Lane Smith (illustrator)
Encyclopedia
Lane Smith is an American
children's book author
and illustrator.
, but moved to Corona, California
at a young age. He spent summers in Tulsa, however, and cites experiences there as inspirations for his work, saying that "[o]nce you've seen a 100-foot cement buffalo on top of a donut-stand (sic) in the middle of nowhere, you're never the same."
He studied art at Art Center, College of Design in Pasadena, CA, at the encouragement of his high school art teacher, Dan Baughman, helping to pay for it by working as a janitor at Disneyland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
in illustration
, and moved to New York City
, where he was hired to do illustrations for various publications including Time
, Mother Jones
, and Ms..
Smith is married to Molly Leach, who is a book designer and designed several Smith/Scieszka collaborations.
. The two have teamed up on books such as The Stinky Cheese Man, which was considered a New York Times "Best Illustrated Book", and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
. Smith also illustrated a number of volumes of Scieszka's The Time Warp Trio novels.
Smith has also authored and illustrated his own books. He released Pinocchio: The Boy in 2002, and released John, Paul, George, and Ben in April 2006.
Smith's artistic talents have also been featured in other books and mediums. He illustrated one edition of Roald Dahl
's James and the Giant Peach
, and was also art director for the 1996 movie adaptation. He was also in charge of conceptual designs for Disney and Pixar
's Monsters, Inc.
and the film adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
.
Smith has also illustrated a number of titles from Scieszka's The Time Warp Trio series of novels.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
children's book author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and illustrator.
Background
Smith was born in Tulsa, OklahomaTulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, but moved to Corona, California
Corona, California
Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...
at a young age. He spent summers in Tulsa, however, and cites experiences there as inspirations for his work, saying that "[o]nce you've seen a 100-foot cement buffalo on top of a donut-stand (sic) in the middle of nowhere, you're never the same."
He studied art at Art Center, College of Design in Pasadena, CA, at the encouragement of his high school art teacher, Dan Baughman, helping to pay for it by working as a janitor at Disneyland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
, and 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...
, where he was hired to do illustrations for various publications including Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, Mother Jones
Mother Jones (magazine)
Mother Jones is an American independent news organization, featuring investigative and breaking news reporting on politics, the environment, human rights, and culture. Mother Jones has been nominated for 23 National Magazine Awards and has won six times, including for General Excellence in 2001,...
, and Ms..
Smith is married to Molly Leach, who is a book designer and designed several Smith/Scieszka collaborations.
Children's books
Smith is most noted for his work on children's books. He is best known for his multiple collaborations with author Jon ScieszkaJon Scieszka
Jon Scieszka was born September 8, 1954 in Flint, Michigan is an American author of children's literature, best known for his collaborations with illustrator Lane Smith. He is also a nationally recognized reading advocate, and in early 2008 was named the National Ambassador for Young People's...
. The two have teamed up on books such as The Stinky Cheese Man, which was considered a New York Times "Best Illustrated Book", and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
A parody of The Three Little Pigs, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is a children's book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Released in a number of editions since its first release in 1989, it is the story of The Three Little Pigs as told by the Big Bad Wolf, known in the book as "A. Wolf,"...
. Smith also illustrated a number of volumes of Scieszka's The Time Warp Trio novels.
Smith has also authored and illustrated his own books. He released Pinocchio: The Boy in 2002, and released John, Paul, George, and Ben in April 2006.
Smith's artistic talents have also been featured in other books and mediums. He illustrated one edition of Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
's James and the Giant Peach
James and the Giant Peach
James and the Giant Peach is a popular children's novel written in 1961 by British author Roald Dahl. The original first edition published by Alfred Knopf featured illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. However, there have been various reillustrated versions of it over the years, done by Michael...
, and was also art director for the 1996 movie adaptation. He was also in charge of conceptual designs for Disney and Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
's Monsters, Inc.
Monsters, Inc.
Monsters, Inc. is a 2001 American computer-animated film and the fourth feature-length film produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It was directed by Pete Docter, co-directed by Lee Unkrich and David Silverman, and written by Jill Culton, Peter Docter, Ralph Eggleston, Dan Gerson, Jeff Pidgeon, Rhett...
and the film adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a children's story by Dr. Seuss written in rhymed verse with illustrations by the author. It was published as a book by Random House in 1957, and at approximately the same time in an issue of Redbook...
.
Authored and illustrated
- Glasses (Who Needs 'Em?)Glasses (Who Needs 'Em?)Glasses is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Lane Smith. It was originally released in 1991 by Viking Books. Summary: A boy is unhappy about having to wear glasses, until his doctor provides an imaginative list of well adjusted eyeglass wearers....
- Viking Children'sViking PressViking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...
- 1991 - The Big PetsThe Big PetsThe Big Pets is a children's picture book by Lane Smith. It was originally published in 1991 by Viking Books....
- Viking Children's - 1991 - The Happy Hocky Family! - Viking Children's - 1993
- Flying JakeFlying JakeFlying Jake is a children's picture book by Lane Smith. It was originally published in 1988 by Macmillan Publishing Company and reprinted by Viking Press in 1996. In the wordless story, a boy named Jake takes flight in pursuit of his pet bird, which has flown out of its cage and through a window...
- Viking Children's - 1996 - Pinnochio: The Boy - Viking Children's - 2002
- The Happy Hocky Family Moves to the Country! - Viking Children's - 2003
- John, Paul, George, and BenJohn, Paul, George, and BenJohn, Paul, George, and Ben is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Lane Smith. Released in 2006 through Hyperion Books, it is a picture book that tells the story of five of the Founding Fathers of American independence: John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Benjamin...
- Hyperion PressHyperion (publisher)Hyperion Books is a general-interest book publishing part of the Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company, established in 1991. Hyperion publishes general-interest fiction and non-fiction books for adults under the following imprints: ABC Daytime Press, ESPN Books,...
- 2006 - Madam President- Viking Children's - 2008
- The Big Elephant In The Room- Hyperion Press- 2008
Collaborations with Jon Scieszka
- The True Story of the Three Little PigsThe True Story of the Three Little PigsA parody of The Three Little Pigs, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is a children's book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Released in a number of editions since its first release in 1989, it is the story of The Three Little Pigs as told by the Big Bad Wolf, known in the book as "A. Wolf,"...
- Viking Children's - 1989 - The Stinky Cheese Man - Viking Children's - 1992
- Math CurseMath CurseMath Curse is a children's picture book written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith. Published in 1995 through Viking Press, the book tells the story of a student who is cursed by the way mathematics works in everyday life...
- Viking Children's - 1995 - Squids Will Be SquidsSquids Will Be SquidsSquids Will Be Squids is a children's picture book written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith. It was published in 1998 by Viking Press.-Reception:...
- Viking Children's - 1998 - Baloney (Henry P.)Baloney (Henry P.)Baloney is a children's picture book written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith. It was published in 1991 by Viking Press....
- Viking Children's - 2001 - Science VerseScience VerseScience Verse is a children's picture book written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith. A follow-up to Math Curse, the book, published by Viking Press, tells the story - in verse - of a student who, according to his teacher, hears "the poetry of science in everything."Later, The art...
- Viking Children's - 2004
- Seen Art?Seen Art?Seen Art? is a children's picture book written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith. It was published in 1995 by Viking Press, and is aimed at a reading age of 4 to 8....
- Viking Childrens'- 1995
Smith has also illustrated a number of titles from Scieszka's The Time Warp Trio series of novels.
Other illustrations
- Halloween ABCHalloween ABCHalloween ABC is a book of poetry for children, written by Eve Merriam and illustrated by Lane Smith. It includes a poem related to a scary or Halloween related theme for each letter of the alphabet....
- Eve MerriamEve Merriam-Writing career:Merriam's first book was the 1946 Family Circle, which won the Yale Younger Poets Prize.Her book, The Inner City Mother Goose, was described as one of the most banned books of the time. It inspired a 1971 Broadway musical called Inner City and a 1982 musical production called Street...
- Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
- 1987 - James and the Giant PeachJames and the Giant PeachJames and the Giant Peach is a popular children's novel written in 1961 by British author Roald Dahl. The original first edition published by Alfred Knopf featured illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert. However, there have been various reillustrated versions of it over the years, done by Michael...
- Roald Dahl - Random House - 1996 edition- The illustrations also appear in the 1997 hardcoverHardcoverA hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
book The Roald Dahl TreasuryThe Roald Dahl TreasuryThe Roald Dahl Treasury is an anthology of works of the children's author Roald Dahl. It was first published in the United Kingdom in 1997 by Puffin Books....
.
- The illustrations also appear in the 1997 hardcover
- Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! is a children's book credited to Dr. Seuss "with some help by Jack Prelutsky and Lane Smith". The book is based on verses and sketches created by Seuss before his death in 1991, and was expanded to book length and completed by writer Prelutsky and illustrator Smith for...
- Dr. SeussDr. SeussTheodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone....
, Jack PrelutskyJack PrelutskyJack Prelutsky is an American writer of children's poetry. He lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife, Carolynn.-Early life:...
- Random HouseRandom HouseRandom House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
- 1998 - The Very Persistent Gappers of FripThe Very Persistent Gappers of FripThe Very Persistent Gappers of Frip is short story writer George Saunders’s first children's book. -Plot summary:The village of Frip, consisting of three shacks by the sea, relies entirely on the production and sale of goat's milk. The gappers, an unintelligent lifeform shaped like a spiky fish,...
- George SaundersGeorge SaundersGeorge Saunders is a New York Times bestselling American writer of short stories, essays, novellas and children's books. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, McSweeney's and GQ, among other publications...
- McSweeney'sMcSweeney'sMcSweeney's is an American publishing house founded by editor Dave Eggers.Apart from its book list, McSweeney's is responsible for four regular publications: the quarterly literary journal,...
Publishing - 2006 - Unmentionable!-Paul JenningsPaul JenningsPaul Jennings may refer to:* Paul Jennings , Australian children's author* Paul Jennings , UK humorist...
Viking Penguin Inc-1999