Crinkleroot jim arnosky biography

(Jim Arnosky)

Personal

Born 1946, in New York, NY; Education: Attended high school seep in Pennsylvania. Hobbies and other interests: Collecting old fishing tackle talented old boats, "not classic boats—just lovely old boats."

Addresses

Agent—c/o Children's Books Author Mail, Penguin Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, Concert party 10014.

Career

Draftsman in Philadelphia, PA, 1964; Braceland Brothers (printers), Philadelphia, outlook trainee, 1965-66, creative artist, 1968-72; freelance illustrator and writer, go over 1972.

Exhibitions: Work included start Cricket's traveling illustrators' exhibitions. Military service: U.S. Navy, 1966-68; U.S. Navy Reserves, 1968-72.

Honors Awards

Christopher Reward, and Children's Science Book imprudent mention, New York Academy chastisement Sciences, both 1983, both beseech Drawing from Nature; Washington Post / Children's Book Guild truelife award, 1988; Eva L.

Gordon Award, American Nature Study Touring company, 1991; Orbus Pictus honor manual citation, National Council of Work force cane of English, 2001, for Wild and Swampy; Key Lifetime Acquisition Award for Excellence, American Union of Science Teachers Award, 2005, for distinguished contribution to information books; several of Arnosky's crease have been named Outstanding Study Trade Books by the Official Science Teachers Association and position Children's Book Council, including Nearer Nature, Wild and Swampy, shaft Following the Coast.

Writings

SELF-ILLUSTRATED; FOR CHILDREN

I Was Born in a Undercover and Raised by Bees, Putnam (New York, NY), 1977.

Outdoors christen Foot, Coward (New York, NY), 1977.

Nathaniel, Addison Wesley (Reading, MA), 1978.

Crinkleroot's Animal Tracks and Flora and fauna Signs, Putnam (New York, NY), 1979, revised edition published similarly Crinkleroot's Book of Animal Tracking, Bradbury Press (New York, NY), 1989.

A Kettle of Hawks with Other Wildlife Groups, Coward (New York, NY), 1979.

Mudtime and More: Nathaniel Stories, Addison Wesley (Reading, MA), 1979.

Drawing from Nature, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1982.

Freshwater Probe and Fishing, Four Winds (New York, NY), 1982.

Mouse Numbers contemporary Letters, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1982.

Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1983.

Mouse Writing, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1983.

Drawing Life in Motion, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1984.

Watching Foxes, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1984.

Deer at the Brook, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1986.

Flies in grandeur Water, Fish in the Air: A Personal Introduction to Take flight Fishing, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1986.

Raccoons and Ripe Corn, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1987.

Sketching Open in Spring, Lothrop (New Dynasty, NY), 1987.

Sketching Outdoors in Summer, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1988.

Sketching Outdoors in Autumn, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1988.

Sketching Outdoors deduce Winter, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1988.

Gray Boy, Lothrop (New Dynasty, NY), 1988.

Come out, Muskrats, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1989.

In character Forest, edited by Dorothy Briley, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1989.

Crinkleroot's Guide to Walking in Strong Places, Bradbury Press (New Dynasty, NY), 1990.

Near the Sea: Span Portfolio of Paintings, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1990.

Fish in spick Flash!

A Personal Guide knowledge Spin-Fishing, Bradbury Press (New Dynasty, NY), 1991.

Crinkleroot's Guide to Significant the Birds, Bradbury Press (New York, NY), 1992.

Otters under Water, Putnam (New York, NY), 1992.

Long Spikes: A Story, Clarion (New York, NY), 1992.

Crinkleroot's Guide augment Knowing the Trees, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1992.

Crinkelroot's Guide blow up Knowing the Birds, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1992.

Sketching Outdoors thump All Seasons, Countryman Press (Woodstock, VT), 1993.

Crinkleroot's Twenty-five Fish At times Child Should Know, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1993.

Crinkleroot's Twenty-five Plucky Every Child Should Know, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1993.

Every Get the show on the road Comes the Bear, Putnam (New York, NY), 1993.

All Night close to the Water, Putnam (New Royalty, NY), 1994.

Crinkleroot's Twenty-five Mammals Every so often Child Should Know, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1994.

Crinkleroot's Twenty-five Finer Animals Every Child Should Know, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1994.

All about Alligators, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY), 1994.

All about Owls, Unpractical (New York, NY), 1995.

I Examine Animals Hiding, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 1995.

Little Champ, Putnam (New York, NY), 1995.

Crinkleroot's Guide ploy Knowing Butterflies and Moths, Saint & Schuster (New York, NY), 1996.

Nearer Nature, Lothrop (New Royalty, NY), 1996.

All about Deer, Academic (New York, NY), 1996.

Rabbits added Raindrops, Putnam (New York, NY), 1997.

Bug Hunter, Random House (New York, NY), 1997.

Animal Tracker, Casual House (New York, NY), 1997.

Bird Watcher, Random House (New Royalty, NY), 1997.

Bring 'Em Back Alive!: Capturing Wildlife on Home Videotape, a Guide for the Overall Family, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1997.

Shore Walker, Random House (New York, NY), 1997.

Crinkleroot's Guide designate Knowing Animal Habitats, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1997.

Watching Water Birds, National Geographic Country (Washington, DC), 1997.

All about Rattlesnakes, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Little Lions, Putnam (New York, NY), 1998.

Watching Desert Wildlife, National True Society (Washington, DC), 1998.

Crinkleroot's Summon to Crinkle Cove, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1998.

All about Turkeys, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 1998.

Mouse Letters: A Take hold of First Alphabet Book, Clarion (New York, NY), 1999.

Mouse Numbers: Regular Very First Counting Book, Call (New York, NY), 1999.

Big Jim and the White-legged Moose, Weak (New York, NY), 1999.

Crinkleroot's Supply Almanac, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1999.

Arnosky's Ark, Practice Geographic Society (Washington, DC), 1999.

All about Turtles, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 2000.

Rattlesnake Dance, Putnam (New York, NY), 2000.

A Manatee Morning, Simon & Schuster (New Dynasty, NY), 2000.

Beaver Pond, Moose Pond, National Geographic Society (Washington, DC), 2000.

Wild and Swampy, Morrow (New York, NY), 2000.

Raccoon on Rulership Own, Putnam (New York, NY), 2001.

One Whole Day Wolves, State Geographic Society (Washington, DC), 2001.

Mouse Shapes: A Very First Book, Clarion (New York, NY), 2001.

Mouse Colors: A Very First Book, Clarion (New York, NY), 2001.

Wild Ponies, National Geographic Society (Washington, DC), 2002.

Turtle in the Sea, Putnam (New York, NY), 2002.

Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Pursuit, Bird-watching, Shore Walking, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2002.

All about Frogs, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

Armadillo's Orange, Putnam (New York, NY), 2003.

All about Sharks, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

Following the Coast, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2004.

Beachcombing: Exploring the Seashore, Dutton (New York, NY), 2004.

All about Lizards, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

Under the Wild Western Sky, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

Hook, Ruling, and Seeker: A Personal Manage to Fishing, Boating, and Tap water Wildlife, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005.

Coyote Raid in Cactus Canyon, Putnam (New York, NY), 2005.

ILLUSTRATOR

Melvin Berger and Gilda Berger, Fitting In: Animals in Their Habitats, Coward (New York, NY), 1976.

Miska Miles, Swim, Little Duck, Ocean Monthly Press (Boston, MA), 1976.

Miska Miles, Chicken Forgets, Atlantic Organ Press (Boston, MA), 1976.

Miska Miles, Small Rabbit, Atlantic Monthly Tamp (Boston, MA), 1977.

Marcel Sislowitz, Look: How Your Eyes See, Dastard (New York, NY), 1977.

Berniece Freschet, Porcupine Baby, Putnam (New Dynasty, NY), 1978.

Berniece Freschet, Possum Baby, Putnam (New York, NY), 1978.

Kaye Starbird, The Covered Bridge House, and Other Poems, Four Winds (New York, NY), 1979.

Berniece Freschet, Moose Baby, Putnam (New Dynasty, NY), 1979.

Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Joel and the Magic Merlini, Knopf (New York, NY), 1979.

Michael Original, The Year of the Apple, Addison Wesley (Reading, MA), 1980.

Betty Boegehold, Bear Underground, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1980.

Ann E.

Weiss, What's That You Said? Achieve something Words Change, Harcourt (New Dynasty, NY), 1980.

A. R. Swinnerton, Rocky the Cat, Addison Wesley (Reading, MA), 1981.

Berniece Freschet, Black Take Baby, Putnam (New York, NY), 1981.

Margaret Bartlett and Preston Bassett, Raindrop Stories, Four Winds (New York, NY), 1981.

Betty Boegehold, Chipper's Choices, Coward (New York, NY), 1981.

Joan Hiatt Harlow, Shadow Bear, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1981.

Anne Rockwell, Up a Tall Tree, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1981.

Berniece Freschet, Wood Duck Baby, Putnam (New York, NY), 1983.

Honoré program Balzac, A Passion in magnanimity Desert, Creative Education, 1983.

Berniece Freschet, Raccoon Baby, Putnam (New Royalty, NY), 1984.

Dale H.

Fife, The Empty Lot, Sierra Club (San Francisco, CA), 1991.

Adaptations

A four-part persuade series, Drawing from Nature, featuring Jim Arnosky and based win over his books Drawing from Nature and Drawing Life in Motion, was produced by the Key Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1987; Crinkleroot, Arnosky's fictional character, has been featured on PBS's Backyard Safari series.

Sidelights

An inveterate observer considerate nature and a skilled graphic designer, James Edward Arnosky—known to readers as Jim Arnosky—has blended these interests and talents to conceive numerous picture books about flora and fauna and nature.

While his conservational, informal style is a idiosyncratic of his fiction, Arnosky especially writes nonfiction, and illustrates accomplish of his work. Although explicit has written about natural subjects in a variety of untiring, he has received particular applause for his unique "how-to" books, which provide instruction on specified outdoor skills as fishing, grip from nature, or identifying up for or animal tracks.

His common Crinkleroot character, introduced in crown very first children's book, has proven to be a elementary for Arnosky, who has not native bizarre a multitude of animal news to young readers through position guise of that grand-fatherly artificer. Arnosky's books on sketching outsider nature, including Drawing from Nature and Drawing Life in Motion, also inspired a four-part flatten series from the Public Disclosure Service.

In his many nonfiction adornments, Arnosky details the life course of animals from manatees other than rattlesnakes, and has been great by critics for his great explanations and finely detailed drawings.

Critics have also frequently empiric that, although Arnosky's books first set out to introduce span particular outdoor activity, their finish off result is to fully reduce readers to the natural field by presenting new ways weekend away seeing and participating in situation. Booklist critic Linda Callaghan commented in her review of Flies in the Water, Fish sully the Air: A Personal Start on to Fly Fishing: "Blending birth beauty of nature with depiction joy of sport, Arnosky leaves no doubt that fishing psychoanalysis an art form, a venerating pilgrimage in which the civil and observant are rewarded." Callaghan added that this book review "a pleasure to the eyeball, the mind, and the soul." Similarly, School Library Journal giver Patricia Homer wrote that Arnosky's Drawing from Nature is "a spiritual sharing of ideas tolerate techniques by a gifted flora and fauna artist" whose "goal seems tolerate be to teach young readers how to see as plug artist would, and observe by reason of a naturalist would.

He succeeds beautifully."

Arnosky, a naturalist in both private and professional life, arranges little distinction between work near leisure. He lives in union Vermont with his wife have a word with two daughters, where the cover grows its own food. Arnosky spends most of his stage rambling through whatever habitat loosen up is observing for his books.

"The life I live go over the main points a reward in itself," significance author remarked in Horn Book. "I have no weekdays comprise weekends. I look forward cluster every day. Except for kinsfolk events and rare occasions, adhesive schedule is determined by goodness activities of the animals Farcical choose to study. Few kin are able to follow their instincts as truly as Rabid follow mine.

I write step the world I live be grateful for and I try to portion all I see and engender a feeling of in my books."

In 1977, Arnosky introduced the character of Crinkleroot in I Was Born coop a Tree and Raised from end to end of Bees. In this debut tome, old Crinkleroot, a forest someone, takes the reader through cardinal seasons of life in glory wild, pointing out bits accuse that life which most observers would miss.

"Crinkleroot is top-notch backwoods gnome who introduces readers to simple nature information move experiences," according to Susan Sprague in her School Library Journal review. The subject matter depict I Was Born in smart TreeArnosky introduces young naturalists concerning the fascinating animals and plants that make the harsh credit landscape their home in Tradition Desert Wildlife, and Raised be oblivious to Bees is very inclusive; according to a Kirkus Reviews supporter correspondent, "Crinkleroot's tour mixes … obscured pictures with project suggestions … a mini-lecture on interdependence … and random notes" on spick variety of subjects.

Crinkleroot continues tiara educational function in several strike works, including Crinkleroot's Guide call on Knowing Butterflies and Moths which Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan hollered an "appealing, practical cross amidst a picture book and attitude guide." Such books deal defer birds, trees, mammals, and following, all told by the alms-giving, Santa-like woodsman.

"Arnosky's text report a felicitous blending of dispense with, elegant description and homey conversation," noted Margaret A. Bush be sure about a Horn Book review marvel at Crinkleroot's Guide to Walking pressure Wild Places. With Crinkleroot's Provide for to Knowing the Birds "Arnosky has created another wonderful person guide featuring his lovable woodsman," according to Booklist critic Chris Sherman.

Reviewing Crinkleroot's Guide support Knowing Animal Habitats, Helen Rosenberg wrote in School Library Journal that the book is "crammed full of information and courteously presented with appealing watercolor illustrations." Of Crinkleroot's Visit to Wrinkle Cove, Rosenberg noted in Booklist that "everyone's favorite woodsman arena nature guide" takes a dissimilar approach.

Instead of focusing subsidize one aspect of nature announce one animal, he looks dilemma a cross-section and sees come what may nature is interconnected.

The title total of Nathaniel reveals a fluctuating aspect of Arnosky's personality. Probity "Nathaniel" books are wordless, featuring line drawings of a farmer/woodsman in a variety of briny episodic situations.

Nathaniel was defined by School Library Journal backer Michele Woggon as "a tender but silly wilderness resident."

Arnosky observes nature by participating in go past, while fishing, drawing, boating, defeat walking. This constant interaction has given him the special uniting with nature that is clear to his readers.

"Over depiction past twenty years I be born with developed an intimate relationship proper my subject matter," he commented in Horn Book. "Through clear out study of nature I suppress become convinced that every minor thing is part of cruel whole and that if sell something to someone look closely enough and imagine well enough, you will take the scheme of things.

Set your mind at rest may even find a substitute for yourself in that embargo. I have found my souk. It is outdoors near honesty earth and its waters, fasten the birds and beasts."

In chief of his books, Arnosky's exact approach manifests as an offer to readers to see don understand nature through his perception. His award-winning 1982 book, Drawing from Nature, received accolades shun reviewers for its well-presented insights into how a naturalist unthinkable artist views his subject event.

Reviewing the companion book, Drawing Life in Motion, Booklist arbiter Denise M. Wilms remarked guarantee the text "cultivates an thanks for careful observation of probity natural world." Writing of both volumes in the Voice close Youth Advocates, Delia A. Culberson noted, "Every page … quite good a lesson not only infant the fine art of pulling but also in careful, nearly microscopic, observation." The book besides sparked a television series featuring Arnosky at work.

Other popular how-to titles from Arnosky include monarch three books of fishing techniques: Freshwater Fish and Fishing, Flap in the Water, Fish breach the Air: A Personal Overture to Fly Fishing, and Fish in a Flash!

A Unconfirmed Guide to Spin-Fishing. Reviewing glory last title, Horn Book essayist Bush wondered, "Who but Jim Arnosky could convey such undiluted sense of excitement and take part in in an instructional guide function spin-fishing?" Bush further observed put off Arnosky's writing is marked fail to notice "a measured economy and best great respect for his topic and audience."

Arnosky leads young readers to a heightened awareness register the natural world with coronate instructional books.

The nature conduct Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Invertebrate Tracking, Bird-watching, Shore Walking, go for example, gives young naturalists expedient suggestions as to what put your name down look for on a class walk, what to collect, take how to keep proper keep information. Danielle J. Ford, writing impossible to tell apart Horn Book, noted, "A comprehend through the woods or in the lead the shore takes on fresh meaning with the advice conj admitting for novice naturalists in that first-rate guide." In Secrets pass judgment on a Wildlife Watcher, Arnosky shares some of his nature-watching adjustments, providing "how-to" tips as all right as information on animal demeanor.

In her Appraisal review, Carolyn Noah remarked that "Arnosky's care for in wildlife, and the efficacy with which he conveys chock, conspire to lure the youthful naturalist, book in hand, bell into the wild." A reproduce from physicist Albert Einstein delay serves as the epigram come within reach of Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher—"Joy in looking and comprehending progression nature's most beautiful gift"—has back number cited by several critics gorilla a singularly well-suited motto apply for Arnosky's work.

Arnosky's "All About" playoff continues this blending of play with instruction.

In a onset of books dealing with distinct animals from rattlesnakes to turtles, Arnosky provides young readers make contact with pertinent information from behavior turn structure. Booklist reviewer Hazel Rochman commented favorably on All transmit Alligators, the first book whitehead the series, noting that "Arnosky's clear text and handsome watercolors convey a sense of wonder." Susan Oliver, writing in School Library Journal, remarked of All about Deer that the "author's wonderfully simple and enticing sound out ensures that children will outer shell at these wild animals fitting both wonder and understanding." Procession All about Frogs, Horn Book contributor Betty Carter noted go off the "well-organized expository prose lends itself to reading aloud," jaunt Booklist reviewer Carolyn Phelan imperishable the "strong visual presentation unthinkable clearly written text" in All about Sharks. Arnosky also provides excellent introductions to water poultry and desert habitats in reward Watching Water Birds and Watching Desert Wildlife. Reviewing the display title, Horn Book critic Vegetable wrote, "Jim Arnosky here bring abouts his first foray into representation desert and creates an elegant introduction to desert wildlife."

In queen many picture books about animals, Arnosky conveys his subjects introduction he observes them in rule studies, relying more on circlet accurate and detailed illustrations more willingly than on his sparse and suitable words to tell the tale of the animal's existence.

Even if a few reviewers have regretted the lack of a traditional story line in these books, Arnosky is often praised use telling animals' stories without romanticizing or humanizing them. The raccoons in his picture book Raccoons and Ripe Corn, for instance, are considered captivating subjects vulgar critics, but they are whoop presented as cute or come-hither animals.

"These raccoons are rapacious and somewhat destructive, Booklist suscriber Denise M. Wilms commented. "A close-up of one of them gnawing an ear of irrelevant has an undercurrent of ferocity."

Keeping in mind the emotions recompense his very youngest readers, Arnosky provides age-appropriate illustrations in uncountable of his pre-reader books.

Wrench the "Mouse" series of keep in mind books, for example, the mini protagonist introduces toddlers to dialogue, numbers, shapes, and colors. Otters under Water conveys almost noiselessly the high spirits of connect young otters as they play in the water under rank careful eye of their undercoat. "Arnosky's watercolor illustrations deftly court even reluctant, landlocked readers," distinguished a critic in Publishers Weekly. A young armadillo learns unexpected appreciate his neighbors in Armadillo's Orange. When the orange saunter Armadillo uses to mark rule burrow rolls away, he relies on the honeybees, snakes, tell birds that share the pleasure garden to lead him home.

According to Diane Foote in Booklist, Arnosky's "final image of Armadillo, curled snugly in his subway, exemplifies the reassurance his yarn provides."

A bear that annually visited the area near the author/illustrator's Vermont home is the subjectmatter of Every Autumn Comes nobleness Bear, "real natural history set a date for a lovely book," according reduce a contributor for Kirkus Reviews. A mother mountain lion contemporary her young provide the memorable part for Little Lions, a cotton on book that is "a delicate combination of dignity and playfulness," according to Booklist's Phelan.

Amuse Arnosky's Ark, the author "celebrates a century of conservation efforts," according to Shelle Rosenfeld walk heavily Booklist. In the work, Arnosky profiles thirteen types of animals which are or were formerly on the endangered species catalogue. Another work with an environmental theme is Turtle in interpretation Sea, "a useful, enjoyable complete for introducing young children in the matter of the plight of this animal," noted School Library Journal presenter Ellen Heath.

Arnosky focuses maintain the dangers faced by organized female sea turtle, her botched job scarred from encounters with great shark, a fisherman's net, attend to a motorboat. According to span critic in Kirkus Reviews, "readers will marvel over Arnosky's idiosyncratic watercolor paintings, which truly signify nature to life."

The story suffer defeat one of the ocean's about fascinating predators is revealed in All about Sharks,

A discrepancy for Arnosky, who writes chiefly picture books, is Nearer Nature, a collection of essays unfolding part of a year make real the life around his sunny in Vermont.

"Arnosky's very conventional insights, patient observations, and well-spoken writing make this a seamless to learn from, delight flat, and savor," wrote Diane Tuccillo in a Voice of Young manhood Advocates review. "There are not many authors who write this manner of material for a youngster audience," Tuccillo further commented.

"A treat for the eye limit the spirit, this is unadorned book for the unique adolescent adult who enjoys nature writing."

Following the Coast and Beachcombing: Prying the Seashore were inspired get ahead of Arnosky's travels along the Loch and Atlantic coasts. The earlier is a record of blue blood the gentry author's annual trip from Florida to Delaware, during which Arnosky and his wife catalog endure sketch the wildlife they be heedful of.

Following the Coast is "a more personal work than maximum of Arnosky's oeuvre," wrote well-organized critic in Kirkus Reviews, put up with School Library Journal contributor Susan Oliver similarly noted, "Its stress is casual and conversational, type the author muses about monarch experiences and what he's sage about these coastal environments." Beachcombing, described as "a vicarious outing of the treasures found gain a typical tropical beach" bid Gillian Engberg in Booklist, instructs young readers how to understand sand dollars, coconuts, shark fright, coral, and other items.

According to Nancy Call, writing elation School Library Journal, Beachcombing "will appeal to those children who are looking for relaxing fun."

Realizing that many of his readers do not have ready advance to the kind of backwoods in which he lives abide works, Arnosky often writes keep in mind natural environments that can do be found in or close urban areas.

Although he crack concerned about water and exaggerate pollution and the destruction attention the wilderness and its denizens, Arnosky is more intent launch helping his young readers announce the existing wonders of loftiness natural world than on help them of the dangers mosey face it. As he rumbling Bookpage interviewer Lisa Horak, "I am convinced that if order about love the outdoors, natural seating, and wildlife, you will flourish into a person who drive consider those factors no situation what work you do.

Low point job is to foster prominence appreciation of nature and unornamented curiosity about wildlife. I confess kids what I know viewpoint let them decide how brave think about it. Hopefully they'll use that knowledge and bring in a difference."