Robert Kraus Explained

Robert Kraus
Birth Name:Herman Robert Kraus
Birth Date:21 June 1925
Birth Place:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death Place:Kent, Connecticut, U.S.
Resting Place:Ridgefield, Connecticut
Occupation:Artist, author, illustrator, publisher
Language:English
Education:Layton School for the Arts
Alma Mater:Art Students League of New York
Period:1932-1995
Genre:Children's literature
Notableworks:Leo the Late Bloomer (illustrations by Jose AruegoMilton the Early Riser (illustrations by Jose AruegoHarriet and the Promised Land (illustrations by Jacob LawrenceAmanda RemembersThe Bunny's Nutshell Library
Spouse:Pamela Kraus, née Pamela Vivienne Evan-Wong
Children:Bruce R. Kraus, Charles William Kraus
Relatives:Father-in-law Robert Victor Evan-Wong
Awards:Caldecott Medal (as publisher of William Steig's Roland the Minstrel Pig)

Robert Kraus (June 21, 1925  - August 7, 2001) was an American children's author illustrator, cartoonist and publisher. His successful career began early at the New Yorker Magazine, producing over hundreds of cartoons and nearly two dozen covers for the magazine over 15 years. Afterwards, he pivoted his career to children's literature, writing and illustrating over 100 children’s books and publishing even more as the founder of publishing house Windmill Books. His body of work is best remembered for depicting animal heroes who always try their best and never give up, which were ideals important to him at an early age.

Biography

Personal

Robert Kraus was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1925 to parents Jack, who was in the real estate business, and Esther (Rosen) Kraus.[1] His mother nurtured lessons in him that appear as important themes in Kraus’s later written work in the children’s literature genre.[2] He graduated from Milwaukee’s Layton School for the Arts in 1942 and the Arts Student League of Manhattan, NY in 1945. During that time, Kraus was excluded from the military during WWII because of vision problems. He met his wife, Pamela (formerly Pamela Vivienne Evan-Wong), while at the Art Students League and they were married on December 11, 1946. Together they had two sons, Bruce and Bill. In 1965, he moved into the 1865 Colonial Revival House in Ridgefield, Connecticut on the corner of Main Street and Branchville Road where he was often seen in the community walking his pug, Hoover.[3]

Early career

At age 10, Kraus won a cartoon contest from his local paper the Milwaukee Journal. By age 12, he was hired by that same journal to contribute a weekly cartoon entitled "Public Nuisances." At age 16, he made his first cartoon sale to The New Yorker, which was the most prestigious platform for cartoon prints in the nation at the time Kraus also freelanced for other publications such as Collier's, the old Life, Esquire Magazine, and The Saturday Evening Post. [4] He continued both his education and freelance work at the Arts Student League of Manhattan, NY until he became a full-time employee at the New Yorker on contract.

Cartoons

He became a regular New Yorker contributor as both a cartoonist and cover artist beginning in the 1950s. Kraus contributed 50 cartoons in his first year at the "New Yorker."[4] Most of his cover art reflected his romantic idea of the City (artists' studios and supplies, a chess club, a gypsy fortune teller, the Chinese New Year parade, the Coney Island roller coaster, a grand cafe, St. Patrick's Cathedral, a fancy dress ball) and he recorded his rural surroundings in Danbury, Connecticut, with its farmer's markets and county fairs. Many of his cartoons embodied the stereotypes of their day: drunks, crooks, convicts, pirates, clowns, mythological characters, millionaires dating floozies, big businessmen, prizefighters, etc. An important part of his cartooning career was a multi-page spread on the New York World's Fair of 1963-64. In his 15 years at the New Yorker, Kraus produced over 450 cartoons and 21 covers. In 1983, after taking an extended break from cartooning to work on children’s literature, Kraus created a Sunday feature called “Zap! The Video Chap,” targeted at children who were growing addicted to playing video games.

Children's books

In 1954, Kraus decided to pivot his career. He began writing and illustrating children's books, beginning with Junior the Spoiled Cat, The Littlest Rabbit, The Trouble with Spider (later expanded into the Spider, Fly and Ladybug series), I, Mouse, Mouse at Sea, The Bunny's Nutshell Library, Carla Stevens' Rabbit and Skunk series, and the haunting and critically acclaimed Amanda Remembers. The book Leo the Late Bloomer, an encouraging story about making one's own pace, is a continuing legacy.[5] He utilized his extensive network of creators from the New Yorker to team up with illustrators like William Steig and Charles Addams.

Kraus could speak directly to children without a trace of artificiality or condescension, naturally embodying both them and himself in a variety of small but plucky animal protagonists. His stories often centered on animal heroes with humanistic qualities, teaching lessons like “never give up” and always do your best even if you don’t at first succeed,” which Kraus learned from his mother. He once explained that he wrote children’s books to console himself, encourage himself and others, and investigate problems he observed in society. The story, “Miranda’s Beautiful Dream” was inspired by the life of Martin Luther King. The book Leo the Late Bloomer, an encouraging story about making one's own pace, is a continuing legacy. Kraus once said that “the greatest compliment anyone can give you is to buy your stuff.”

Academia

Professor Paul Fry has used one of Kraus's lesser works, Tony the Tow Truck, tongue-in-cheek to teach a popular English course at Yale, Introduction to the Theory of Literature, using its hundred-word text to illustrate topics such as Hermeneutics, Semiotics, Structuralism, Deconstruction, Queer Theory and Gender Performativity.[6]

Publishing Company

Tapping his friendships with other New Yorker artists, Kraus launched a small publishing company, Windmill Books in 1965, publishing The Chas. Addams Mother Goose, and William Steig's[7] Roland the Minstrel Pig, followed by Steig's Caldecott Medal-winning Sylvester and the Magic Pebble.[8] The prestige of Windmill even attracted renowned painter Jacob Lawrence, whose Harriet and the Promised Land (with verse by Kraus) became the first children's book reviewed in the Art section of the New York Times and was recently featured in the Lawrence retrospective at the Guggenheim. Kraus soon quit the New Yorker to run Windmill full-time, as publisher, and wrote and illustrated books for Windmill as well as for Scholastic and other publishers. Windmill artists included Fred Gwynne (the actor), Edna Eicke, Robert Byrd, Hans Kraus (no relation), VIP (Virgil Partch) and Mischa Richter. Windmill published a set of Norman Rockwell covers with original backstories (which Kraus wrote in consultation with Rockwell) as The Norman Rockwell Storybook and with filmmaker Robert Flaherty produced a children's book version of Flaherty's Nanook of the North. Windmill also pioneered "board" and "bathtub" books that doubled as toys for very small children, and dabbled in pop culture with its Elvis calendar and Encyclopedia Galactica.

In spite of its flirtations with the mass market, in the end Windmill Books proved to be more of a succes d'estime than anything else. The company struggled through legal difficulties with its distributor and was forced to sign over to Simon & Schuster in the 1980s. Steig's best-known children's book, Shrek, was published elsewhere. Kraus and Windmill are probably best remembered as the author and publisher of Leo the Late Bloomer, Whose Mouse Are You, Milton the Early Riser and other books beautifully and imaginatively illustrated by Jose Aruego and Arianne Dewey, as well as the seasonal favorite The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher, illustrated by VIP. Kraus wrote stories, but his passion was drawing and illustrating—He once said, "I love drawing...Giving my stories to somebody else was like giving a way a child."[4] In total before its sale, Windmill House had published over two hundred books on three continents.

Honors and reception

Reviewers from the New York Times praise Kraus’ simple but meaningful style and tone. In regards to his book “Old-Fashioned Raggedy Ann & Andy ABC Book,” illustrated by Johnny Gruelle, they write “Evoking nostalgia, this simple--yet elegant--dictionary is based on the-way-it-used-to-be stylized illustrations and delightful rhymes.” His stories, Whose Mouse Are You?, Milton the Early Riser, and Owliver were named notable children’s books by the American Library Association. His book Herman the Helper was a Trade Book Award Winner and appeared on the Horn Book Honor List. In the more visible public domain, his story Leo the Late Bloomer was read on national television by former First Lady Barbara Bush during her campaign to promote children’s literacy. A collection of his manuscripts are stored and preserved at Syracuse University.

End of life

Kraus died of heart failure in a nursing home in 2001 in Kent, Connecticut. He is buried at Fairlawn Cemetery in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and etched on his gravestone is an image of a spider, a character from one of his books. He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, the former Pamela Vivienne Evan-Wong, of Georgetown, British Guiana, a fellow student at the New York Art Students' League, and by their two sons, Bruce and Bill and four grandchildren Parker, Jack, Margaret and Vivienne.

Author Only!Book Title!Publisher!Year
Harriet and the Promised LandWindmill Books1968
Whitney Darrow, Jr.'s Unidentified Lying ElephantWindmill Books1968
The Children Who Got MarriedWindmill Books1969
Animal EtiquetteWindmill Books1969
Don't Talk to Strange BearsWindmill Books1969
Rumple-Nose Dimple and the Three Horrible SnapsWindmill Books1969
The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle SnitcherWindmill Books1969
The Rabbit Brothers, Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith1969
I'm Glad I'm a Boy, I'm Glad I'm a GirlWindmill Books1970
Whose Mouse Are You?Macmillan1970
Vip's Mistake BookWindmill Books1970
Bunya the WitchWindmill Books1971
Shaggy Fur FaceWindmill Books1971
Ludwig, the Dog Who Snored SymphoniesWindmill Books1971
Pipsqueak, Mouse in Shining ArmorWindmill Books1971
Lillian, Morgan and TeddyWindmill Books1971
The Tree That Stayed Up Until Next ChristmasWindmill Books
Leo the Late BloomerWindmill Books1971
Milton the Early RiserWindmill Books1972
How Spider Saved HalloweenParents Magazine Press1973
Big BrotherParents Magazine Press1973
Pip Squeaks ThroughSpringfellow Press1973
Poor Mister Splinterfitz!Dutton1973
Rebecca HatpinWindmill Books1974
Pinchpennny MouseWindmill Books1974
OwliverWindmill Books1974
Herman the HelperWindmill Books1974
Three Friends Windmill Books1975
I'm a MonkeyWindmill Books1975
The Night-Light Story BookWindmill Books1975
The Gondolier of VeniceWindmill Books1975
Boris Bad EnoughWindmill Books1976
Dinosaur Do's and Don'tsWindmill Books1976
The Good MousekeeperWindmill Books1977
The Detective of London (co-written with son, Bruce Kraus)Windmill Books1977
Noel the CowardWindmill Books1977
SpringfellowWindmill Books1978
Musical MaxWindmill Books1979
Another Mouse to FeedWindmill Books809
Mouse WorkWindmill Books1980
Mert the BlurtWindmill Books1980
Puppet Pal Books (a four volume collection)Windmill Books1981
The Old Fashioned Raggedy Ann & Andy ABC BookWindmill Books / Simon and Schuster1981
The King's TrousersWindmill Books1981
Leo the Late Bloomer Takes a BathWindmill Books1981
Herman the Helper Cleans UpWindmill Books1981
See the Christmas LightsWindmill Books1981
Box of Brownies (a four volume collection)Windmill Books1981
Tony the TruckGrosset & Dunlap1985
Mrs. Elmo of Elephant HouseDelacorte Press1986
Where Are You Going, Little Mouse?Greenwillow Books 1986
Screamy MimiSimon & Schuster1987
Come Out and Play, Little MouseGreenwillow Books 1987
The Hoodwinking of Mrs. ElmoDelacorte Press1987
Robert Kraus' A Sunny Day in BabytownLittle Simon1987
Robert Kraus' Babytown ExpressLittle Simon1987
Robert Kraus' Meet the BabiesLittle Simon1987
Robert Kraus' Welcome to BabytownLittle Simon 1987
Little BeepLittle Simon 1987
Tiny Tow TruckLittle Simon1987
How Spider Saved EasterScholastic1988
Noah Count Vampire Detective in Mummy Vanishes: A Mummy Dearest Creepy Hollow Whoooooooodunnit?Warner Juvenile Books1988
How Spider Saved ThanksgivingScholastic1991
How Spider Saved the Flea CircusScholastic 1991
How Spider Stopped the LitterbugsScholastic1991
Dr. Mouse, Bungle Jungle DoctorWestern1992
All My ChickensWestern1993
Dance, Spider, Dance!Western1993
The Adventures of Wise Old Owl Troll Assosciates1993
Jack O'Lantern's Scary HalloweenWestern1993
Fables Aesop Never Wrote but Robert Kraus DidViking1994
Near Myths: Dug Up and Dusted OffViking1996
Big Squeak, Little SquakOrchard Books1996
O'MalleyOrchard Books1996
Little Louie the Baby BloomerHarper Collins1998
The Making of Monkey King (retold with Debby Chen)Pan Asian Publications1998
Mort the SportOrchard Books2000
Mouse in LoveOrchard Books 2000
Illustrator Only!Book!Author!Publisher!Year
Red Fox and the Hungry TigerPaul AndersonAddison-Wesley1962
Rabbit and Skunk and the SpooksCarla StevensScholastic1968
Rabbit and Skunk and the Scary RockCarla StevensScholastic1970
Cleveland Amory's AnimailCleveland AmoryDutton1976
Rabbit and Skunk and the Big FightCarla StevensScholastic1976
Author and Illustrator!Book!Publisher!Year
Junior the Spoiled CatOxford University Press1955
All the Mice CameHarper1955
Ladybug, LadybugHarper1955
The Littlest RabbitHarper1957
I, MouseHarper1958
The Trouble with SpiderHarper1962
Miranda's Beautiful DreamHarper1964
Penguin's PalHarper1964
Mouse at SeaHarper1964
Amanda RemembersHarper1965
"The Bunny's Nutshell" library series:
  • The Silver Dandelion
  • Juniper
  • The First Robin
  • Springfellow's Parade
Harper1965
My Son, the MouseHarper1967
Little GiantHarper1967
Hello Hippopotamus (under pseudonym Eugene H. Hippopotamus)Windmill Books1969
Daddy Long EarsWindmill Books1970
How Spider Saved ChristmasWindmill Books1970
The Tale Who Wagged the DogWindmill Books1971
"The Night Light" library series:
  • Good Night, Little One
  • Good Night, Little ABC
  • Good Night, Little Richard Ravvit
Sprinfellow1972
Animal FamiliesWindmill Books1980
See the MoonWindmill Books1980
How Spider Saved TurkeyWindmill Books 1981
The Old-Fashioned Raggedy Ann and Andy ABC BookWindmill Books / Simon & Schuster1982
Bumpy the CarPutnam1985
Squeaky (under pseudonym S. Silly)Windmill Books1982
Squeaky's One Man Band (under pseudonym S. Silly)Windmill Books1982
I'm a Little Airplane (under pseudonym I.M. Tubby)Tubby Books1982
I'm a Little Fish (under pseudonym I.M. Tubby)Tubby Books1982
I'm a Little House (under pseudonym I.M. Tubby)Tubby Books1982
I'm a Little Tugboat (under pseudonym I.M. Tubby)Tubby Books 1982
Freddy and the Fire EnginePutnam1985
How Spider Saved Valentine's DayScholastic1986
Spider's First Day at SchoolScholastic1987
Happy CitySimon & Schuster1987
Happy FarmSimon & Schuster1987
Spider's Home Town: A Story to ColorScholastic1988
Here Comes Tardy ToadSilver Press1989
Ella the Bad SpellerSilver Press1989
Good Morning, Miss GatorSilver Press1989
Buggy Bear Cleans UpSilver Press1989
How Spider Saved the Baseball GameScholastic1989
Phil, the VentriloquistGreenwillow1989
Daddy Long Ears Christmas SurpriseSimon & Schuster1990
Daddy Long Ears HalloweenSimon & Schuster1990
Private Eyes Don't BlinkWarner Books1990
Spider's Baby-Sitting JobScholastic1990
Spider's Draw-a-Long BookScholastic1990
Creepy Hollow Ghostly Glowing Haunted HouseWarner Books1990
Boogie Woogie Bears Go Back to NatureWarner Books1990
Boogie Woogie Bears' PicnicWarner Books1990
Jack Galaxy, Space CopBantam1990
Klunky Monkey, New Kid in ClassBantam1990
Mixed-Up Mice Clean HouseWarner Books1990
Mixed-Up Mice in the Big Birthday Mix-UpWarner Books1990
Mummy Knows BestWarner Books1990
Mummy VanishesWarner Books1990
Musical MaxSimon & Schuster1990
The Phantom of Creepy HollowWarner Books1990
Squirmy's big Secret (with Bonnie Brook)Silver Press1990
Wise Old Owl's Halloween Adventure (with Pamela Kraus)Troll1993
Wise Old Owl's Christmas Adventure (with Pamela Kraus)Troll1993

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Herman Robert Kraus." Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2007. Gale Literature Resource Center; Gale. Web.
  2. News: . Oliver . Myrna . Obituaries; Robert Kraus; Cartoonist Wrote Children's Books . Los Angeles Times . 2001 .
  3. News: Ridgefield notables: Robert Kraus, New Yorker cartoonist . The Ridgefield Press . 18 October 2019 .
  4. http://articles.sfgate.com/2001-08-30/news/17614469_1_children-s-trade-book-cartoons-mr-kraus Robert Kraus Obituary
  5. News: Lahey . Jessica . Give Late Blooming Children the Time They Need . Motherlode Blog . 14 October 2015 .
  6. Book: Fry, Paul H.. Theory of Literature. The Open Yale Courses Series. 2012. 9780300180831.
  7. Web site: Steig, William 1907-2003 - Dictionary definition of Steig, William 1907-2003 Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary. www.encyclopedia.com. en. 2017-07-13.
  8. Web site: Caldecott Medal & Honor Books, 1938-Present. American Library Association.