Feodor Rojankovsky I

'How the leopard got his spots', by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky (1891-1970) Published  1942 by Garden City, New York. What delightful richly illustrated endpapers this book has! 

Feodor Rojankovsky was a painter who attended Moscow Fine Arts Academy from 1912-1914. Feodor served in the first world war and was taken prisoner in Poland, on his release he went to Paris working as an art director for both a fashion magazine and a book publishing company. He emigrated to America in 1941 after German occupation of France and became known for both his children's book illustration and erotic art. He was awarded  the Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration from the American Library Association in 1956 for his illustrations of 'Frog Went A-Courtin' by John Langstaff.

“Two great events deter mined the course of my childhood. I was taken to the zoo and saw the most marvellous creatures on earth, and while my admiration was running high, I was given a set of crayons. My father was a school director, my two elder brothers had a talent for painting and my love for art was born in our family.” Feodor Rojankovsky

Blair Lent II

 

Blair Lent's 'Pistachio', published in 1964, was the first book he wrote and the second that he illustrated. It looks like it was just a joy to make as the images laugh from the page. Pistachio's friend Waldo wants to join the circus, Pistachio loves Waldo and tries to help, but all the disguises they try do not fool the circus owner. It just takes Pistachio being herself to win him over. 

This is one of my absolute favourite children's books!

Charles Keeping X

The Nanny Goat and the Fierce Dog, written and illustrated by Charles Keeping published in 1973 by Abelard-Schuman Ltd. This is a dark tale where a nanny goat gets killed by a guard dog leaving her kid. It is interesting how Charles drew the dog resembling machinery in many of the illustrations.

Didier Hamey

 

There be beasts, the imagination of Didier Hamey, executed in detailed etchings.

Helen Webber III

 

'The Frog's Saddle Horse, and Other Tales' by Jeanne B Hardendorff, illustrated by Helen Webber and published in 1968. I just selected the cover and inside paper from this compilation of folktales illustrated with wood cuts by Helen Webber the rest of the illustrations were more people centred and had less exuberance and humour.

Elise Bainbridge Hill

 

The absolutely beautiful art work of Elsie Bainbridge Hill, also know as Francis Lee Rogers, who lived in central park and was murdered last weekend. I wish I could find more of her lovely, lovely work.