Bernard Waber
Encyclopedia
Bernard Waber is an American children's author most famous for the books The House on East 88th Street
(1962), Lyle, Lyle Crocodile
(1965) and the subsequent books in the Lyle series.
to Henry and Pauline Waber. Although he started a degree in finance at the University of Pennsylvania
, he left school to enroll in the army at the onset of World War II
. From 1942 to 1945, Waber served the United States Army
as a staff sergeant. Immediately following the end of the war, he returned to his studies at the Philadelphia College of Art. Waber graduated and earned his degree in 1951.
Upon graduation, Waber launched his career as a commercial artist. Soon after, he began illustrating and writing children's books. At the age of 28, Bernard married Ethel Bernstein, and the couple moved to New York City
and had three children. When his children were young, Waber worked in the art department of Condé Nast Publications
, writing his books at night and on the weekends.
that lives in a bathtub. Lyle's character brings joy to everyone he meets.
Shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Waber wrote the book Courage. In the book, through various characters, children are taught the meaning of bravery.
Waber now lives in Long Island
, New York
with his wife and grandchildren.
The House on East 88th Street
The House on East 88th Street is a children's book written by Bernard Waber first published in 1962.The book is the first in the Lyle the Crocodile series. The story is about a family named the Primms who move into an old Victorian brownstone, only to find a performing crocodile named Lyle living...
(1962), Lyle, Lyle Crocodile
Lyle, Lyle Crocodile
Lyle, Lyle Crocodile is a children's book written by Bernard Waber first published in 1965. It is the sequel to The House on East 88th Street, published in 1962.The book is the second in the Lyle the Crocodile series...
(1965) and the subsequent books in the Lyle series.
Background
He was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
to Henry and Pauline Waber. Although he started a degree in finance at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, he left school to enroll in the army at the onset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. From 1942 to 1945, Waber served the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as a staff sergeant. Immediately following the end of the war, he returned to his studies at the Philadelphia College of Art. Waber graduated and earned his degree in 1951.
Upon graduation, Waber launched his career as a commercial artist. Soon after, he began illustrating and writing children's books. At the age of 28, Bernard married Ethel Bernstein, and the couple moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and had three children. When his children were young, Waber worked in the art department of Condé Nast Publications
Condé Nast Publications
Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications, is a magazine publisher. In the U.S., it produces 18 consumer magazines, including Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vogue, as well as four business-to-business publications, 27 websites, and more than 50 apps...
, writing his books at night and on the weekends.
Writing
Waber has written numerous children's books about the adventures of animals, including Do You See a Mouse?, Evie and Margie and A Lion Named Shirley Williamson. Waber's Lyle series, started in 1962, is his most well-known set of children's books. In the books, Lyle is a city-dwelling crocodileCrocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
that lives in a bathtub. Lyle's character brings joy to everyone he meets.
Shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001, Waber wrote the book Courage. In the book, through various characters, children are taught the meaning of bravery.
Waber now lives in Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with his wife and grandchildren.