Crockett Johnson
Encyclopedia
Crockett Johnson was the pen name of cartoonist
and children's book illustrator David Johnson Leisk (October 20, 1906–July 11, 1975). He is perhaps best known for the comic strip
Barnaby (1942–1952, 1960–1962) and the Harold series of books begun with Harold and the Purple Crayon
.
, Johnson grew up in Elmhurst, Queens
, studying art at Cooper Union
in 1924, and at New York University
in 1925. He explained his choice of pseudonym
as such: "Crockett is my childhood nickname. My real name is David Johnson Leisk. Leisk was too hard to pronounce -- so -- I am now Crockett Johnson!" He died of lung cancer
.
. The books were: The Carrot Seed
, How to Make an Earthquake, Is This You?, and The Happy Egg.
The books Harold and the Purple Crayon, Harold's Fairy Tale, and A Picture for Harold's Room have been adapted for animation
by Gene Deitch
.
The Barnaby #1 to #6 books, published in paperback by Ballantine Books under the Del Rey imprint in 1985, were compilations of the first few years of the comic strip. Additional books were supposed to appear, but publication was suspended upon the death of Judy Lynn Del Rey.
A 1946 play, "Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley", was based on the comic strip. It played in several East Coast cities, attracting attention mainly for a scene in which O'Malley flew over the audience throwing out leaflets urging support for his Congressional race. Johnson said the child cast as Barnaby looked more like the cartoon Barnaby than any real child he ever expected to see,
Producer—Barney Josephson;
Script--Jerome Chodorov
;
O'Malley--J. M. Kerrigan
;
Barnaby--Thomas Wm. Hamilton;
Jane—Iris Mann;
McSnoyd--Royal Dano
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
and children's book illustrator David Johnson Leisk (October 20, 1906–July 11, 1975). He is perhaps best known for the comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
Barnaby (1942–1952, 1960–1962) and the Harold series of books begun with Harold and the Purple Crayon
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Harold and the Purple Crayon is a 1955 children's book by Crockett Johnson. Johnson's most popular book, it led to a series of books, and inspired many adaptations.-Plot:...
.
Biography
Born in New York CityNew 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...
, Johnson grew up in Elmhurst, Queens
Elmhurst, Queens
Elmhurst is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is bounded by Roosevelt Avenue on the north; Corona to the northeast; Junction Boulevard on the east; Rego Park to the southeast; the Long Island Expressway on the south; Middle Village to the south and southwest; and Maspeth...
, studying art at Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
in 1924, and at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1925. He explained his choice of pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
as such: "Crockett is my childhood nickname. My real name is David Johnson Leisk. Leisk was too hard to pronounce -- so -- I am now Crockett Johnson!" He died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.
Children's books
Johnson also collaborated on four children's books with his wife, Ruth KraussRuth Krauss
Ruth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
. The books were: The Carrot Seed
The Carrot Seed
The Carrot Seed is a 1945 children's book by Ruth Krauss. , The Carrot Seed has been in print continuously since its first publication in 1945. It was illustrated by Krauss's husband, Crockett Johnson. At 101 words, it was one of the shortest picture book texts when it was published in 1945.The...
, How to Make an Earthquake, Is This You?, and The Happy Egg.
The books Harold and the Purple Crayon, Harold's Fairy Tale, and A Picture for Harold's Room have been adapted for animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
by Gene Deitch
Gene Deitch
Eugene Merril "Gene" Deitch is an American illustrator, animator and film director. He has been based in Prague, capital of Czechoslovakia and the present-day Czech Republic, since 1959. Since 1968, Deitch has been the leading animation director for the Connecticut organization Weston...
.
Works
- Barnaby (1943)
- Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley (1944)
- Ruth Krauss, The Carrot SeedThe Carrot SeedThe Carrot Seed is a 1945 children's book by Ruth Krauss. , The Carrot Seed has been in print continuously since its first publication in 1945. It was illustrated by Krauss's husband, Crockett Johnson. At 101 words, it was one of the shortest picture book texts when it was published in 1945.The...
(1945), illus. by Johnson - Harold and the Purple CrayonHarold and the Purple CrayonHarold and the Purple Crayon is a 1955 children's book by Crockett Johnson. Johnson's most popular book, it led to a series of books, and inspired many adaptations.-Plot:...
(1955) - Is This You? (1955), co-written with Ruth Krauss
- Barkis: Some precise and some speculative interpretations of the meaning of a dog's bark at certain times and in certain (illustrated) circumstances (1956)
- Harold's Fairy Tale (Further Adventures of with the Purple Crayon) (1956)
- Harold's Trip to the Sky (1957)
- Terrible, Terrifying Toby (1957)
- Time for Spring (1957)
- Bernadine Cook, The Little Fish That Got Away (1957)
- Harold at the North Pole (1958)
- The Blue Ribbon Puppies (1958)
- Ellen's Lion: Twelve Stories (1959)
- The Frowning Prince (1959)
- Harold's Circus (1959)
- Will Spring Be Early? or Will Spring Be Late? (1959)
- A Picture for Harold's Room (1960)
- Harold's ABC (1963)
- The Lion's Own Story: Eight New Stories about Ellen's Lion (1963)
- We Wonder What Will Walter Be? When He Grows Up (1964)
- Castles in the Sand (1965), illus. by Betty Fraser
- The Emperor's Gifts (1965)
- Barnaby #1: Wanted, A Fairy Godfather (1985)
- Barnaby #2: Mr. O'Malley and the Haunted House (1985)
- Barnaby #3: Jackeen J. O'Malley for Congress (1986)
- Barnaby #4: Mr. O'Malley Goes for the Gold (1986)
- Barnaby #5: Mr. O'Malley, Wizard of Wall Street (1986)
- Barnaby #6: J.J. O'Malley Goes Hollywood (1986)
- Magic Beach (2005), with an appreciation by Maurice SendakMaurice SendakMaurice Bernard Sendak is an American writer and illustrator of children's literature. He is best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963.-Early life:...
and an Afterword by Philip NelPhilip NelPhilip Nel is an American scholar of children's literature and Professor of English at Kansas State University. He is best known for his work on Dr. Seuss and Harry Potter, which have led to his being a guest on such media programs as CBS Sunday Morning, NPR's Morning Edition and Talk of the...
The Barnaby #1 to #6 books, published in paperback by Ballantine Books under the Del Rey imprint in 1985, were compilations of the first few years of the comic strip. Additional books were supposed to appear, but publication was suspended upon the death of Judy Lynn Del Rey.
A 1946 play, "Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley", was based on the comic strip. It played in several East Coast cities, attracting attention mainly for a scene in which O'Malley flew over the audience throwing out leaflets urging support for his Congressional race. Johnson said the child cast as Barnaby looked more like the cartoon Barnaby than any real child he ever expected to see,
Producer—Barney Josephson;
Script--Jerome Chodorov
Jerome Chodorov
Jerome Chodorov was an American playwright and librettist.-Biography:He was born in New York City, and entered journalism in the 1930s. He is best known for his 1940 play My Sister Eileen, its 1942 screen adaptation, and the musical Wonderful Town, which based on his play. Joseph A. Fields was...
;
O'Malley--J. M. Kerrigan
J. M. Kerrigan
Joseph Michael Kerrigan , better known as J. M. Kerrigan, born in Dublin, Ireland, was an Irish character actor.-Life:Kerrigan worked as a newspaper reporter until 1907 when he joined the famous Abbey Players...
;
Barnaby--Thomas Wm. Hamilton;
Jane—Iris Mann;
McSnoyd--Royal Dano
Royal Dano
Royal Edward Dano was an American film and television character actor.-Early life:Dano was born in New York City to Mary Josephine , an Irish immigrant, and Caleb Edward Dano, a printer for newspapers. He reportedly left home at the age of twelve and at various intervals, lived in Florida, Texas...