Adrienne Adams (illustrator)

Adrienne Adams (February 10, 1906 – December 3, 2002)[1] was an American children's book illustrator as well as an artist and writer of children's books. She won two Caldecott Honors (in 1960 and 1962) and in 1973 she was awarded the Rutgers Award for overall contributions to children’s literature. In 1977, she was awarded the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion.

Adrienne Adams
Born(1906-02-10)February 10, 1906
Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
DiedDecember 3, 2002(2002-12-03) (aged 96)[1]
Rolla, Missouri, United States
EducationUniversity of Missouri, American School of Design
Known forIllustration and artist
Awards
  • Caldecott Medal (among runners-up, 1960 and 1962)
  • Rutgers Award (1973)
  • University of Southern Mississippi Medallion (1977)

Life and career

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Adams was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas,[1] and grew up in Oklahoma. She obtained a B.A. at Stephens College (which awarded her the Alumnae Achievement Award in 1964) and then attended the University of Missouri.[1] She also was awarded the University of Southern Mississippi's Medallion in 1977.

She moved to New York in 1929 to study at the American School of Design and until 1949 she was a free-lance designer of displays, murals, textiles, greeting cards, etc. She married children's book writer John Lonzo Anderson on August 17, 1934,[2] and in 1942 illustrated his first book, Bag of Smoke, to begin her career as an illustrator. She became a full-time illustrator in 1952, and illustrated more than 30 books, ranging from contemporary authors including Rumer Godden, Irwin Shapiro and Aileen Fisher to the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.[1] She also wrote and illustrated six children books of her own.

Adams and Anderson lived together in Lebanon Township, New Jersey.[3]

Selected works

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By other writers
Self-illustrated

Library of Congress catalogs five children's picture books with text and illustrations by Adams.

  • 1971 – A Woggle of Witches (Charles Scribner's Sons)
  • 1976 – The Easter Egg Artists (Scribner's)
  • 1978 – The Christmas Party (The Scribner Book Company)
  • 1980 – The Great Valentine's Day Balloon Race (Scribner)
  • 1981 – A Halloween Happening (Scribner)

Sources

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  • Something About the Author, vol. 8, pp. 1–2.
  • Illustrators of Children's Books: 1957–1966, 1968, pp. 70–71.
  • Contemporary Authors: New Revision Series, vol. 1, pp. 9–10.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Adrienne Adams Papers (Collection Number DG0004)". de Grummond Collection. University of Southern Mississippi. June 2001 [March 1991]. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  2. ^ "John Lonzo Anderson". Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors. Gale Group. February 11, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Stapleton, Chip. "Author, artist-wife make a happy team", Courier News, May 7, 1971. Accessed April 13, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Mr. Biddle, is ecstatic as he flies along with the help of Adso, Bodso, Crown and Charlie in the latest joint effort by Adrienne Adams and John Lonzo Anderson of Lebanon Township."
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