Esther Averill
Encyclopedia
Esther Averill was an American author and illustrator best known for The Cat Club Series, a collection of 13 stories featuring Jenny Linsky, a small black cat who wore a red scarf in all of her adventures.
, where as a teenager she enjoyed drawing cartoons and writing. After graduating from Vassar College
in 1923, she joined the editorial staff of Women's Wear Daily
. In 1925 she moved to Paris, France as an assistant to a photojournalist. In 1931, Averill founded the Domino Press, which specialized in “children's picture books illustrated by gifted young artists and reproduced by means of the excellent color processes that were available”. Domino's first publication was Averill's book "Daniel Boone", illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky
, who later went on to win the Caldecott Medal
for his children's illustrations. Domino Press published several more children's books before it ceased operations in 1938.
Averill returned to the United States in 1941. In 1944, she wrote and illustrated “The Cat Club”, the first in a series of stories about a cat, Jenny Linsky, who lived in New York City with her master, the benevolent Captain Tinker. Between 1944 and 1972, Averill wrote and illustrated a dozen more stories about Jenny Linsky and her cat friends, all of whom were based on cats Averill owned or knew.
Averill died in New York City
on May 19, 1992.
Life
Averill was born in Bridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, where as a teenager she enjoyed drawing cartoons and writing. After graduating from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
in 1923, she joined the editorial staff of Women's Wear Daily
Women's Wear Daily
Women's Wear Daily is a fashion-industry trade journal sometimes called "the bible of fashion." WWD delivers information and intelligence on changing trends and breaking news in the fashion, beauty and retail industries with a readership composed largely of retailers, designers, manufacturers,...
. In 1925 she moved to Paris, France as an assistant to a photojournalist. In 1931, Averill founded the Domino Press, which specialized in “children's picture books illustrated by gifted young artists and reproduced by means of the excellent color processes that were available”. Domino's first publication was Averill's book "Daniel Boone", illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky
Feodor Stepanovich Rojankovsky
Feodor Stepanovich Rojankovsky , also known as Rojan, was a Russian émigré illustrator. He is best known for his illustrations for children's books, and conversely, for his erotic illustrations.-Biography:...
, who later went on to win 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 his children's illustrations. Domino Press published several more children's books before it ceased operations in 1938.
Averill returned to the United States in 1941. In 1944, she wrote and illustrated “The Cat Club”, the first in a series of stories about a cat, Jenny Linsky, who lived in New York City with her master, the benevolent Captain Tinker. Between 1944 and 1972, Averill wrote and illustrated a dozen more stories about Jenny Linsky and her cat friends, all of whom were based on cats Averill owned or knew.
Averill died 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...
on May 19, 1992.
The Cat Club Series
- The Cat Club, 1944
- The School For Cats, 1947
- Jenny's First Party, 1948
- Jenny's Moonlight Adventure, 1949
- When Jenny Lost Her Scarf, 1951
- Jenny's Adopted Brothers, 1952
- How the Brothers Joined the Cat Club, 1953
- Jenny's Birthday Book, 1954
- Jenny Goes to Sea, 1957
- Jenny's Bedside Book, 1959
- The Fire Cat, 1960
- The Hotel Cat, 1969
- Captains of the City Streets, 1972
Sources
- Something About the Author, Volume 28 (1982), pp. 39–43
- New York Review of Books biography
- University of Southern Mississippi, deGrummond Collection
- University of Southern Mississippi, Children’s Literature Research Collections
See also
- The New York Review Children's CollectionThe New York Review Children's CollectionNew York Review Books Children's Collection is a series of children's books released under the publishing imprint New York Review Books. This series' mission is to reintroduce some of the many children's books that have fallen out of print, or simply out of mainstream attention...