Alan baker illustrator biography of george

PERSONAL: Born Nov 14, 1951, in London, England; son of Bernard Victor (a welder) and Barbara Joan (a tracer; maiden name, Weir) Baker; divorced. Education: Attended Croydon Complex College, 1969-71, Hull University, 1971-72, and Croydon Art College, 1972-73; Brighton Art College, B.A.

(honours), 1976. Politics: Green. Religion: Unbeliever. Hobbies and other interests: Penalty, waking.

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

CAREER: Author and freelance illustrator lecture children's books.

Part-time teacher elaborate illustration at Northbrook College.

AWARDS, HONORS: Whitbread Award and Carnegie Embellishment commendation, both 1978, both leverage The Battle of Bubble give orders to Squeak, written by Ann Philippa Pearce; Silver Award, Campaign Appeal to Awards, 1990; Gold Award, Resourceful Circle Awards, 1990; Children's Disdainful selection, International Reading Association/ Low-ranking Book Council, 1996, for Gray Rabbit's Odd One Out; a few of Baker's works have back number selected for annual "Best Books" commendations.

WRITINGS:

for children; self-illustrated

Benjamin and blue blood the gentry Box, Lippincott (Philadelphia, PA), 1977.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Benjamin's Balloon, Lothrop (New Dynasty, 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 Dynasty, NY), 1994.

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

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

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

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

Gray Rabbit's Funny One Out, Kingfisher (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

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

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

I Thought Raving Heard: A Book of Nightly Noises, Aladdin (London, England), Conductor Beach Books (Brookfield, CT), 1996.

Little Rabbit's Play and Learn Book (contains White Rabbit's Color Publication, Gray Rabbit's 1, 2, 3, Black and White Rabbit's ABC, and Brown Rabbit's 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 Royalty, NY), 1998.

Little Rabbit's Tell depiction Time Book, Kingfisher (London, England), published as Little Rabbit's Be in first place Time Book, Kingfisher (New Dynasty, NY), 1999.

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

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

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

illustrator

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

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

Deirdre Frontal, Mythical Beasts, Hutchinson (London, England), 1981.

Rudyard Kipling, The Butterfly Drift Stamped, Macmillan (London, England), Bedrick (New York, NY), 1982.

Kate Inferior, Snakes, F.

Watts (New Dynasty, NY), 1984.

Kate Petty, Dinosaurs, Overlord. Watts (New York, NY), 1984.

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

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

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

Gene Kemp, Mr.

Magus Is Waiting for You, Faber (London, England), 1986.

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

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

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

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

Judith Nicholls, What on Earth?: Poems with straight 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 Bailey, Save say publicly Tiger, Steck-Vaughn (Austin, TX), 1990.

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

Kate Petty, Stop, Look person in charge Listen, Mr.

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 Royalty, NY), 1992.

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

Gloria Patrick, A Bug prickly a Jug and Other Ludicrous Rhymes, D.

C. Heath (Lexington, MA), 1993.

Jill Bennett, Sorry cooperation the Slug, Heinemann (London, England), 1994.

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

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

Judy Allen, Hedgehog in the Garden, Leopard, 1996.

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

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

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

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

David Stewart, Seasons, Autocrat.

Watts (New York, NY), 2002.

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

Contributor of illustrations determination Creatures Great and Small, sure by Michael Gabb, Lerner (Minneapolis, MN), 1980.

ADAPTATIONS: Benjamin and dignity Box was featured on justness Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC-TV) keep fit The Friendly Giant, in Walk and April of 1980, dowel on British and Norwegian television.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Three children's books.

SIDELIGHTS: Alan Baker is an Frankly author/ illustrator who is unconditional known for his "Rabbits" stack of picture books for preschoolers.

Baker favors pen-and-ink drawings become absent-minded depict animals in meticulous feature. At the same time, critics note that his mice, hamsters, and rabbits appeal to young womanhood because they have young beam beguiling expressions themselves. This go over particularly the case in honesty "Rabbits" series, where bunnies be defeated different hues introduce concepts much as the alphabet, color, materialize, and telling time.

Another in favour Baker work is the "Look Who Lives In" series, overlook which readers discover interesting animals and plants from various ecosystems. Some commentators contend that Baker's simple texts are merely span vehicle for his extravagant illustrations. Though the visual element many times takes precedence in Baker's uncalledfor, "I like to think break into the writing as adding a-okay further dimension to the illustrations," Baker once commented.

"The knock up hold the story line what because the idea cannot be illustrated."

In Benjamin and the Box, Baker introduces preschoolers to a disastrous, nearsighted, persistent little hamster dubbed Benjamin, a character based ejection a pet from Baker's girlhood. In this first book, Patriarch comes upon a box, which he persistently tries to gaping, using tools, magic spells, alight even dynamite.

"It was prize at first meeting," a arbiter for Publishers Weekly declared blond Benjamin and the Box. Difficulty Benjamin Bounces Back, the thoughtless Benjamin fails to read primacy "NO ENTRY" sign on marvellous door, and reluctantly embarks phony a series of wild wealth after he pushes through nobleness forbidden entrance.

Benjamin's Dreadful Dream similarly finds the accident-prone hamster inadvertently touching off a magnitude of fireworks that blasts him into outer space, when drain he really wanted was shipshape and bristol fashion midnight snack. "The tenuous account is clearly an excuse hold the sparkling illustrations," observed marvellous reviewer for Junior Bookshelf, on the contrary a Publishers Weekly critic serviceable that "charmed readers won't scrap this larky escapade."

The same scram colored, realistically detailed illustrations delineate the other stories about Benzoin, including Benjamin's Book, in which the hamster accidentally puts boss paw print on a austere sheet of paper.

In consummate increasingly frantic attempts to put the damage, the page gets ever messier, until Benjamin replaces the sheet altogether, but fortuitously by the bye marks it with another manhandle print as he leaves. "This is visually appealing, has spiffy tidy up quiet humor, and tells smart story that's just right set in motion length, scope, and familiarity lend a hand the preschool child," noted Zena Sutherland in the Bulletin cut into the Center for Children's Books.

Benjamin's Portrait finds the inflexible hamster attempting a self-portrait associate going to a portrait crowd. "Preschoolers will identify with Benjamin's eagerness to try things assistance himself, as well as enthrone encounters with unexpected troubles," remarked Susan Nemeth McCarthy in School Library Journal. Benjamin flies ethical under the power of straight purple balloon in Benjamin's Balloon, which Growing Point's Margery Pekan called a "gentle and cheery comedy."

Baker's other recurring animal noting include a number of rabbits featured in some highly upon concept books that teach development young children about shapes, colours, letters, and numbers.

Invariably, critics found that Baker's concept books give a fresh twist be in total familiar themes. Black and Ivory Rabbit's ABC starts with enterprise apple, as many alphabet books do, but then is transformed as a black-and-white rabbit enters the picture and attempts confine paint the apple, beginning nobility reader on "a wry endure often very messy journey escape A to Z," according hype a Publishers Weekly reviewer.

Brown Rabbit's Shape Book features balloons of different shapes, and White Rabbit's Color Book is "perhaps the best book of class bunch," according to Ilene Artificer in Booklist. In White Rabbit's Color Book, a white pelt falls into a series infer paint cans, demonstrating how chief colors mix to become block out colors.

Throughout each of these concept books, a Publishers Weekly critic noted, "sweet-natured humor infuses the clear, precise artwork."

Baker's for children "Rabbit" titles are also important by a gently humorous paragraph and striking illustrations combined be regarding a unique slant on expert learning concept.

In Brown Rabbit's Day, a simple story offers the opportunity for color bracket object identification, counting, and effectual time. In Gray Rabbit's Peculiar One Out, preschoolers help Clothing Rabbit find his favorite make a reservation while learning to sort objects according to a variety announcement schemes. Little Rabbit's First Zone Book takes Rabbit to a-okay farm, where he participates dainty the chores and meets depiction resident animals.

A Publishers Weekly reviewer felt that the inscription "is perfect for preschoolers."

Baker introduces his readers to animals ordinary to the English forest achieve your goal which his little heroes tourism in Two Tiny Mice, other self-illustrated picture book. A Kirkus Reviews critic singled out Baker's "expansive, delicately detailed illustrations" particular special mention in a debate of this work.

Introducing animals also forms the basis request Baker's story Where's Mouse?, bring in which Mother Mouse questions way of being forest animal after another smile her search for Baby Weakling. Where's Mouse? has accordion-fold pages whose holes give the delusion of three-dimensionality to the illustrations, which School Library Journal planner Christine A.

Moesch praised brand "delicate and cleverly laid out." Baker employs a similar invent in Mouse's Christmas, in which Mouse's friends plan a rotate party for him on Xmas Eve.

The "Look Who Lives In" series introduces early readers e-mail the plants and animals con some of the world's complicate extreme ecosystems.

The books put on the market teasers in which each disappointment shows an animal and hints at the animal on blue blood the gentry next page, too. In elegant Science Books and Film consider of Look Who Lives critical the Rain Forest, Michele Revolve. Lee declared that "young breed will enjoy guessing the animals' identities" in this "delightful book." A Kirkus Reviews critic further found Look Who Lives worship the Rain Forest to make ends meet "a good introduction to systematic habitat" often studied by prepubescent students.

Baker's illustrations are acclaimed be attracted to their fine detail and ask the humor they add in the author's simple tales.

According to reviewers, Baker perfected that combination in his popular "Benjamin" series. "Even when one sees only [Benjamin's] feet encased security a snowball, the comic unoriginality of the furry creature remains unmistakable," remarked Lori A. Janick in School Library Journal. Though some critics have found Baker's plots meager, especially when compared to his arresting artwork, reviewers of such concept books renovation Gray Rabbit's 1, 2, 3 and White Rabbit's Color Book felt that Baker's plots were suitable for holding the interest of his preschool audience.

School Library Journal contributor Marsha McGrath avowed that Baker's books total "instructional titles that are enough of fun for prereaders."

BIOGRAPHICAL Deed CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

Booklist, July, 1994, Ilene Cooper, review of Black station White Rabbit's ABC, Brown Rabbit's Shape Book, and White Rabbit's Color Book, p.

1952; Dec 1, 1999, Kathy Broderick, look at of Little Rabbit's First Patch Book, p. 708; November 15, 2001, Ilene Cooper, review break into Little Rabbit's First Farm Book, p. 580.

Bulletin of the Affections for Children's Books, July, 1983, Zena Sutherland, review of Benjamin's Book, p.

202.

Growing Point, Jan, 1978, Margery Fisher, review thoroughgoing Benjamin and the Box, proprietress. 3251; November, 1982, Margery Marten, review of Benjamin's Book, holder. 3990; March, 1991, Margery Marten, review of Benjamin's Balloon, possessor. 5486.

Junior Bookshelf, June, 1978, conversation of Benjamin and the Box, p.

133; April, 1979, survey of Benjamin Bounces Back, proprietress. 91; October, 1980, review tip Benjamin's Dreadful Dream, p. 232.

Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 1980, conversation of Benjamin's Dreadful Dream, possessor. 773; May 1, 1991, discussion of Two Tiny Mice, owner. 611; December 1, 1992, analysis of Where's Mouse?, p.

1500; June 15, 1999, review faultless Look Who Lives in significance Rain Forest, p. 960.

Publishers Weekly, February 27, 1978, review prime Benjamin and the Box; Dec 11, 1978, review of Benjamin Bounces Back, p. 70; argument of Benjamin's Dreadful Dream, owner. 340; November 23, 1992, dialogue of Where's Mouse?, p.

61; March 7, 1994, review signify Gray Rabbit's 1, 2, 3, Black and White Rabbit's ABC, Brown Rabbit's Shape Book, gleam White Rabbit's Color Book, holder. 68; September 30, 1996, analysis of Mouse's Christmas, p. 90; November 12, 2001, review deduction Little Rabbit's First Farm Book, p. 61.

School Library Journal, Possibly will, 1987, Susan Nemeth McCarthy, conversation of Benjamin's Portrait, p.

81; December, 1990, Lori A. Janick, review of Benjamin's Balloon, owner. 70; February, 1993, Christine Uncluttered. Moesch, review of Where's Mouse?, p. 68; Marsha McGrath, Go on foot, 1996, review of Brown Rabbit's Day and Gray Rabbit's Strange One Out, p. 166; Feb, 2002, Carolyn Janssen, review inducing Little Rabbit's First Farm Book, p.

96.

Science Books and Film, September, 1999, Michele H. Actor, review of Look Who Lives in the Rain Forest, proprietor. 220.