Brian Lies
Encyclopedia
Brian Lies (1963– ) is an American author and illustrator of children's books. His works include the Flatfoot Fox series by Eth Clifford and his own NY Times bestselling bat series, Bats at the Beach , Bats at the Library, and Bats at the Ballgame. Lies was interested in art since childhood, and while studying literature and psychology at Brown University
he did political cartoons for the student newspaper, but was turned down when he applied for jobs at various publications. He then studied art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
, and eventually did political cartoons for major newspapers and magazines. He had, however, long been interested in children's books, and when he was approached by Susan Sherman (art director for children's books at Houghton Mifflin), who liked the way he portrayed emotions on his animal character's faces, he ended up illustrating the first book in the Flatfoot Fox series. As of 2006 that series is still in print. He also does illustrations for the children's magazines Spider
, Ladybug
, and Babybug
.
, after which the book enjoyed a great deal of success, at one point ranking at No. 2 on Amazon.com
, and leaving Houghton Mifflin
to keep up with the sudden demand. It also landed a spot on Publishers Weekly
's children's picture book bestseller list and was awarded an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award. The story follows a group of bats, young and old, and their comical variations on such activities as sailing, surfing, putting on lotion, and roasting marsmallows. Matt Berman of Common Sense Media praised the book’s “simple and joyous concept” and noted the characters' gently rounded features. Lies stated that he tries to keep the design of his animal characters as naturalistic as possible despite their often human-like behavior. Lies got the idea from his daughter, who described a pattern of frost on the window as "a bat, with sea foam"; as Lies developed the idea, the verses came to him in a sudden inspiration. The acylic paintings use a lot of blues and browns and are often bathed in moonlight though no moon is ever seen. The sequel, Bats at the Library, made it onto Time.com's Top 10 Children's Books of 2008 list, and the ABA
announced that the book had been named Best New Picture Book in the 2009 Indies Choice Book Awards. In 2010, the book was awarded the 2010 Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award (Kansas Reading Association).
Judith Constantinides, in a review for School Library Journal
, said his acrylic paintings for Donna M. Bateman’s Deep in the Swamp are reminiscent of an Audubon painting. (The book also won a 2008 Southern Independent Booksellers Association Award.) Constantinides, in an earlier review for School Library Journal, praised Lies’ Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle (which he wrote and illustrated) for its watercolor illustrations and the humorous details. The book is about an optimistic (“despite his namesake”, as Constantinides notes) pig named Hamlet and his “pessimistic” porcupine friend Quince as they struggle to defend a giant sandcastle against the waves. Popcorn! by Elaine Landau was nominated for the 2006 Rhode Island Children's Book Award. and was also included in the Children's Agriculture Book series of Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom
, which tries to select books that "hat accurately portray modern agriculture".
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
he did political cartoons for the student newspaper, but was turned down when he applied for jobs at various publications. He then studied art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is an undergraduate and graduate college located in Boston, Massachusetts, dedicated to the visual arts. It is affiliated with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in partnership with Tufts University...
, and eventually did political cartoons for major newspapers and magazines. He had, however, long been interested in children's books, and when he was approached by Susan Sherman (art director for children's books at Houghton Mifflin), who liked the way he portrayed emotions on his animal character's faces, he ended up illustrating the first book in the Flatfoot Fox series. As of 2006 that series is still in print. He also does illustrations for the children's magazines Spider
Spider (magazine)
Spider is an illustrated literary magazine designed for children from 6 to 9 years old. Started in January 1994, the magazine is published in the United States by The Cricket Magazine Group, which is owned by the Carus Publishing Company. The magazine publishes original short stories, poems,...
, Ladybug
Carus Publishing Company
The Carus Publishing Company is a publisher with offices in Chicago, Peru, Illinois, and Peterborough, New Hampshire. It owns the Open Court Publishing Company as well as the Cricket Magazine Group, and Cobblestone Publishing...
, and Babybug
Carus Publishing Company
The Carus Publishing Company is a publisher with offices in Chicago, Peru, Illinois, and Peterborough, New Hampshire. It owns the Open Court Publishing Company as well as the Cricket Magazine Group, and Cobblestone Publishing...
.
Works
Bats at the Beach was read on NPR's "Weekend Edition Saturday" by Daniel PinkwaterDaniel Pinkwater
Daniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange...
, after which the book enjoyed a great deal of success, at one point ranking at No. 2 on Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, and leaving Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is an educational and trade publisher in the United States. Headquartered in Boston's Back Bay, it publishes textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers and adults.-History:The company was...
to keep up with the sudden demand. It also landed a spot on Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
's children's picture book bestseller list and was awarded an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award. The story follows a group of bats, young and old, and their comical variations on such activities as sailing, surfing, putting on lotion, and roasting marsmallows. Matt Berman of Common Sense Media praised the book’s “simple and joyous concept” and noted the characters' gently rounded features. Lies stated that he tries to keep the design of his animal characters as naturalistic as possible despite their often human-like behavior. Lies got the idea from his daughter, who described a pattern of frost on the window as "a bat, with sea foam"; as Lies developed the idea, the verses came to him in a sudden inspiration. The acylic paintings use a lot of blues and browns and are often bathed in moonlight though no moon is ever seen. The sequel, Bats at the Library, made it onto Time.com's Top 10 Children's Books of 2008 list, and the ABA
American Booksellers Association
The American Booksellers Association is a non-profit industryassociation founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States and Canada. The ABA and its members support freedom of speech, literacy, and programs that encourage reading...
announced that the book had been named Best New Picture Book in the 2009 Indies Choice Book Awards. In 2010, the book was awarded the 2010 Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award (Kansas Reading Association).
Judith Constantinides, in a review for School Library Journal
School Library Journal
The School Library Journal is a monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with a focus on technology and multimedia. Reviews are included for preschool to 4th grade,...
, said his acrylic paintings for Donna M. Bateman’s Deep in the Swamp are reminiscent of an Audubon painting. (The book also won a 2008 Southern Independent Booksellers Association Award.) Constantinides, in an earlier review for School Library Journal, praised Lies’ Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle (which he wrote and illustrated) for its watercolor illustrations and the humorous details. The book is about an optimistic (“despite his namesake”, as Constantinides notes) pig named Hamlet and his “pessimistic” porcupine friend Quince as they struggle to defend a giant sandcastle against the waves. Popcorn! by Elaine Landau was nominated for the 2006 Rhode Island Children's Book Award. and was also included in the Children's Agriculture Book series of Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom
Agriculture in the classroom
Agriculture in the Classroom is a grassroots program coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture . Its goal is to help students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society, so that they may become citizens who support wise agricultural policies...
, which tries to select books that "hat accurately portray modern agriculture".
Books Written and Illustrated by Brian Lies
- "Bats at the Ballgame" (2010) ISBN 978-0-547-24970-4
- Bats at the Library (2008) ISBN 0-618-99923-X
- Bats at the BeachBats at the BeachBats at the Beach is a picture book by Brian Lies. The plot of the book is that bats get their beach gear to have fun under the moon.The message of the book is that bats are not bad. A portion of all copies sold went to Bat Conservation International....
(2006) ISBN 0-618-55744-X - Hamlet and the Enormous Chinese Dragon Kite (2001) ISBN 1-931659-01-X
- Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle (2001) ISBN 0-9677929-2-4
Books Illustrated by Brian Lies
- Deep in the Swamp Written by Donna M. Bateman. (2007) ISBN 978-1-57091-596-3
- Finklehopper Frog Cheers Written by Irene Livingston (Tricycle Press, 2005) ISBN 1-58246-138-4
- Lucky Duck Written by Ellen Weiss (2004)
- Zoo Train by Lissa Rovetch
- Spy Hops and Belly Flops Written by Lynda Graham-Barber (2004) ISBN 0-618-22291-X
- Finklehopper Frog Written by Irene Livingston (2003) ISBN 1-58246-075-2 (also released in paperback with an audio cassette narrated by Steve Blane)
- Dinosaur Footprints (Reading Intervention for Early Success) (2003) ISBN 0-618-23769-0
- Dinosaurs (Reading Intervention for Early Success) Written by Adam Karlson. (2003) ISBN 0-618-23739-9
- Popcorn! Written by Elaine Landau. (2003) ISBN 1-57091-443-5
- See the Yak Yak Written by Charles Ghigna. (1999) ISBN 0-679-99135-2
- The Midnight Fridge Written by Bruce Glassman. (1998)
- Where are the Bears Written by Kay Winter. (1998)
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Schoolhouse by Eth Clifford (1997) ISBN 0-395-81446-4
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Bashful Beaver Written by Eth Clifford. (1995) ISBN 0-395-70560-6
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Whoooo Written by Eth Clifford (1992) ISBN 0-395-60289-0
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Nosy Otter Written by Eth Clifford (1992) ISBN 0-395-60289-0
- George and the Dragon Word Written by Dianne Snyder. (1991) ISBN 0-395-55129-3
- Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Eye by Eth Clifford (1990) ISBN 0-395-51945-4