Chris Soentpiet
Encyclopedia
Chris Soentpiet is a Korean American children's book illustrator and author. He was born in Seoul
, South Korea
, in 1970. At age 8, he moved to Hawaii
to live with his adoptive family. A year later, the Soentpiets relocated to Portland, Oregon
. Soentpiet currently lives and works in New York City
.
Around Town, a picture book written and illustrated by Soentpiet, marked the artist's debut in 1994. Today, Soentpiet is recognized as an award-winning illustrator in the children's book industry. His books have received numerous honors, including, but not limited to, the International Reading Association Teachers' Choice Award, NAACP Image Award, Parents' Choice Gold Award, Parents Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year, North Carolina Children's Book Award, Georgia Children's Picture Book Award, International Reading Association Notable Children's Book for a Global Society, and ALA Notable Book. Soentpiet is active on the school visit circuit.
Soentpiet's research for the picture chapter book Peacebound Trains (author: Haemi Balgassi
) took him back to his country of birth, South Korea
, for the first time since his adoption in 1978. In 1996, Soentpiet won the Society of Illustrators Gold Medal for his paintings in Peacebound Trains. The United States Department of Defense published an online edition of the book and featured it, complete with a Teacher Activity Guide, on the United States of America Korean War Commemoration site. Peacebound Trains is the only book to receive this honor.
On his official website and a number of interviews, the artist credits Ted Lewin
and Betsy Lewin
for encouraging him to pursue a career as a children's book illustrator.
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, in 1970. At age 8, he moved to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
to live with his adoptive family. A year later, the Soentpiets relocated to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. Soentpiet currently lives and works in 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...
.
Around Town, a picture book written and illustrated by Soentpiet, marked the artist's debut in 1994. Today, Soentpiet is recognized as an award-winning illustrator in the children's book industry. His books have received numerous honors, including, but not limited to, the International Reading Association Teachers' Choice Award, NAACP Image Award, Parents' Choice Gold Award, Parents Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year, North Carolina Children's Book Award, Georgia Children's Picture Book Award, International Reading Association Notable Children's Book for a Global Society, and ALA Notable Book. Soentpiet is active on the school visit circuit.
Soentpiet's research for the picture chapter book Peacebound Trains (author: Haemi Balgassi
Haemi Balgassi
Haemi Balgassi is a Korean American writer. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Western Massachusetts, where she now resides with her husband and their daughters....
) took him back to his country of birth, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, for the first time since his adoption in 1978. In 1996, Soentpiet won the Society of Illustrators Gold Medal for his paintings in Peacebound Trains. The United States Department of Defense published an online edition of the book and featured it, complete with a Teacher Activity Guide, on the United States of America Korean War Commemoration site. Peacebound Trains is the only book to receive this honor.
On his official website and a number of interviews, the artist credits Ted Lewin
Ted lewin
Ted Lewin is an author/illustrator of children's books. Lewin and his wife Betsy Reilly drew on their travels to exotic places such as the Amazon River, Botswana, Egypt, Lapland, the Sahara Desert, and India when collaborating on their many books...
and Betsy Lewin
Betsy Lewin
Betsy Reilly Lewin is an American illustrator from Clearfield, Pennsylvania. She studied illustration at Pratt Institute. After graduation, she began designing business cards. She began writing and illustrating stories for children's magazines and eventually children's books...
for encouraging him to pursue a career as a children's book illustrator.
Books
- Around Town
- A Sign (author: George Ella Lyon)
- Brothers (author: Yin)
- Coolies (author: Yin)
- Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor (author: Yin)
- Happy Birthday To You! (author: Margot Theis Raven)
- Jin Woo (author: Eve BuntingEve BuntingAnne Evelyn Bunting , better known as Eve Bunting, is an Irish author who has written more than 250 books. Her work covers a broad array of subjects and includes fiction and non-fiction books. Her novels are primarily aimed at children and young adults, but her works also include picture books...
) - The Last Dragon (author: Susan Miho Nunes)
- My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (author: Christine King FarrisChristine King FarrisChristine King Farris is the eldest and only living sibling of the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. She teaches at Spelman College and is the author of several books and a public speaker on various topics, including the King family, multicultural education, and teaching...
) - Momma, Where Are You From? (author: Marie Bradby)
- Molly Bannaky (author: Alice McGillAlice McGillAlice McGill is an award-winning author of children's books and a professional storyteller. In many of her books have African American protagonists or deal with African American issues...
) - More Than Anything Else (author: Marie Bradby)
- My Brother Martin (author: Christine King Farris)
- Peacebound Trains (author: Haemi BalgassiHaemi BalgassiHaemi Balgassi is a Korean American writer. She was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Western Massachusetts, where she now resides with her husband and their daughters....
) - Saturdays and Teacakes (author: Lester L. Laminack)
- The Silence in the Mountains (author: Liz Rosenberg)
- Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story (author: Cynthia RylantCynthia RylantCynthia Rylant is an American author. She has written more than 100 children's books in English and Spanish. With the divorce of her parents when she was four and living without running water and electricity she became an author including works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry...
) - So Far from the Sea (author: Eve BuntingEve BuntingAnne Evelyn Bunting , better known as Eve Bunting, is an Irish author who has written more than 250 books. Her work covers a broad array of subjects and includes fiction and non-fiction books. Her novels are primarily aimed at children and young adults, but her works also include picture books...
) - Something Beautiful (author: Sharon Dennis Wyeth)
- Where Is Grandpa? (author: T. A. BarronT. A. BarronThomas Archibald Barron is an American writer of fantasy literature, books for children and young adults, and nature books.-Biography:...
)
Book Awards
- Georgia Children's Picture Book Award 2005-2006
- Child Magazine Best Book of the Year 2003
- The International Reading Award Teachers' Choice Award 1996, 2000, 2004
- The International Reading Award Notable Book for a Global Society 1998
- Smithsonian's Notable Book 1995, 1996
- Junior Library Guild Selection 1998, 2001, 2006
- American Library Association (ALA)-Notable Book 1996, 2002
- Oppenheim Toy Portfolio: Gold Award Winner 2000
- Parents Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year 1998
- The Southeastern Booksellers' Association
- Children's Book Sense 76 Pick 2004
- Master Reading List, Volunteer State Book Award 2006-2007
- Children's Literature Choice Book
- Black History Top 25 Pick for Youth 1996
- Book Links Salutes a Few Good Books
- American Bookseller Pick of the List 1996, 1997
- A National Parenting Publication Award Honor Book, Selectors' Choice
- Skipping Stones Honor Award (A multicultural Children's Magazine)
- FOCAL Award Best Book Winner 1999
- Kansas State Reading Circle 2005
- NCSS/CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
- Chicago Tribune Top 10 Children Books 1996
- San Francisco Chronicles Best Book List
- Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 1995, 1997
- Peggy Sharp, Ed.D Pick 2000
- North Carolina Children's Book Award
- Golden Kite Award Honor 2000
- Maryland Children's Book Award-Nominee 2001
- Texas Bluebonnet Award-Nominee 2000
- American Bookseller Pick of the List 1995, 1996
- New York Public Library Top 100 Titles
- NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in Field of Social Studies 1998
- Nest Literary Classics 2001
- Asian/Pacific American Awards for LiteratureAsian/Pacific American Awards for LiteratureThe Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature are a set of literary awards presented annually by the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association...
2004, 2007
External links
- Chris Soentpiet Official Website
- Peacebound Trains on the United States of America Korean War Commemoration Website
- The Dragon Lode: "Conversations with Yep and Soentpiet - Negotiation Between Cultures"