Leonard Weisgard was a kaleidoscopic individual: every time you turn his life just a little, there is a completely new picture. An author and illustrator, his first book was published in 1937 and he wrote or illustrated some 200-300 books, many in collaboration with some of the most notable talents of the forties and fifties, particularly Margaret Wise Brown, Alvin R. Tresselt, Charlotte Zolotow, Alice Dalgliesh, Sesyle Joslin and Eve Titus. If you grew up anytime in the forties through the sixties, you will probably be familiar with his distinctive work, in part because of his collaboration with these great authors; in part because he was one of the early illustrators with Little Golden Books (launched in 1942) and in part because of his awards which included the 1947 Caldecott medal for The Little Island.
His friend, Ken Chowder described him:
There was no one like Leonard, even Leonard himself. Leonard was gracious and generous and beautifully well-spoken and -dressed; he was also reclusive and agoraphobic and capable of saying virtually anything, or nothing at all. He reveled in attention, and hated it. He loved conversation and adored people, then lived far out in the country (in two countries, in fact) where he saw very few of them. He was politically active for years, and hated politics. He worked like a dog for some 30 years, illustrating many hundreds of books and writing many more; then he simply stopped far before what one could call retirement, and spent about 25 or 30 more years not working much more than a stitch.
Born December 13, 1916 in Connecticut to Samuel H. Weisgard (British) and Fanny Cohen Weisgard, most of his early life was actually spent in Britain. The Weisgards returned to the US in 1924. His memories of these years are anchored by three vignettes; an early exposure to an illustrated Mother Goose rhymes, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Tenniel, and a pantomime performance of Jack in the Beanstalk.
Weisgard is in some ways a classic example of the childlike freshness of perception mentioned in last week's Pigeon Post essay. He seems to have been preternaturally sensitive and alert to colors, smells, and sounds. He mentions this a couple of times in his acceptance speech for the 1947 Caldecott Medal:
We were all of us incredible creatures when we were little. We could see and hear and feel and smell and with easy concentration create things that never were and things that were yet to come.
We can all remember when we originally saw and felt things not yet inhibited by manners or sentiment. Then we were lower to the ground and nearer to detail; then we could create a piece of silver out of some tinfoil down a drain, spot a robin on a water tower and see it become a chimney pot wearing a red hat; make a brown cow out of an old glove; build a city in the folds of a bedsheet; or even transform a doting aunt into a witch!
And again
I remember the sharpness of small pain, of infinite curiosity which would inevitably end in small joy or great disaster, of hiding things in my nose or cutting the Brussel's lace dining room curtains because the pattern was so disturbing and the starch so stiff. I was obsessed with the darkness of drawers, and wanted to create my own expressions with the hands of the clock, paint permanent shadows behind furniture and people.
I also remember something like this infinite curiosity ending in disaster. It was late of an evening, in the sultry tropics. We were living in Nigeria. I was five years old. We had a guard for the house who had, in a way, adopted me. I was fascinated by his bow and arrows, his ancient musket, his machete: everything about him was fascinating. He, this day, had given me an egg from one of his chickens. That evening I sat on the grass mat in the den, examining this wonderful thing, turning and turning it about in my small hands. My father was home that evening, sitting in his easy chair, watching me examine my treasure.
But he was not quick enough to anticipate my next step of childish examination which was to crack open the egg to let out the chick which must be in there. I can still recall the roar of alarm in the background. I don't know which was more distressing to me: the lack of appearance of a chick, the mess of egg on the matt, or the look on my father's face.
Leonard Weisgard studied for two years at the Pratt Institute. He then spent some time studying dance with Martha Graham and then undertook a career in illustration, starting out with work for some of the major publications of the day, Good Housekeeping, New Yorker, Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar. At various points over the next few years he continued an on-again off-again involvement in theatre doing set design.
Weisgard published his first story, Suki, the Siamese Pussy, in 1937. Two years later began the very productive collaboration with Margaret Wise Brown resulting initially with the 1939 publication of The Noisy Book, the first in a series of Noisy books. Over the years, Brown and Weisgard produced more than two dozen books together including perennial favorites, The Noisy Book; Red Light, Green Light; The Little Island; The Golden Egg Book; and The Important Book.
Margaret Wise Brown was as prolific at writing books as Weisgard was in illustrating them. Supposedly the genesis of The Noisy Book occurred during a lunch time conversation in which Weisgard related his childhood memory of the sounds of London's streets. Brown delivered a draft of the text the next day and he completed the illustrations for it by the end of the week.
Our kids loved The Noisy Book and The Quiet Noisy Book which, sadly, are currently out of print. Keep your eyes open for them though. I can't believe they would stay out of print for long.
Weisgard worked in many different media. In fact it might be better to say he worked in most media: pencil, crayon, pen and ink, watercolor, acrylics, oils, etc. He is noted for his distinctive blend of realism with an angular style somewhat akin to the cubists and for his frequent scale shifts where a creature is in proportion to its surroundings in one picture but then very large or very small in the next setting.
Weisgard married Phyllis Monnot, a designer and film-maker, in 1951. They collaborated on a number of projects including designing the costumes and sets for a production of The Nutcracker Suite and The Dryad for the San Francisco ballet. They were also keen collectors of American folk art.
In 1969, at the prompting of a couple of Scandinavian friends, Weisgard and his family (he had three children), moved to Denmark for a year. A year turned into the rest of their lives. As referenced by Chowder above, Weisgard had been hugely productive for many, many years. After moving to Denmark he produced a few more children's books but he was basically done at that point. Weisgard passed away January 14, 2000.
Picture Books
The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard Highly Recommended |
The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown (under thepseudonym Golden MacDonald) and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard Highly Recommended |
Independent Reader
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard Recommended |
Bibliography
Suki, the Siamese Pussy by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1937
Through the Harbor, from Everywhere by Irmengarde Eberle and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1938
Cinderella by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1939
Pup Called Cinderella by Esther W. Reno and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1939
The Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1939
Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Punch and Judy (adapted by Brown) by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1940
Little Joe by Dorothy Clark and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1940
The Country Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1940
Under the Greenwood Tree (selected songs from Shekespeare's plays) by Julia Louise Reynolds and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1940
Grab Bag: Stories for Each and Every One by Lavinia R. Davis and Marjorie Fischer and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1941
Louis of New Orleans by Frances Cavanah and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1941
Pedro of Santa Fe by Frances Cavanah and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1941
The Poodle and the Sheep by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1941
The Seashore Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1941
Americans Every One by Lavinia R. Davis and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1942
Night and Day by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1942
Picture Book of Musical Instruments by Marion Lacey and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1942
The Indoor Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1942
The New Haggadah by Mordecai M. Kaplan and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1942
The Water-Carrier's Secrets by Maria Cristina Chambers and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1942
Big Dog, Little Dog by Golden MacDonald (Margaret Wise Brown) and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1943
Little Chicken by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1943
The Noisy Bird Book (includes some reproductions from Audubon) by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1943
Bucky Bear, Who Would Not Take His Nap by Elaine Wayne and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1944
Dorinda by Elizabeth Howard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1944
Pick the Vegetables by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1944
Red Light, Green Light by Golden MacDonald (Margaret Wise Brown) and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1944
Timid Timothy, the Kitten Who Learned to Be Brave by Gweneira Maureen Williams and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1944
Whose Little Bird Am I? by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1944
Little Lost Lamb by Golden MacDonald (Margaret Wise Brown) and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1945
Susie is a Kitten by Nettie King and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1945
Would You Like to Be a Monkey? by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1945
City Country ABC by Morrell Gipson and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1946
Heidi by Johanna Spyri and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1946
Mrs. Mallard's Ducklings by Clelia Delafield and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1946
Rain Drop Splash by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1946
Round the Afternoon by Charlotte E. Jackson and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1946
The City Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1946
The Little Island by Golden MacDonald (Margaret Wise Brown) and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1946
Down Huckleberry Hill by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1947
The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1947
High Trail by Vivian Breck and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1948
Just for Fun by Alice I. Hazeltine and Elva S. Smith and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1948
Pelican Here, Pelican There by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1948
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1949
The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1949
The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1949
Dark Wood of the Golden Birds by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1950
The Funny Bunny Factory by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1950
The Little Lost Squirrel by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1950
The Quiet Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1950
Who Dreams of Cheese? by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1950
Let's Play by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1951
Pantaloon by Kathryn Jackson and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1951
Pussy Willow by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1951
Stories of Love by Alice I. Hazeltine and Elva S. Smith and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1951
The Family Mother Goose by and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1951
The Summer Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1951
Indian, Indian by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1952
Little Eskimo by Kathryn Jackson and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1952
Noon Balloon by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1952
The Clean Pig by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1952
Wheels by Kathryn Jackson and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1952
A Book About God by Florence M. Fitch and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1953
Let's Play Train by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1953
Little Frightened Tiger by Golden MacDonald (Margaret Wise Brown) and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1953
My First Picture Book by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1953
Silly Willy Nilly by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1953
The Golden Bunny, and Seventeen Other Stories and Poems by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1953
Three, and Domingo by Margueritte Harmon Bro and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1953
Grimms' Fairy Tales by Jakob Ludwig Karl and W.K. Grimm and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1954
Gulliver's Travels (edited for young readers) by Jonathan Swift and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1954
Just Like Me by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1954
The Big Treasure Book of Nursery Tales by Evelyn Andreas and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1954
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1954
Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1955
Pilgrim Thanksgiving by Wilma P. Hays and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1955
Secret River by Marjorie K. Rawlings and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1955
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1955
The Big Book of Train Stories by and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1955
The Child Jesus by Florence M. Fitch and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1955
The New Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1955
Baby's Playthings by and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1956
Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1956
Mr. Peaceable Paints by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1956
Mrs. Goose's Green Trailer by Miriam S. Potter and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1956
Something for Now, Something for Later by Miriam Schlein and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1956
The Most Beautiful Tree in the World by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1956
The Story of Valentine by Wilma P. Hays and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1956
Treasures to See: A Museum Picture-Book by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1956
Whistle for the Train by Golden MacDonald (Margaret Wise Brown) and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1956
Abner's Cabin by Alf Evers and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1957
Favorite Poems Old and New by Helen Ferris and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1957
My Book of Prayer: Sabbath and Weekdays by Hyman Chanover and Evelyn Zusman and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1957
Rabbit Story by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1957
The Son of God: Readings from the Gospel According to St. Mark, with Background Information by Edric A. Weld and William Sydnor and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1957
Where Did Tuffy Hide? by Isabel and Frederick Eberstadt and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1957
Who Ever Heard of Kangaroo Eggs? by Samuel S. Vaughan and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1957
First Days of the World by Gerald Ames and Rose Wyler and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1958
Sylvester Jones and the Voice in the Forest by Patricia Miles Martin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1958
The First People in the World by Gerald Ames and Rose Wyler and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1958
Willa: The Story of Willa Cather's Growing Up by Ruth Franchere and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1958
Adam and the Golden Cock by Alice Dalgliesh and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1959
My Book of Prayer: Holidays and Holy Days by Hyman Chanover and Evelyn Zusman and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1959
Nibble, Nibble: Poems for Children by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1959
The Macmillan Science-Life Series by John D. Barnard and others and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1959
The Snowflake and the Starfish by Robert Nathan and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1959
The Valentine Cat by Clyde R. Bulla and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1959
Brave Baby Elephant by Sesyle Joslin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1960
Cozy Hour Storybook by Nora Kramer and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1960
Do You Want to Hear a Secret? by Sylvia Berger Redman and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1960
Nails to Nickles: Story of American Coins Old and New by Elizabeth A. Campbell and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1960
Who is at the Door? by Isabel and Frederick Eberstadt and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1960
Baby Elephant's Trunk by Sesyle Joslin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Norway, Retold from Norse Folklore by Virginia Haviland and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
Hailstones and Halibut Bones: Adventure in Color by Mary Le Duc O'Neill and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
Half-as-Big and the Tiger by Bernice Frankel and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
McCall's Read Me a Story Book by Margaret Bevans and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
See Along the Shore by Millicent E. Selsam and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
The First Doll in the World by Lee Pape and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
The Raccoon and Mrs. McGinnis by Patricia M. Martin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
Toby Tyler; or, Ten Weeks with a Circus by James Otis and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
What Is for My Birthday? by Isabel and Frederick Eberstadt and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
When I Go to the Moon by Claudia Lewis and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
Where Does the Butterfly Go When It Rains? by May Garelick and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1961
Baby Elephant and the Secret Wishes by Sesyle Joslin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1962
Good Hunting Little Indian by Peggy Parish and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1962
Like Nothing At All by Aileen Fisher and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1962
Penguin's Way by Johanna Johnston and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1962
Senor Baby Elephant, the Pirate by Sesyle Joslin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1962
The Mouse and the Lion by Eve Titus and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1962
Watch That Watch by Hila Colman and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1962
When a Boy Wakes Up in the Morning by Faith McNulty and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1962
Baby Elephant Goes to China by Sesyle Joslin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1963
Fins and Tails by Elizabeth A. Campbell and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1963
Giving Away Suzanne by Lois Duncan and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1963
Peter's Brownstone House by Hila Colman and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1963
Sir Kevin of Devon by Adelaide Holl and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1963
The Athenians in the Classical Period by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1963
The Beloved Friend by Marguerite Vance and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1963
When a Boy Goes to Bed at Night by Faith McNulty and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1963
Baby Elephant's Baby Book by Sesyle Joslin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1964
Scarab for Luck by E. La Monte Meadowcroft and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1964
The Beach Before Breakfast by Maxine W. Kumin and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1964
The Boat That Mooed by Christopher Fry and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1965
The French Are Coming by Wilma P. Hays and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1965
Whale's Way by Johanna Johnston and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1965
Hawaiian Myths of Earth, Sea, and Sky by Vivian Laubach Thompson and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1966
The First Farmers in the New Stone Age by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1966
White Bird by Clyde R. Bulla and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1966
A Wreath of Christmas Legends by Phyllis McGinley and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1967
Cynthia and the Unicorn by Jean Todd Freeman and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1967
Jesus Christ, Son of God by Mary L. Ellis and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1967
The Little Woodcock by Berniece Freschet and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1967
The Lost Prince by Frances Burnett and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1967
The Plymouth Thanksgiving by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1967
Midnight Alarm: The Story of Paul Revere's Ride by Mary K. Phelan and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1968
On the Sand Dune by Doris Orgel and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1968
Salt Boy by Mary Perrine and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1968
Su An by Doris Johnson and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1968
The Beginnings of Cities: Re-creation in Pictures and Text of Mesopotamian Life from Farming to Early City Building by Leonard Weisgard and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1968
Growing Time by S.S. Warburg and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1969
How Things Began (includes The First People in the World, and First Days of the World) by Gerald Ames and Rose Wyler and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1969
Journey to Jericho by Scott O'Dell and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1969
Look at the Moon by May Garelick and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1969
Shepherdess of France: Remembrances of Jeanne d'Arc by Judith Masefield and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1969
What Makes a Bird a Bird? by May Garelick and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1969
Nannabah's Friend by Mary Perrine and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1970
Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1970
And It Came to Pass by Jean Slaughter and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1971
Doctor Proctor and Mrs. Merriwether by Irma S. Black and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1971
The Elephants's Child by Rudyard Kipling and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1971
The Magic Ringlet by Konstantin Paustovsky and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1971
Wake Up and Goodnight by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1971
How the Leopard Got His Spots by Rudyard Kipling and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1972
Try and Catch Me by Nancy Jewell and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1972
Calf, Goodnight by Nancy Jewell and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1973
Try on a Shoe by Mancure and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1973
How the Rhinocerous Got His Skin by Rudyard Kipling and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1974
The Golden Christmas Tree by Jan Wahl and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1988
The Golden Birthday Book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard 1989
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