Exploring the Great Outdoors - Meridian International Center

Yoshi Kogo
Yoshi Kogo was born in Japan, and is a graduate of the Tokyo University of Arts. She now lives and
works in Western Massachusetts. She is well known in the fields of fashion and textile design, and now
has attracted considerable attention as a children’s book illustrator. Her style, a combination of painting
and batik on silk, is based on centuries-old techniques of textile decoration used to embellish kimonos.
Selected books illustrated by Yoshi Kogo:
Making the World by Douglas Wood, 1998
The Butterfly Hunt by Yoshi, 1990
Fritz Kredel (1900-1973)
Fritz Kredel was born in Michelstadt, Odenwald, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1938.
His hobbies included carving gingerbread moulds, toy soldiers, horses, and artillery pieces. In addition,
he enjoyed repairing old furniture, and restoring old clocks and firearms. A favorite hobby of Kredel’s
was putting on puppet plays for which he carved and manipulated his own puppets.
Selected books illustrated by Fritz Kredel:
Elmo Doolan and the Search for the Golden Mouse by Shirley R. Murphy, 1970
Moonfleet by Meade Falkner, 1951
Lois Lenski (1893-1974)
Lois Lenski was born in Ohio. After illustrating other people’s books for years, she started to write
about her own Ohio childhood. She is well known for her series of regional stories about the lives of
children in America. Her simplest books, the “Mr. Small” books, were begun when she found a dearth of
picture books to read to her own son. Lois Lenski was awarded the Newbery medal in 1946 for
Strawberry Girl.
Selected books illustrated by Lois Lenski:
Mr. & Mrs. Noah by Lois Lenski, 2002
Betsy Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace, 2000
Blair Lent
“I always wanted to make children’s picture books. While I was working in an advertising agency, I kept
making books to submit to publishers.” Blair Lent is now a professional artist and author of children’s
books. He enjoys traveling, and exploring new ways to express his ideas through art. He states that
many ideas for his books come from folklore, and from the experiences that he has had on his travels.
Selected books illustrated by Blair Lent:
The Angry Moon by William Sleator, 1970
Pistachio by Blair Lent, 1964
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