James Stevenson (illustrator)


James Stevenson was an American illustrator and author of over 100 children's books. His cartoons appeared regularly in The New Yorker magazine. He usually used a unique comic book style of illustration that is very recognizable. His books, like What's Under My Bed, have been featured on the Reading Rainbow television series.

Biography

James Stevenson was born in New York City and educated at Yale University, where he was the feature editor of campus humor magazine The Yale Record.
He contributed his first cartoon to The New Yorker on March 10, 1956.
James Stevenson wrote and illustrated his first book Walker, the Witch, and the Striped Flying Saucer in 1969. He had previously illustrated the children's book If I Owned a Candy Factory written by his then eight-year-old son, James Walker Stevenson.

Awards

  • Could Be Worse! - was awarded the New York Times' "Outstanding Children's Book of the Year", and School Library Journal's "Best Books for Spring"
  • The Sea View Hotel - ALA Notable Book
  • Monty - School Library Journal's "Best Books for Spring"
  • Fast Friends: Two Stories - ALA's Notable Book designation
  • The Worst Person in the World - Children's Choice Award
  • Howard - New York Times' "Best Illustrated Book" and New York Times' "Outstanding Book"
  • That Terrible Halloween Night - ALA's Notable Book designation and Children's Choice Award
  • The Wish Card Ran Out! - School Library Journal's Best Books of 1981
  • The Night after Christmas - Children's Choice Award and Boston Globe/Horn Book honor list
  • We Can't Sleep - Christopher Award
  • Oliver, Clarence, and Violet - Parents' Choice Award
  • What's Under My Bed? - Boston Globe/Horn Book's honor list, ALA's Notable Book designation, and School Library Journal's Best Books of 1983
  • Grandpa's Great City Tour: An Alphabet Book - Garden State Children's Book Award
  • Higher on the Door - Parents' Choice designation and Redbook award
  • Georgia Music - Boston Globe/Horn Book honor list
  • Granddaddy's Place - Parents' Choice Picture Book award
  • The Supreme Souvenir Factory - Children's Choice Award
  • Oh No, It's Waylon's Birthday! - Children's Choice Award
  • Something Big Has Been Here - Kentucky Bluegrass Award
  • Don't You Know There's a War On? - Parents' Choice Picture Book award

Select bibliography

Children's books

  • If I Owned a Candy Factory
  • Walker, the Witch, and the Striped Flying Saucer
  • Here Comes Herb's Hurricane!
  • Monty
  • Howard
  • Clams Can't Sing
  • The Wish Card Ran Out!
  • The Night After Christmas
  • Cully Cully and the Bear
  • Barbara's birthday
  • Are We Almost There?
  • When I Was Nine
  • Higher On the Door
  • No Need for Monty
  • July
  • Mr. Hacker
  • Quick! Turn the Page!
  • The Stowaway
  • Rolling Rose
  • Don't You Know There's a War On?
  • Fun No Fun
  • I Had a Lot of Wishes
  • Yard Sale
  • I Meant to Tell You
  • The Oldest Elf
  • Heat Wave at Mud Flat
  • A Village Full of Valentines
  • Sam the Zamboni Man
  • The Most Amazing Dinosaur
  • ''The Castaway''

Grandpa, Mary Ann and Louie series

A series of tales told by a grandfather character to his grandchildren. Usually containing outrageous and unbelievable tales:
  1. Could Be Worse!
  2. That Terrible Halloween Night
  3. We Can't Sleep
  4. The Great Big Especially Beautiful Easter Egg
  5. Grandpa's Great City Tour: An Alphabet Book
  6. What's Under My Bed?
  7. Worse Than Willy
  8. That Dreadful Day
  9. There's Nothing to Do!
  10. No Friends
  11. Will You Please Feed Our Cat?
  12. We Hate Rain!
  13. Grandpa's Too-Good Garden
  14. Brrr
  15. ''That's Exactly the Way It Wasn't''

''Emma'' series

Featuring Emma, a good witch, and her nemeses Dolores and Lavinia:
  1. Yuck!
  2. Emma
  3. Fried Feathers for Thanksgiving
  4. Happy Valentine's Day, Emma!
  5. Un-Happy New Year, Emma!
  6. ''Emma at the Beach''

''The Worst'' series

Featuring a crotchety old man:

''Mr. Frimdimpny'' series

These books feature the alligator Mr. Frimdimpny who has rules about no laughing:

''Mud Flat Friends'' series

  • The Mud Flat Olympics
  • Yard Sale
  • Heat Wave at Mud Flat
  • The Mud Flat Mystery
  • Mud Flat April Fool
  • Mud Flat Spring
  • Christmas at Mud Flat
  • ''Flying Feet: A Mud Flat Story''

Autobiographical and reminiscent picture book series

A series of books illustrated in a softer watercolor style:
  • When I Was Nine
  • Higher on the Door
  • July
  • Don't You Know There's a War On?
  • Fun No Fun
  • I Had a Lot of Wishes
  • I Meant to Tell You
  • ''Lost and Found New York: Oddballs, Heroes, Heartbreakers, Scoundrels, Thugs, Mayors, and Mysteries''

Young Adult novels

  • The Bones in the Cliff
  • ''The Unprotected Witness''

Poetry

Collections of James Stevenson's poetry, illustrated by himself.
  • Candy Corn
  • Popcorn
  • Cornflakes
  • Sweet Corn
  • Corn Chowder
  • Corn-Fed
  • ''Just Around the CORNer''

Cartoons collections

  • Sorry, Lady. This Beach Is Private!
  • ''Let's Boogie!''

Novels

Illustrations for other authors

The McLandress Dimension by John Kenneth GalbraithIf I Owned a Candy Factory by James Walker Stevenson

Illustrations for Judy Blume

The following books by Judy Blume feature cover artwork and inner illustrations by James Stevenson:Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One Cool Zone! with the Pain and the Great One Going, Going, Gone! with the Pain and the Great One
  • ''Friend or Fiend? with the Pain and the Great One''

Illustrations for Janet Schulman

James Stevenson illustrated three of Janet Schulman's Jack the Bum series:Jack the Bum and the Halloween Handout Jack the Bum and the Haunted House
  • ''Jack the Bum and the UFO''

Illustrations for Helen V. Griffith

James Stevenson illustrated a few of Helen V. Griffith's books:
  • ''Georgia Music''
    Helen V. Griffith's ''Grandaddy'' trilogy
All illustrated by James Stevenson:
  1. Grandaddy's Place
  2. Grandaddy and Janetta
  3. ''Grandaddy's Stars''

Illustrations for Jack Prelutsky

The following books of children's poetry by Jack Prelutsky are illustrated by James Stevenson:The Baby Ugs are Hatching The New Kid on the Block Something BIG Has Been Here A Pizza the Size of the Sun It's Raining Pigs and Noodles
  • ''My Dog May Be a Genius''