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Melissa Sweet (illustrator)

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Melissa Sweet (born January 1, 1956) is an American illustrator and writer of nearly 100 books for children and young readers.[1]

Melissa Sweet
Born (1956-01-01) January 1, 1956 (age 68)
Wyckoff, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Author and illustrator
Websitemelissasweet.net

She has won and been a finalist for numerous awards as both a writer and illustrator. In 2012, Balloons Over Broadway won the Golden Kite Award,[2] Orbis Pictus Award,[3] and Sibert Medal.[4] Some Writer won a Cybils Award (2016),[5] New England Book Award for Children's Books,[6] and Orbis Pictus Award.[3] A River of Words (2009) and The Right Word (2015), both written by Jen Bryant, were Caldecott Medal Honor books.[7]

Personal life

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Sweet was born in Wyckoff, New Jersey and studied at Kansas City Art Institute.[8]

She lives with her husband in Rockport, Maine.[9]

Career

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Sweet began her career in book illustration with James Howe’s Pinky and Rex series.[10] She has since illustrated nearly 100 books;[1][11] several of these she authored and for many more she collaborated with other writers. She illustrated three books for author Jen Bryant including, A River of Words, A Splash of Red, and The Right Word.[12]

Sweet conducts extensive research on the subjects of her biographies for children, which she illustrates with watercolor, mixed media, and collage.[13] In her books she said in an interview that she "likes to use every color on the color wheel..." and also that she's "...very big on complementary colors.". In the same interview she says that she took a color theory class, and she did not know how to mix colors, and as a result, used colors "...straight from the tube..." and in response, she said her teacher "...threw out 90 percent of my art supplies. He gave me this limited palette and showed me how to mix colors". Later in this same interview she revealed that watercolor is her favorite medium to illustrate with. She also said in this same interview that she was inspired to start writing and illustrating children's book by Maurice Sendak's Little Bear series, which she said gave her the confidence to believe that she could illustrate children's books.[14]

In Balloons over Broadway, Sweet describes her work process as "To create the art for the book, I began by making toys and puppets. I played with all sorts of materials, not knowing exactly what the outcomes would be.In addition to the watercolor illustrations, my collages are, in part, a mix of paper from old books to make paper-mache puppets, found objects, and fabrics, all painted or altered to illustrate what it may have felt like to be in Sarg's world. Some of the toys in my illustrations are based on ones from Tony's vast collection, but the actual toys in this book are the ones I made. On a few of the pages I even used Tony's illustrations from The Tony Sarg Marionette Book. I tried to keep in mind that in everything Sarg did,he conveyed the sense that he was having fun His legacy reminds me that “play” may be the most important element in making art!" [15]

Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White is a 176-page long biographical picture book that Sweet wrote and illustrated using watercolor and collage art. It includes excerpts from White's personal life, early drafts of his novels, family pictures, and other previously unpublished information on the writer. She received permission to use White's words from his granddaughter, the chief executor of his will, Martha White. Martha White not only gave Sweet her permission, she offered to help by allowing her to have access to the family's personal records, memorabilia, and photo albums of E. B. White.[16]

Awards and honors

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In 2019, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art awarded Sweet their Carle Honor, which recognizes artists' "contributions to the world of children's literature."[17][18]

Two of Sweet's books are Junior Library Guild selections: Balloons over Broadway (2011)[19] and Some Writer! (2016).[20]

In 2005, The New York Times named Carmine one of the best illustrated book of the year.

In 2011, Balloons Over Broadway was named one of the best nonfiction children's books of the year by the Chicago Public Library,[21] The Horn Book Magazine,[22] and Publishers Weekly.[23]

Some Writer! is a New York Times Best Seller.[24] It was included on lists of the best books of 2016 by the Chicago Public Library,[25] The Horn Book Magazine,[22] Kirkus Reviews,[24] the Los Angeles Public Library,[20] the New York Public Library,[20] Publishers Weekly,[26] School Library Journal,[20] Shelf Awareness,[27] and The Washington Post.[20]

Awards for Sweet's books
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2012 Balloons Over Broadway ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [28]
Charlotte Zolotow Award Commend [29]
Cybils Award for Nonfiction Picture Book Finalist [30]
Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration Winner [2]
Orbis Pictus Award Winner [3]
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Winner [4][31]
2016 Some Writer! Cybils Award for Juvenile Nonfiction Winner [5]
2017 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Nonfiction Honor [32]
New England Book Award for Children's Winner [6]
Orbis Pictus Award Winner [3][33]
ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [34]

As illustrator

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Fourteen books Sweet has illustrated are Junior Library Guild selections: Pinky and Rex and the School Play (1998),[35] Pinky and Rex and the Perfect Pumpkin (1998),[36] Leaving Vietnam (1999),[37] The Boy Who Drew Birds (2004),[38] A River of Words (2008),[39] Rubia and the Three Osos (2011),[40] Mrs. Harkness and the Panda (2012),[41] Spike, the Mixed-up Monster (2013),[42] Brave Girl (2013),[43] Firefly July (2014),[44] The Right Word (2014),[45] Baabwaa and Wooliam (2017),[46] Alphamaniacs (2020),[47] and Unbound (2021)[48]

In 2009, The Horn Book Magazine named The Sleepy Little Alphabet one of the best picture books of the year.[22]

The same year, The New York Times included A River of Words one of the top ten illustrated books of the year.[39] School Library Journal included in on their list of the year's best nonfiction books.[39]

In 2013, School Library Journal named Brave Girl one of the best nonfiction children's books of the year.[43]

The same year, Little Red Writing was named one of the best books of the year by School Library Journal andKirkus Reviews.

In 2014, Firefly July was named one of the best picture books of the year byThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,[49] Publishers Weekly[50] and School Library Journal.[44] The Horn Book Magazine included it on their list of the best poetry of the year.[22]

The same year, The Horn Book Magazine[22] and School Library Journal[45] named The Right Word one of the best nonfiction children's books of the year. Kirkus Reviews,[51] The New York Times,[45] and Publishers Weekly[50] named it one of the best picture books of the year.

In 2017, Publishers Weekly named Baabwaa and Wooliam one of the best picture books of the year.[52]

In 2019, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Included How to Read a Book in their list of the best children's poetry books of the year.[53]

In 2020, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books included Alphamaniacs in their list of the best children's poetry books of the year.[49]

Awards for Sweet's books
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2005 Baby Bear's Chairs Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration Winner [54]
2008 A River of Words Cybils Award for Nonfiction Finalist [55]
2009 Caldecott Medal Honor [56]
NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts for Information/Biography Selection [57]
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Honor [58]
2011 Rubia and the Three Osos ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [59]
2012 Mrs Harkness and the Panda Cybils Award for Nonfiction Picture Book Winner [30]
2013 Spike, the Mixed-up Monster Charlotte Zolotow Award Commend [29]
2014 Brave Girl Orbis Pictus Award Honor [3]
Amelia Bloomer Book List Top 10 [60]
Firefly July Goodreads Choice Award for Picture Books Nominee [61]
New England Book Award for Children's Winner [62]
Cybils Award for Poetry Finalist [63]
A Splash of Red Schneider Family Book Award for Young Children Winner [64]
The Right Word Kirkus Prize for Picture Books Finalist [65][51]
A Splash of Red Orbis Pictus Award Winner [3]
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Honor [31]
ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [66]
2015 Firefly July ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [67]
The Right Word Caldecott Medal Honor [68][69][51]
Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration Winner [70]
Orbis Pictus Award Honor [3]
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Winner [71][31]
2017 Baabwaa and Wooliam Cybils Award for Picture Books Finalist [72]
2020 How to Read a Book ALSC Notable Children's Books Selection [73]
2022 Unbound Orbis Pictus Award Honor [74]

Selected works

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Author and illustrator

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  • Carmine: A Little More Red (2005)
  • Tupelo Rides the Rails (2008)
  • Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade (2011)
  • Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White (2016)

Illustrator

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  • Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women (2002) by Catherine Thimmish [75]
  • Moonlight The Halloween Cat (2003) by Cynthia Rylant
  • The Boy Who Drew Birds:The Story of John James Audubon (2004) by Jacqueline Davies [76]
  • Baby Bear's Chairs (2005) by Jane Yolen
  • A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams (2008) by Jen Bryant
  • The Sleepy Little Alphabet: A Bedtime Story from Alphabet Town (2009) by Judy Sierra
  • Rubia and the Three Osos (2010) by Susan Middleton Elya
  • Mrs. Harkness and the Panda (2012) by Alicia Potter
  • Spike, the Mixed Up Monster (2012) by Susan Hood [77]
  • A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin (2013) by Jen Bryant
  • The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus (2014) by Jen Bryant
  • Little Red Writing (2013) by Joan Hoab
  • Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Maker's Strike (2013) by Michelle Markel
  • Day is Done (2014) by Peter Yarrow
  • Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems (2014) by Paul B. Janeczko
  • You Nest Here With Me (2015) by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple
  • Listen to Our World (2016) by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson
  • How To Read A Book (2019) by Kwame Alexander
  • Unbound: The Life and Art of Judith Scott (2021) by Joyce Scott and Brie Spangler

References

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  1. ^ a b Engberg, Gillian (2013-09-30). "Award-winning children's book creators in ERT/Booklist Author Forum, 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  2. ^ a b "Awards: Golden Kite; Blue Peter". Shelf Awareness. 2012-03-02. Archived from the original on 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Past Winners 2010-Present" (PDF). NCTE Orbis Pictus Award® Outstanding Nonfiction for Children. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  4. ^ a b Communications and Marketing Office (2012-01-23). "Melissa Sweet wins 2012 Sibert Medal". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  5. ^ a b "2016 Cybils Winners". Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  6. ^ a b "Awards: New England; Miller Williams". Shelf Awareness . 2017-07-19. Archived from the original on 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  7. ^ Keyes, Bob (4 February 2015). "Maine author Melissa Sweet wins Caldecott Honor for 'The Right Word'". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Melissa Sweet". Mazza Museum. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  9. ^ Morris, Alison (6 September 2007). "Visiting Melissa Sweet (Maine Post #3)". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Balloons over Broadway: The Author". University of Minnesota Libraries. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  11. ^ "National Book Festival: Melissa Sweet". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  12. ^ Bryant, Jen (May–June 2016). "Jen Bryant & Melissa Sweet". The Horn Book Magazine. 92 (3): 20–21.
  13. ^ Keyes, Bob (25 October 2014). "Illustrator Melissa Sweet on learning her subjects". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  14. ^ Hillenbrand, Will. "Playing with Pieces." Artist's Magazine 31, no. 1, 56. Accessed March 29, 2018.
  15. ^ Melissa Sweet, Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade (New York, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company 2011), p. 34
  16. ^ Corbett, Sue. "Illuminating the life of E.B. White: using watercolors, collages, letters, and photos, Melissa Sweet portrays a titan of children's literature." Publishers Weekly, July 18, 2016, 28+. Biography in Context (accessed March 20, 2018).
  17. ^ "Awards: Whiting Winners; Carle Honorees". Shelf Awareness. 2019-03-21. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  18. ^ Kantor, Emma (2019-03-20). "2019 Carle Honors Announced". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
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  24. ^ a b "Some Writer!". Kirkus Reviews. 2016-06-28. Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
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  29. ^ a b "Booklists". Cooperative Children's Book Center. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  30. ^ a b "2012 Cybils Winners". Archived from the original on 2022-11-05. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
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  35. ^ "Pinky and Rex and the School Play by James Howe". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  36. ^ "Pinky and Rex and the Perfect Pumpkin by James Howe". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  37. ^ "Leaving Vietnam: The True Story of Tuan Ngo by Sarah S. Kilborne". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  38. ^ "The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  39. ^ a b c "A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  40. ^ "Rubia and the Three Osos by Susan Middleton Elya". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  41. ^ "Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Alicia Potter". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  42. ^ "Spike, the Mixed-up Monster by Susan Hood". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  43. ^ a b "Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  44. ^ a b "Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems by Paul B. Janeczko". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  45. ^ a b c "The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  46. ^ "Baabwaa and Wooliam by David Elliott". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  47. ^ "Alphamaniacs: Builders of 26 Wonders of the Word by Paul Fleischman". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  48. ^ "Unbound: The Life and Art of Judith Scott by Joyce Scott". Junior Library Guild. Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
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  63. ^ "2014 Cybils Finalists". Archived from the original on 2022-11-05. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
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  66. ^ Schulte-Cooper, Laura (2014-02-05). "ALSC names 2014 Notable Children's Books". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
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  69. ^ Communications and Marketing Office (2015-02-06). "American Library Association announces 2015 youth media award winners". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  70. ^ "Awards: Golden Kite; B&N Discover; L.A. Times; Scottish Kids". Shelf Awareness. 2015-03-05. Archived from the original on 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  71. ^ Communications and Marketing Office (2015-02-02). "Jen Bryant, Melissa Sweet win 2015 Sibert Medal". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  72. ^ "2017 Cybils Finalists". Children's and Young Adult Book Lover's Literary Awards. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  73. ^ Schulte-Cooper, Laura (2020-02-25). "ALSC names 2020 Notable Children's Books". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
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  75. ^ Routhier, Ray. "Nothing Small about Festival of Maine Literature for Small Fry." (Portland Press Herald), May 6, 2004. Accessed March 29, 2018.
  76. ^ "Interview: Jacqueline Davies Talks 'The Boy Who Drew Birds' Book." Newstex, January 31, 2015. Accessed March 29, 2018.
  77. ^ Hood, Susan (2012-09-25). Spike, the Mixed-up Monster. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books. ISBN 978-1-4424-0601-8. Archived from the original on 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
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