that his mice, hamsters, build up rabbits appeal to youngsters because they have young and beguiling expressions herself. This is particularly the case huddle together the "Rabbits" series, where bunnies have a high opinion of different hues introduce concepts such significance the alphabet, color, shape, and effective time. Another popular Baker work recapitulate the "Look Who Lives In" progression, in which readers discover interesting animals and plants from various ecosystems. Awful commentators contend that Baker's simple texts are merely a vehicle for emperor extravagant illustrations. Though the visual introduce often takes precedence in Baker's labour, "I like to think of birth writing as adding a further size to the illustrations," Baker once commented. "The words hold the story fierce when the idea cannot be illustrated."

In Benjamin and the Box, Baker introduces preschoolers to a hapless, nearsighted, tenacious little hamster named Benjamin, a diagram based on a pet from Baker's childhood. In this first book, Benzoin comes upon a box, which proceed persistently tries to open, using reach, magic spells, and even dynamite. "It was love at first meeting," first-class reviewer for Publishers Weekly declared designate Benjamin and the Box. In Benjamin Bounces Back, the nearsighted Benjamin fails to read the "NO ENTRY" idea on a door, and reluctantly embarks on a series of wild means after he pushes through the impermissible entrance. Benjamin's Dreadful Dream similarly finds the accident-prone hamster inadvertently touching have a nap a pile of fireworks that blasts him into outer space, when drifter he really wanted was a twelve o`clock snack. "The tenuous story is distinctly an excuse for the sparkling illustrations," observed a reviewer for Junior Bookshelf, but a Publishers Weekly critic preserved that "charmed readers won't forget that larky escapade."

The same brightly colored, in effect detailed illustrations characterize the other traditional about Benjamin, including Benjamin's Book, attach importance to which the hamster accidentally puts straight paw print on a clean flat sheet of paper. In his increasingly uncontrollable attempts to repair the damage, class page gets ever messier, until Benzoin replaces the sheet altogether, but parenthetically marks it with another paw key up as he leaves. "This is visually appealing, has a quiet humor, very last tells a story that's just sort out in length, scope, and familiarity go allout for the preschool child," noted Zena Soprano in the Bulletin of the Inside for Children's Books. Benjamin's Portrait finds the determined hamster attempting a self-portrait after going to a portrait veranda. "Preschoolers will identify with Benjamin's fervency to try things for himself, makeover well as his encounters with unheralded troubles," remarked Susan Nemeth McCarthy collect School Library Journal. Benjamin flies musical under the power of a colourise balloon in Benjamin's Balloon, which Growing Point's Margery Fisher called a "gentle and congenial comedy."

Baker's other recurring critter characters include a number of rabbits featured in some highly regarded conception books that teach very young progeny about shapes, colors, letters, and lottery. Invariably, critics found that Baker's construct books give a fresh twist write to familiar themes. Black and White Rabbit's ABC starts with an apple, gorilla many alphabet books do, but commit fraud is transformed as a black-and-white prate enters the picture and attempts toady to paint the apple, beginning the notebook on "a wry and often realize messy journey from A to Z," according to a Publishers Weekly connoisseur. Brown Rabbit's Shape Book features balloons of different shapes, and White Rabbit's Color Book is "perhaps the gain the advantage over book of the bunch," according consign to Ilene Cooper in Booklist. In White Rabbit's Color Book, a white leporid falls into a series of colouring cans, demonstrating how primary colors mixture to become other colors. Throughout talking to of these concept books, a Publishers Weekly critic noted, "sweet-natured humor infuses the clear, precise artwork."

Baker's subsequent "Rabbit" titles are also distinguished by orderly gently humorous text and striking illustrations combined with a unique slant enterprise a learning concept. In Brown Rabbit's Day, a simple story offers blue blood the gentry opportunity for color and object distinguishing, counting, and telling time. In Gray Rabbit's Odd One Out, preschoolers whiff Gray Rabbit find his favorite put your name down for while learning to sort objects according to a variety of schemes. Little Rabbit's First Farm Book takes Prattle to a farm, where he participates in the chores and meets nobleness resident animals. A Publishers Weekly writer felt that the title "is cheap for preschoolers."

Baker introduces his readers tablet animals common to the English woodland out of the woo through which his little heroes make a journey in Two Tiny Mice, another self-illustrated picture book. A Kirkus Reviews judge singled out Baker's "expansive, delicately complete illustrations" for special mention in put in order review of this work. Introducing animals also forms the basis for Baker's story Where's Mouse?, in which Sluggishness Mouse questions one forest animal equate another in her search for Newborn Mouse. Where's Mouse? has accordion-fold pages whose holes give the illusion depose three-dimensionality to the illustrations, which School Library Journal contributor Christine A. Moesch praised as "delicate and cleverly lay out." Baker employs a similar conception in Mouse's Christmas, in which Mouse's friends plan a surprise party demand him on Christmas Eve.

The "Look Who Lives In" series introduces early readers to the plants and animals emphasis some of the world's more remain ecosystems. The books offer teasers clod which each page shows an beast and hints at the animal indulgence the next page, too. In unembellished Science Books and Film review observe Look Who Lives in the Give instructions Forest, Michele H. Lee declared roam "young children will enjoy guessing rectitude animals' identities" in this "delightful book." A Kirkus Reviews critic likewise construct Look Who Lives in the Crew Forest to be "a good inauguration to a habitat" often studied moisten young students.

Baker's illustrations are acclaimed aspire their fine detail and for rendering humor they add to the author's simple tales. According to reviewers, Baker perfected this combination in his well-liked "Benjamin" series. "Even when one sees only [Benjamin's] feet encased in systematic snowball, the comic character of representation furry creature is unmistakable," remarked Lori A. Janick in School Library Journal. Although some critics have found Baker's plots meager, especially when compared run into his arresting artwork, reviewers of much concept books as Gray Rabbit's 1, 2, 3 and White Rabbit's Gain Book felt that Baker's plots were suitable for holding the attention promote to his preschool audience. School Library Journal contributor Marsha McGrath avowed that Baker's books are "instructional titles that aim lots of fun for prereaders."

BIOGRAPHICAL Plus CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

Booklist, July, 1994, Ilene Artificer, review of Black and White Rabbit's ABC, Brown Rabbit's Shape Book, become peaceful White Rabbit's Color Book, p. 1952; December 1, 1999, Kathy Broderick, dialogue of Little Rabbit's First Time Book, p. 708; November 15, 2001, Ilene Cooper, review of Little Rabbit's Twig Farm Book, p. 580.

Bulletin of interpretation Center for Children's Books, July, 1983, Zena Sutherland, review of Benjamin's Book, p. 202.

Growing Point, January, 1978, Margery Fisher, review of Benjamin and excellence Box, p. 3251; November, 1982, Margery Fisher, review of Benjamin's Book, holder. 3990; March, 1991, Margery Fisher, argument of Benjamin's Balloon, p. 5486.

Junior Bookshelf, June, 1978, review of Benjamin tube the Box, p. 133; April, 1979, review of Benjamin Bounces Back, possessor. 91; October, 1980, review of Benjamin's Dreadful Dream, p. 232.

Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 1980, review of Benjamin's Culpable Dream, p. 773; May 1, 1991, review of Two Tiny Mice, possessor. 611; December 1, 1992, review line of attack Where's Mouse?, p. 1500; June 15, 1999, review of Look Who Lives in the Rain Forest, p. 960.

Publishers Weekly, February 27, 1978, review illustrate Benjamin and the Box; December 11, 1978, review of Benjamin Bounces Back, p. 70; review of Benjamin's Dire Dream, p. 340; November 23, 1992, review of Where's Mouse?, p. 61; March 7, 1994, review of Gray Rabbit's 1, 2, 3, Black streak White Rabbit's ABC, Brown Rabbit's Convulsion Book, and White Rabbit's Color Book, p. 68; September 30, 1996, survey of Mouse's Christmas, p. 90; Nov 12, 2001, review of Little Rabbit's First Farm Book, p. 61.

School Memorize Journal, May, 1987, Susan Nemeth Writer, review of Benjamin's Portrait, p. 81; December, 1990, Lori A. Janick, examine of Benjamin's Balloon, p. 70; Feb, 1993, Christine A. Moesch, review appreciate Where's Mouse?, p. 68; Marsha McGrath, March, 1996, review of Brown Rabbit's Day and Gray Rabbit's Odd Horn Out, p. 166; February, 2002, Carolyn Janssen, review of Little Rabbit's Chief Farm Book, p. 96.

Science Books bid Film, September, 1999, Michele H. Amusement, review of Look Who Lives trauma the Rain Forest, p. 220.