David Small Explained

Birth Date:February 12, 1945
Birth Place:Detroit
Education:Cass Technical High School
Wayne State University
Yale University
Occupation:Illustrator, writer
Nationality:American
Genre:Children's literature
Notableworks:The Gardener (1998)
Stitches (2009)
Spouse:Sarah Stewart (author)

David Small (born February 12, 1945) is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books. His books have been awarded a Caldecott Medal and two Caldecott Honors, among other recognition.

Biography

David Small was born in Detroit, Michigan, the second son of Edward Pierce Small, Jr. and Helen "Elizabeth" née Murphy Small.[1] [2] He began drawing at the age of two years, and health problems that kept him home for much of his childhood, also led to his developing his drawing skills.[3] He attended Cass Technical High School and wrote plays throughout his teenage years.

At age 21, he switched to art. He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree at Wayne State University and a master of fine arts degree at Yale University. Small taught art for many years on the college level, ran a film series, and made satirical sketches for campus newspapers. His first book, Eulalie and the Hopping Head, which he wrote and illustrated, was published in 1981.[4]

Small earned a 1997 Caldecott Honor and The Christopher Medal for The Gardener,[5] with Sarah Stewart, his wife. She also received the 2007 Michigan Author Award.

In 2001 Small won the Caldecott Medal for So You Want to Be President?, combining political cartooning with children's book illustration.[5] [6] He received a second Caldecott Honor in 2013 for illustrating Toni Buzzeo's One Cool Friend.[7] Small's drawings have appeared in the New Yorker and the New York Times.[5] On July 15, 2014, he was announced as a finalist for the 2015 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature.[8]

In 2020 it was announced that Western Michigan University Libraries would acquire David Small and Sarah Stewart's archives, including their original artwork, sketchbooks, journals, published and unpublished writings.[9]

David Small and his wife Sarah Stewart make their home in an historic manor house in Mendon, Michigan.[10]

Stitches

See main article: Stitches (book). Small's graphic memoir, Stitches, was published in September 2009. It tells the story of Small's journey from sickly child to cancer patient, to troubled teen who ran away from home at sixteen to become an artist.[11] Stitches was reviewed by the New York Times[12] and the Los Angeles Times.[13]

It was a #1 New York Times Best Seller,[14] and was named one of the ten best books of 2009 by Publishers Weekly and Amazon.com.[15] [16] It was a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.[17] Stitches has been translated into seven different languages and published in nine different countries.

Works

As writer and illustrator

As illustrator with Sarah Stewart

Small has illustrated several books written by Sarah Stewart and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG).

As illustrator with other writers

Notes and References

  1. Web site:
  2. Web site:
  3. Web site: Online biography from Parent's Choice Foundation . 2007-07-31 . 2007-07-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070705152053/http://www.parents-choice.org/full_abstract.cfm?art_id=22&the_page=editorials . dead .
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20100704142005/http://www.pippinproperties.com/authill/small "David Small: Biography"
  5. American Library Association: Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938–Present. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  6. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/books/news/01/18/caldecott.winner/index.html CNN Book News report on David Small
  7. Web site: Kylee . 2013-01-10 . Caldecott Winners and Honor Books . 2024-02-02 . Madison Public Library . en.
  8. http://neustadtprize.org/finalists-announced-prestigious-nsk-neustadt-prize-childrens-literature/#.U8Vpt41dXfQ
  9. Web site: University Libraries acquires David Small and Sarah Stewart archive . 20 February 2020 . 2022-02-04.
  10. Web site: It's a David Small World: The Artwork of Caldecott Medal Winner David Small: Educator Guide . 2006-08-26 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20060105191012/http://www.multcolib.org/kids/exhibit/small/educatorguide.html . January 5, 2006 . . Multnomah County Library. October 24, 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  11. Feiffer, Jules. Blurb in "About the Book: Early Praise" . Stitches official website. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  12. Konigsberg, Eric. "Finding a Voice in a Graphic Memoir". The New York Times, September 6, 2009.
  13. Woods, Paula L. "Book Review: 'Stitches: A Memoir' by David Small". Los Angeles Times. September 13, 2009.
  14. Gustines, George Gene. Graphic Books Best Seller List. The New York Times. September 18, 2009.
  15. http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20091102/26073-best-books-of-2009.html Best Books of 2009
  16. https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000444391 Best Books of 2009 – Editors' Picks: Top 100 Books
  17. https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/national-book-awards-2009 National Book Awards – 2009

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