-
Edition 61 (2017) Winner
Lane Smith
レイン・スミス
Rein Sumisu
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1959-08-25 （Tulsa, Oklahoma）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Tulsa, Oklahoma → Corona, California → Pasadena, California → New York City
Career
- Occupations
- illustrator, children's book writer
- Active Years
- 1983-2024
- Influenced By
- Alice Provensen, Martin Provensen
- Influenced
- Jon Scieszka
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art Center College of Design | — | Illustration | Bachelor of Fine Arts | — | United States |
Art Center College of Design
Illustration
Degree:
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Year of Graduation:
1983
Country:
United States
Encouraged by high-school art teacher; worked as janitor at Disneyland.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Kate Greenaway Medal | There Is a Tribe of Kids | — | Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals | Winner |
| 2012 | Caldecott Honor | Grandpa Green | — | Association for Library Service to Children | Honor |
| 1992 | Caldecott Honor | The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales | — | Association for Library Service to Children | Honor |
| 1991 | Golden Apple Award | The Big Pets | — | Biennial of Illustration Bratislava | Winner |
| 2012 | Carle Honor | — | Lifetime Achievement | Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art | Honor |
| 2014 | Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement | — | — | Society of Illustrators | Winner |
Kate Greenaway Medal
2017
Work:
There Is a Tribe of Kids
Organization:
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
Result:
Winner
Caldecott Honor
2012
Work:
Grandpa Green
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children
Result:
Honor
Caldecott Honor
1992
Work:
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
Organization:
Association for Library Service to Children
Result:
Honor
Golden Apple Award
1991
Work:
The Big Pets
Organization:
Biennial of Illustration Bratislava
Result:
Winner
Carle Honor
2012
Category:
Lifetime Achievement
Organization:
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Result:
Honor
Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement
2014
Organization:
Society of Illustrators
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Grandpa Green
2011 Children's picture bookA contemplative story about a boy's memories of his great-grandfather preserved in topiary garden.
memoryfamilyaging
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
1992 Children's picture bookOutlandish and humorous retellings of fairy tales.
humorsatire
There Is a Tribe of Kids
2016 Children's picture bookPoetic exploration of young animals and children.
naturediscovery
It's a Book
2010 Children's picture bookHumorous ode to the book in the digital age.
readingtechnology
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!
1989 Children's picture bookThe three little pigs told from the wolf's point of view.
perspectivehumor
Bibliography
- Flying Jake
- Glasses (Who Needs 'Em?)
- The Big Pets
- The Happy Hocky Family!
- The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
- Grandpa Green
- It's a Book
- There Is a Tribe of Kids
- A Perfect Day
- John, Paul, George & Ben
- Madam President
- Return to Augie Hobble
Translations of Works
- It's a Book translated into over 28 languages
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- eclectic visualsexperimental and texturaloil paint, pen and ink, watercolor, collage, digital
- Recurring Motifs
- humorous and earnest subject matterhighbrow and lowbrow elements
Legacy
Renowned American children's book illustrator known for eclectic, experimental style. Recipient of two Caldecott Honors and the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Museums
- Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Amherst, Massachusetts Opened in 2002
In Popular Culture
- Conceptual designer for Disney films like James and the Giant Peach and Monsters, Inc.
Quotes
-
Some picture book artists are very consistent with their style... My favorite artists are the ones who try a different look with every book.
Source: Eric Carle Museum exhibit 'Collecting Inspiration' (2017)
Trivia
- Worked as a janitor at Disneyland to pay for college.
- Illustrated album covers for Oingo Boingo and The Dickies.
- Married to book designer Molly Leach.