Jerry Pinkney

An inspiring memoir of a Caldecott-winning artist and one of the most acclaimed children's book illustrators of all time, sharing the story of a young artist who finds the courage to follow his passion against all odds. * "A moving work from a legend of children's literature and a testament to his legacy of visual storytelling." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review Jerry Pinkney--creator of Caldecott Medal-winning The Lion & the Mouse and The Little Mermaid--drew everywhere, all the time. Since childhood, it was how he made sense of the world--how he coped with the stress of being a sensitive child growing up in crowded spaces, struggling with a learning disability, in a time when the segregation of Black Americans was the norm. Only drawing could offer him a sense of calm, control, and confidence. When friends and siblings teased him about having the nickname "Jerry" as his only name, his mother always said, "Just 'Jerry' is enough. He'll make something of that name someday." And so he did, eventually becoming one of the most celebrated children's book illustrators of all time and paving the way for countless other Black artists. Jerry's vivid recollections and lively sketchbook drawings of his youth in postwar America tell an inspiring story of how a hardworking boy pursued his passion in less-than-ideal circumstances and became a legendary artist against all odds.

In this captivating reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen's classic, Caldecott medalist and bestselling artist Jerry Pinkney conjures a poignant friendship story and an epic tale of redemption -- the definitive new version for our time. Melody, the littlest sea princess, is not content just to sing in the choir of mermaids like her sisters. She is an explorer who wonders about what lies above the water's surface . . . especially the young girl she has spied from a distance. To meet her requires a terrible sacrifice: she trades her beautiful voice for a potion that gives her legs, so that she may live on land instead. It seems like a dream come true at first. But when trouble stirs beneath the ocean, Melody faces another impossible choice -- stay with her friend, or reclaim her true identity and save her family. Legendary artist Jerry Pinkney's singular reinvention of this tale about love and sacrifice empowers young, twenty-first century girls with the strong message that "you should never give up your voice . . . for anyone."

My House goes walking every day... and rain makes applesauce. Oh, you're just talking silly talk So begins this award-winning collection of nonsense verse and images, which has been carefully restored for a new generation. A story-hour favorite since it was first published in 1964, this beloved read-aloud has been carefully remastered to bring back the rich, vivid details of its Caldecott Honor-winning artwork. Featuring an introduction by Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney, Rain Makes Applesauce is popular both as a bedtime story and as a go-to title for elementary teachers of creative writing. Created by the unique team of legendary NASA publicist Julian Scheer and illustration master Marvin Bileck, this influential picture book has inspired artists and writers, as well as young children creating their own nonsense stories, for more than 50 years.

A classic read-aloud favorite addressing bullying retold by acclaimed artist Jerry Pinkney. Jerry Pinkney puts his indelible stamp on another beloved folktale in the same vein as the Caldecott Medal-winning The Lion & the Mouse and the highly acclaimed The Tortoise & the Hare and The Grasshopper & the Ants. When the three billy goats Gruff are hungry, they see bountiful grass to eat across an old bridge. But the bridge is home to a terrible troll, who is peckish himself, and looking for a tasty morsel to gobble up. In his interpretation of the timeless tale, Jerry Pinkney shows there's little good to come from greed--but in the end, redemption for even the most trollish bully is possible. A dramatic gatefold heightens the climax of this brilliant rendition. Don't miss these other classic retellings by Jerry Pinkney: The Little Mermaid The Lion & the Mouse The Tortoise & the Hare The Grasshopper & the Ants Little Red Riding Hood Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

This magnificent rendition of a classic Aesop fable by a Caldecott Medal-winning artist teaches children: Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today In this stunning companion to the Caldecott Medal-winning The Lion & the Mouse and the highly acclaimed The Tortoise & the Hare, a playful grasshopper wonders why the busy ants around him won't join in his merrymaking as the seasons pass by. But when winter arrives, he soon sees the value of his friends' hard work--just as the ants learn the value of sharing what they've worked for. Featuring a striking, surprise gatefold page, this third book in Jerry Pinkney's gorgeous trilogy of picture book fables subtly shows the pitfalls of procrastination. Don't miss these other classic retellings by Jerry Pinkney: The Little Mermaid The Lion & the Mouse The Tortoise & the Hare The Three Billy Goats Gruff Little Red Riding Hood Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

A stunning, wordless version of one of Aesop’s best-loved fables, from one of America’s most acclaimed artists. In this Caldecott Medal-winning, wordless picture book, one of America's most acclaimed artists retells one of Aesop's best-loved fables. The fable is a favourite and familiar one: a mouse inadvertently disturbs a lion, who lets the mouse go … and is later himself freed by the mouse from a poacher’s trap. With art inspired by the Kenyan Serengeti, Jerry Pinkney’s jaw-droppingly gorgeous interpretation is irresistible, its wealth of visual detail offering huge scope for the pages to be turned and the story retold over and over again.

Young children all know the Mother Goose rhyme of the kittens who have lost their mittens, but they've never seen it illustrated with so much energy, beauty, and flair. Preschoolers will delight in these cuddly kittens as they frolic outside in the falling leaves, get their whiskers sticky while eating a just-baked apple pie, and do the washing-up under Mama Cat's watchful gaze. Caldecott Medal-winning, New York Times bestselling author/artist Jerry Pinkney brings a gloriously vivid palette, delightful details and tremendous warmth to his version of this favorite nursery rhyme.

In this wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables by an award-winning artist, an unlikely pair learns that no act of kindness is ever wasted. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling.

This spectacular reimagining of one of Grimm's most beloved cautionary tales is brought to life by Caldecott Medal-winning artist Jerry Pinkney. In this inspired rendering of the classic Grimm Brothers folktale, Caldecott Medal-winning artist Jerry Pinkney introduces two favorite children's characters to a new generation: the sly, scary wolf and the sweet little girl in her famous red hood. Readers will squeal with delight all over again during that most memorable scene when Little Red Riding Hood declares, "Oh, Grandmamma, what great teeth you have " Pinkney's charming, masterfully-wrought illustrations--as warm and cozy as Little Red's cloak and as captivating as the clever wolf himself--are sure to lure you into the heart of this treasured tale. Don't miss these other classic retellings by Jerry Pinkney: The Little MermaidThe Lion & the MouseThe Tortoise & the HareThe Grasshopper & the AntsThe Three Billy Goats Gruff Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

A Caldecott Honor winner presents a newly illustrated edition of the classic fable of the hen who is forced to do all the work of baking bread and of the animals who learn a bitter lesson from it.

This gorgeous picture book edition of the classic story from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book was adapted and illustrated by beloved award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney." A beautiful edition for reading aloud," proclaimed Booklist. "Excitement and danger ebb and flow throughout," added Kirkus. Soon after a flood washes Rikki into the garden of a family, he comes face-to-face with Nag and Nagaina, two giant cobras. The snakes are willing to attack Rikki, and even the human family who lives there, to claim the garden and house for themselves. But they do not count on the heart and pride of the brave little mongoose. Jerry Pinkney was "widely acclaimed for his picture books honoring his Black heritage as well as for his richly detailed works reimagining well-loved fairy and folktales," noted Publishers Weekly. His version of The Lion & the Mouse by Aesop was awarded the Caldecott Medal, and his books also received five Caldecott Honor citations. He was recognized with two lifetime achievement awards: the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now known as the Children's Literature Legacy Award) and the Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award.

This gorgeous picture book edition of the classic story from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book was adapted and illustrated by beloved award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney." A beautiful edition for reading aloud," proclaimed Booklist. "Excitement and danger ebb and flow throughout," added Kirkus. Soon after a flood washes Rikki into the garden of a family, he comes face-to-face with Nag and Nagaina, two giant cobras. The snakes are willing to attack Rikki, and even the human family who lives there, to claim the garden and house for themselves. But they do not count on the heart and pride of the brave little mongoose. Jerry Pinkney was "widely acclaimed for his picture books honoring his Black heritage as well as for his richly detailed works reimagining well-loved fairy and folktales," noted Publishers Weekly. His version of The Lion & the Mouse by Aesop was awarded the Caldecott Medal, and his books also received five Caldecott Honor citations. He was recognized with two lifetime achievement awards: the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now known as the Children's Literature Legacy Award) and the Coretta Scott King Virginia Hamilton Award.