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William Pene Du Bois is a published author and an illustrator of children's books. Published credits of William Pene Du Bois include Moving Day and Bear in Mind: A Book of Bear Poems.

From Wikipedia -

William Pène du Bois, (May 9, 1916–February 5, 1993), was a French American author and illustrator. He was best known for The Twenty-One Balloons, published in April, 1947 by The Viking Press. From 1953 to 1960, he worked with George Plimpton as the Art Editor for The Paris Review. He died on February 5, 1993, in Nice, France.

Early Life

Pène du Bois was born in Nutley, New Jersey. His father, Guy Pène du Bois, was a noted art critic and painter known for his landscapes and portraits. When he was eight, his family moved to France and he attended the Lycee Hoche at Versailles and the Lycee de Nice. His family returned to Nutley when he was 14. After high school he accepted a scholarship to the Carnegie Technical School of Architecture. But college plans dissolved when he sold a book he wrote to pass the time during a vacation. The Great Geppy was published before Pène du Bois' 19th birthday.

Writing Career

By the time he had entered the army at age 25, he had written and illustrated five more books. He spent his years in the army (1941-1945) with an artillery unit stationed in Bermuda. He worked as a correspondent for Yank magazine. He also edited the camp newspaper and illustrated strategic maps. In addition to writing and illustrating his own books Pène du Bois illustrated books written by Jules Verne, Isaac Bashevis Singer and John Steinbeck. He also illustrated magazine articles and advertisements. He was the founding editor of The Paris Review. In 1960 he developed an interest in vintage cars, going to great pains and expense to refurbish a 1931 Brewster Croydon Coupe Rolls-Royce P11. Many of his papers are in the collection of the New York Public Library, Humanities and Social Sciences Library, Manuscripts and Archives Division. Among the highlights of his career were winning the Newbery Medal in 1948 for The Twenty-One Balloons, and Caldecott Honors in 1952 for Bear Party and 1957 for Lion. Some of his books (Bear Party, Lion) are picture books with a minimum of text, and properly classified as children's literature. Others, however, such as The Three Policemen, The Great Geppy, The Twenty-One Balloons, Squirrel Hotel, Peter Graves, The Giant, appeal to all ages. These books exhibit whimsical ingenuity in story and illustrations. Though not usually so classified, these books seem to qualify as science fiction. Their interest lies more in their imaginative elaboration of ideas than in their characters. These ideas are exhibited in great detail.

William Pene Du Bois is a published author and an illustrator of children's books. Published credits of William Pene Du Bois include Moving Day and Bear in Mind: A Book of Bear Poems. From Wikipedia - William Pène du Bois, (May 9, 1916–February 5, 1993), was a French American author and illustrator. He was best known for The Twenty-One Balloons, published in April, 1947 by The Viking Press. ... More