Lillian Hoban
Encyclopedia
Lillian Hoban was a children's literature
author and artist.
The youngest of three children, Hoban was born Lillian Aberman in Philadelphia on May 18, 1925. She attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Art, studied dance for ten years and danced with the Martha Graham
troupe, taught Modern Dance and danced professionally in the 1950s.
Hoban learned to draw still life and began to write her own stories only after having four children, Phoebe, Brom, Esme and Julia. She based her tales on their experiences.
Her "I-Can-Read" books about Arthur the chimpanzee
and his little sister Violet, and the Frances the Badger
books (illustrated by Hoban but written by her then-husband Russell
) continue to be extremely popular among children as time goes by, widely considered to be classics. Charlie the Tramp, about a wayward young beaver
and his family, is now unfortunately out of print. She also illustrated the Riverside Kids series including Russell Rides Again, Elisa In The Middle, Superduper Teddy, and Busybody Nora. The last Riverside Kids book she illustrated is Ever-Clever Elisa.
Lillian Hoban died in 1998.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
author and artist.
The youngest of three children, Hoban was born Lillian Aberman in Philadelphia on May 18, 1925. She attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Art, studied dance for ten years and danced with the Martha Graham
Martha Graham
Martha Graham was an American modern dancer and choreographer whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on modern visual arts, Stravinsky had on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright had on architecture.She danced and choreographed for over seventy years...
troupe, taught Modern Dance and danced professionally in the 1950s.
Hoban learned to draw still life and began to write her own stories only after having four children, Phoebe, Brom, Esme and Julia. She based her tales on their experiences.
Her "I-Can-Read" books about Arthur the chimpanzee
Arthur the chimpanzee
Arthur the chimpanzee is a character created by Lillian Hoban. His books are part of the, "I Can Read" series from HarperCollins publishers. Characters include his sister Violet, his baby-sitter, and friends: Norman, Mabel, Wilma, his teacher Ms. Wilson, and his principal Mr. Adams. His parents...
and his little sister Violet, and the Frances the Badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
books (illustrated by Hoban but written by her then-husband Russell
Russell Hoban
Russell Conwell Hoban is an American writer, now living in England, of fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, magic realism, poetry, and children's books-Biography:...
) continue to be extremely popular among children as time goes by, widely considered to be classics. Charlie the Tramp, about a wayward young beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
and his family, is now unfortunately out of print. She also illustrated the Riverside Kids series including Russell Rides Again, Elisa In The Middle, Superduper Teddy, and Busybody Nora. The last Riverside Kids book she illustrated is Ever-Clever Elisa.
Lillian Hoban died in 1998.