Mercer Mayer

Background

Mayer was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. His father was in the United States Navy, so the family moved many times during his childhood before settling in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Education

There, Mayer graduated from high school in 1961.

Career

He has published over 300 books using a wide range of illustrative styles. Mayer is best known for his "" and "" series of books While attending school at the Honolulu Museum of Art, Mayer decided to enter the field of children"s book illustration.

To that end, he created a portfolio of sketches and peddled them wherever he could.

Though his professors feared the young artist would never be good enough to make a living as an illustrator, Mayer was not dissuaded. He also met an art director who told Mayer that his portfolio was so bad that he needed to throw it away.

Though offended, Mayer did. During his spare time from his job at an advertising agency, the artist created a completely new portfolio.

These new sketches persuaded editors at Dial Press and Harper & Row to give him some illustration work.

Mayer published his first book, A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog, at Dial Press in 1967. lieutenant was notable for being a completely wordless picture book—one that tells its story entirely through the use of pictures. Mayer was one of the first illustrators to be credited for using this format.

Five more books in this series were to follow.

He also produced If I Had a Gorilla about the advantages of ape ownership. The book There"s a Nightmare in My Closet drew on Mayer"s childhood fears of monsters in his room at night.

Mayer joined Golden Publishing, creators of Little Golden Books, in 1976. Through them he has sold his "" and "" series, which are popular with beginning readers.

In 1978, Mayer divorced Marianna.

The couple had three children: two sons, Len and Arden as well as a daughter named Jessie. Gina has been collaborating with him on many of his books since the early 1990s. In addition to writing and illustrating his own books, Mayer has collaborated on many projects with other children"s authors.

He has illustrated books for John Bellairs, Jane Yolen, January Wahl, Jay Williams, John Doctorate. Fitzgerald, among others

Works

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  • Little Critter: Merry Christmas, Little Critter!

    ( Join Mercer Mayer’s classic and beloved character, Litt...)

  • Little Critter: We Are Moving

    ( When Mom and Dad tell Little Critter® they have excitin...)

  • Little Critter: Just a School Project

    ( Little Critter has chosen the best topic ever for his s...)

  • Just Me and My Mom (A Little Critter Book)

    (The city is a big place, but not too big for Little Critt...)

  • Little Critter: Just My Lost Treasure

    ( Join Mercer Mayer’s classic and beloved character, Litt...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Baby Bird (My First I Can Read)

    ( Join Mercer Mayer's classic and beloved character, Litt...)

  • Just Grandma and Me (Little Critter) (Pictureback(R))

    (In this incredibly charming picture book, Little Critter ...)

  • Little Critter® ABCs (Little Critter series)

    ( From best-selling author MERCER MAYER LITTLE CRITTER® b...)

  • Little Critter® Shapes (Little Critter series)

    ( With the help of this simple, appealing board book, it'...)

  • Little Critter: Just One More Pet

    ( For more than thirty years, Mercer Mayer has been delig...)

  • Just a Little Critter Collection (Little Critter)

    (Celebrate 40 years of Little Critter® with seven classic ...)

  • We All Need Forgiveness (Mercer Mayer's Little Critter (Board Books))

    ( Join Little Critter®  as he learns forgiving not only h...)

  • Little Critter: Just A Storybook Collection

    ( This collection features six of your favorite Little Cr...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Teacher's Pet (My First I Can Read)

    ( Join Mercer Mayer's classic and loveable character, Lit...)

  • You Go First (Little Critter Inspired Kids)

    ( The first book in the new Inspired Kids line featuring ...)

  • Just Me and My Little Brother (Little Critter) (Pictureback(R))

    (What’s better than having a little brother? To the sweet ...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Little Too Little

    ( Don’t let his name fool you! Little Critter® is a big b...)

  • Just Going to the Dentist (Little Critter) (Golden Look-Look Books)

    (Sometimes you’ve just got to go to the dentist, and Littl...)

  • Little Critter® Colors (Little Critter series)

    ( It's a colorful world for Little Critter!  Everywhere h...)

  • All by Myself (Little Critter) (Look-Look)

    (In this charming and gentle picture book, Mercer Mayer’s ...)

  • Just Go to Bed (Little Critter) (Pictureback(R))

    (One of the classic Little Critter picture book titles by ...)

  • Little Critter: Happy Valentine's Day, Little Critter!

    ( It's Valentine's Day, and Little Critter's class is cel...)

  • Little Critter®'s Bedtime Storybook (Little Critter series)

    ( It's bedtime for Little Critter and Little Sister--but ...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Kite (My First I Can Read)

    ( Join Mercer Mayer's beloved Little Critter in a brand-n...)

  • Little Critter's Read It Yourself Storybook

    (The lively stories in this collection, prepared with the ...)

  • It's Earth Day! (Little Critter)

    ( Little Critter is on a mission! After watching a film a...)

  • 8 Favorite Little Critter Books Just for You: Just for You/Just Me and My Dad/I Was So Mad/Just Grandma and Me/When I Get Bigger/Just Go to Bed/Me T
  • Little Critter® Little Red Riding Hood: A Lift-the-Flap Book (Little Critter series)

    ( Open the flaps to peer into Red Riding Hood’s basket, m...)

  • Little Monster's Word Book

    (The friendly characters from Monsterville help children a...)

  • Mercer Mayer's Little Monster Home, School and Work Book

    ( This collection features three favorite Little Monster ...)

  • I am Sharing (Little Critter Toddler Books)

    (The cooperative Little Critter shows how he shares his to...)

  • I'm sorry (Mercer Mayer's Little Critter book club)

    (Through Mercer Mayer's humorous and touching story, young...)

  • Just Me and My Dad (Little Critter)

    (In this all-time classic illustrated storybook, a small w...)

  • Little Critter Collection: Going to the Firehouse, Going to the Sea Park, Snowball Soup (My First I Can Read)

    ( Enjoy three favorite adventures in this fun-filled set!...)

  • Little Critter: Just an Adventure at Sea (My First I Can Read)

    ( Join Mercer Mayer’s classic and beloved character, Litt...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Big Storm

    ( When a big storm passes over their house, Little Critte...)

  • Little Critter: Grandma, Grandpa, and Me

    ( Little Critter is having a sleepover at Grandma and Gra...)

  • A Very Special Critter (Golden Look-Look Books) (Little Critter)

    (In this wise and funny picture-book adventure, a special ...)

  • The Lost Dinosaur Bone (Little Critter)

    ( Little Critter's class is going to the Critterville Mus...)

  • Little Critter: Happy Halloween, Little Critter!

    ( It's Halloween! Little Critter and Little Sister are go...)

  • Just for You (Little Critter) (Look-Look)

    (Little Critter just wants to be a big help! Unfortunately...)

  • Little Critter: Happy Mother's Day!

    ( Mother's Day is almost here, and Little Critter has a s...)

  • I Was So Mad (Little Critter) (Look-Look)

    (Mercer Mayer's very popular Little Critter stars in a pic...)

  • Little Critter: Bedtime Stories

    ( Perfect for bedtime, this Little Critter® box set conta...)

  • Bat Child's Haunted House (Mercer Mayer's Little Critter)

    (Malcom tries to spook his friend Bat Child at a haunted h...)

  • Little Critter® Where's Kitty? (Little Critter series)

    ( Kitty’s sleeping…but Little Critter must find her!  “I ...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Little Love (My First I Can Read)

    ( In Just a Little Love, Little Critter finds love just i...)

  • Little Monster at School

    (LITTLE MONSTER AT SCHOOL by Mercer Mayer (1994 Softcover ...)

  • Little Critter: The Best Show & Share

    ( Little Critter® has so many ideas about what he can bri...)

  • Little monster's neighborhood (A Golden look-look book)

    (A little monster describes the people, activities, and bu...)

  • Little Monster at Home

    (A little monster describes his house and some of his fami...)

  • Little Critter: The Best Yard Sale

    ( Little Critter® and his family have too much stuff they...)

  • Little Critter: First Day of School

    ( Little Critter is a bit nervous about starting school t...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving

    ( Little Critter® has charmed readers for over forty year...)

  • Little Critter: Just Fishing with Grandma

    ( Little Critter® wakes up one morning ready to go fishin...)

  • Little Monster's Counting Book (Look-Look)

    (The little monsters introduce the numbers from 1 to 21.)

  • Little Critter: It's Easter, Little Critter!

    ( Little Critter is very excited on Easter morning. He wa...)

  • The Smelly Mystery: Little Monster Private Eye
  • Little Critter at Scout Camp (Look-Look)
  • When I Get Bigger (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Mercer Mayer's Little Critter (Pb))

    (FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Little Critter ima...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Little Music

    ( Little Critter has a musical hobby . . . and it's noisy...)

  • Little Critter® I Am Helping (Little Critter series)

    ( Little Critter IS a good helper . . . although not ever...)

  • Little Critter: Going to the Firehouse (My First I Can Read)

    ( Whoosh! goes the water hose. Ooo! Eee! Ooo! goes the si...)

  • Just Me in the Tub (Little Critter)

    (Taking a bath is a big job. Mercer Mayer's famous Little ...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Little Luck

    ( "Find a penny, pick it up. All week long you'll have go...)

  • Little Critter: Just a Day at the Pond

    ( Summertime is here. Little Critter heads off for a day ...)

  • Mercer Mayer's Little Monsters at Home