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| Lois Lenski (1893- 1974) |
The Legend Herself
Whenever anyone talks about the children’s picture books, the name Lois Lenski comes at the first. She was the J. K. Rowling of her age.
Lois Lenski was born in Springfield, Ohio and spent her childhood in that state. After graduation from Ohio State University in 1915, she studies four years at the Art Students League in Newyork before going to London to attend the Westminister School of Art.
On her return to America, she wrote her first book, Skipping Village in 1927. With this and the book that followed, A Little Girl of 1900, her career as an author-illustrator of a children's books was firmly established. A number of humorous stories for younger children followed, and then the publication of Phebe Fairchild, Her Book started the author on a series of books depicting American child life of the past, with settings in Connecticut, Ohio, New Hampshire and New York.
She awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal for her book Strawberry Girl (1945). This award not only represented appropriate recognition by the American Library Association of the outstanding children's book of the year but focused national attention on Miss Lenski's important program of regional books for children, The American Regional Series. This series starts with Bayou Suzette, a Louisiana story. Through this series of books, young readers can travel all over the States. From the Florida pinelands of Strawberry girl to the colorful streets of Chinatown in San Fransisco Boy, Lois Lenski's stories and pictures are a vivid, authentic portrait of how American children live. She launched another similar group of books for younger children, The Roundabout American Series.
Lois Lenski was a versatile genius of her age. She wanted not only the author of children’s books but also the illustrator of her own books and texts by other authors. In the book, the Houseboat Girl (1957), she illustrated the story with beautiful pictures.
If you are a Bloomington-Normal resident, you can check out the collection of Lois Lenski at Illinois State University's Milner Library. On the sixth floor of the library, there is a special collection, where you can find a good collection of Lois Lenski's illustrated books. You will also find the original manuscript of the Houseboat Girl and can see the original drawing of this book. I believe you will become very excited seeing these rare collections.
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| Cover of Skipping Village (1927) |
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| Strawberry Girl (1945) by Lois Lenski |
Lois Lenski was a versatile genius of her age. She wanted not only the author of children’s books but also the illustrator of her own books and texts by other authors. In the book, the Houseboat Girl (1957), she illustrated the story with beautiful pictures.
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| Original illustration of Houseboat Girl by Lois Lenski |
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