Arlene Mosel
Encyclopedia
Arlene Tichy Mosel was an American
author of children's literature
who was best-known for her illustrated books Tikki Tikki Tembo
, a retelling of a Chinese folk tale, and the award-winning The Funny Little Woman
, which was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal
for illustration in 1973.
She was born as Arlene Tichy on August 27, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio
to Edward J. Tichy, an engraver and Marie Fingulin Tichy. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University
, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1942, and later attended Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University
) where she graduated with a Master of Science in Library Science
degree in 1959. She married sales engineer Victor H. Mosel on December 26, 1942, with whom she had three children; Nancy Mosel Farrar, Joanne and James.
Mosel had been an assistant in the children's department at Enoch Pratt Free Library
in Baltimore
, before becoming an associate professor of library science
at Case Western Reserve University
. She was also an assistant coordinator of Children's Services at the Cuyahoga County Public Library
.
Her book Tikki Tikki Tembo
, published by Holt
in 1968 and with illustrations by Blair Lent
, was presented as a retelling of a traditional Chinese story about a boy whose rescue after falling into a well was delayed due to his extremely lengthy name. The book was recognized as an ALA Notable Book and was recognized that year with the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
. In 1997, the book was selected by The New York Times
on its list of the 50 best children's books of the previous 50 years. It has been suggested however that the story probably originated from the Japanese folktale Jugemu
instead of a Chinese folktale.
In another collaboration with illustrator Blair Lent, Mosel's 1972 story The Funny Little Woman
, published by E. P. Dutton
, won the Caldecott Medal
for illustration, and was recognized as an Honor Book in the 1974 Hans Christian Andersen International Children's Book Awards and was a Boston Globe–Horn Book Award honor list selection.
Mosel died in May 1996 in Indianapolis
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author of children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
who was best-known for her illustrated books Tikki Tikki Tembo
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Tikki Tikki Tembo is a story set in ancient China that provided the basis for a 1968 book by Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent. According to the story, it was custom in ancient China for parents to honor their firstborn sons with long, elaborate names that everyone was obliged to say...
, a retelling of a Chinese folk tale, and the award-winning The Funny Little Woman
The Funny Little Woman
The Funny Little Woman is a book by Arlene Mosel and illustrated by Blair Lent. Released by Dutton Press, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1973.The Funny Little Woman is a traditional Japanese tale...
, which was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal
Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
for illustration in 1973.
She was born as Arlene Tichy on August 27, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
to Edward J. Tichy, an engraver and Marie Fingulin Tichy. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1942, and later attended Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
) where she graduated with a Master of Science in Library Science
Master of Library and Information Science
The Master of Library and Information Science is the master's degree that is required for most professional librarian positions in the United States and Canada. The MLIS is a relatively recent degree; an older and still common degree designation for librarians to acquire is the Master of Library...
degree in 1959. She married sales engineer Victor H. Mosel on December 26, 1942, with whom she had three children; Nancy Mosel Farrar, Joanne and James.
Mosel had been an assistant in the children's department at Enoch Pratt Free Library
Enoch Pratt Free Library
The Enoch Pratt Free Library, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is one of the oldest free public libraries in the United States. Established in 1882 after a grant from philanthropist Enoch Pratt, the library now includes twenty-two branches in Baltimore, plus the Central Library...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, before becoming an associate professor of library science
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
. She was also an assistant coordinator of Children's Services at the Cuyahoga County Public Library
Cuyahoga County Public Library
Cuyahoga County Public Library has 28 branches that serve 47 communities in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. It was ranked the number one public library in the United States among libraries serving populations of more than 500,000 by the Hennen's American Public Library Ratings 2010...
.
Her book Tikki Tikki Tembo
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Tikki Tikki Tembo is a story set in ancient China that provided the basis for a 1968 book by Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent. According to the story, it was custom in ancient China for parents to honor their firstborn sons with long, elaborate names that everyone was obliged to say...
, published by Holt
Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Holt McDougal is an American publishing company, a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, that specializes in textbooks for use in secondary schools. Holt, Rinehart and Winston was a division of Harcourt Education...
in 1968 and with illustrations by Blair Lent
Blair Lent
Blair Lent was an American author and illustrator of mostly Chinese-themed books, including the popular 1968 children's book Tikki Tikki Tembo. In 1973 he was awarded the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations of The Funny Little Woman, by Arlene Mosel. He also illustrated the book House of Stairs...
, was presented as a retelling of a traditional Chinese story about a boy whose rescue after falling into a well was delayed due to his extremely lengthy name. The book was recognized as an ALA Notable Book and was recognized that year with the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards were first presented by The Boston Globe and Horn Book Magazine in 1967. They are among the most prestigious honors in the United States in the field of children’s and young adult literature...
. In 1997, the book was selected by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
on its list of the 50 best children's books of the previous 50 years. It has been suggested however that the story probably originated from the Japanese folktale Jugemu
Jugemu
is a Japanese folktale and is one of the most famous stories in rakugo, a form of Japanese spoken entertainment. It has a simple storyline, with the most humorous part being the repeating of a ridiculously long name...
instead of a Chinese folktale.
In another collaboration with illustrator Blair Lent, Mosel's 1972 story The Funny Little Woman
The Funny Little Woman
The Funny Little Woman is a book by Arlene Mosel and illustrated by Blair Lent. Released by Dutton Press, it was the recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1973.The Funny Little Woman is a traditional Japanese tale...
, published by E. P. Dutton
E. P. Dutton
E. P. Dutton was an American book publishing company founded as a book retailer in Boston, Massachusetts in 1852 by Edward Payson Dutton. In 1986, the company was acquired by Penguin Group and split into two imprints: Dutton Penguin and Dutton Children's Books.-History:Edward Payson Dutton founded...
, won the Caldecott Medal
Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
for illustration, and was recognized as an Honor Book in the 1974 Hans Christian Andersen International Children's Book Awards and was a Boston Globe–Horn Book Award honor list selection.
Mosel died in May 1996 in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
.