Background
Donald Crews was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938. His mother worked as a seamstress, and his father worked at the railroad, and several other odd jobs.
Donald Crews was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938. His mother worked as a seamstress, and his father worked at the railroad, and several other odd jobs.
Certified of completion, Cooper Union, l959.
In 2015, the American Library Association (American Library Association) honored him with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, recognizing his lasting contribution to children"s literature. Common subjects of his include modern technology (especially travel vehicles), and childhood memories. His stories often include few humans.
The difference between the big city and the farm caused him to create two, massively different types of art later on in his life.
From a young age, his talent for drawing was encouraged by his family and his teachers. When he got into high school, one of his teachers became a mentor to him, and personally made sure that he got into art school.
Crews was drafted into the army in 1963, and sent to Frankfurt, Germany. Their first daughter, Nina was born in Germany, and their second was born a year later in New New York
Nina is also an award-winning children"s book author
While in Germany, he worked on several pieces for his portfolio, including the book We Read: A to Z. After several suggestions from friends, he submitted it, and it was published by Harper & Row (now HarperCollins). The book relied on abstract ideas, rather than the clichés that were usually associated with American Broadcasting Company books One classic example is the entry for the letter C: "Cc, corner: where the yellow is" is illustrated with a yellow square in the far corner of a red page in the book
Several other transportation themed books followed, such as School Business (1984), Flying (1986), and Sail Away (1995).
His memories from his summers in Florida first appeared in Bigmama"s and later in Shortcut. These stories are vastly different from his previous works, in that they focus on humans, and tell a more linear story.
("Showing the same dynamic energy and brilliant colors as ...)
("With minimal text and bright-color illustrations, Crews ...)
(A counting book for the youngest -- filled with motio...)
With United States Army, l962-64.
Married Ann Jonas, January 28, 1963;children: Nina Melissa, Amy Marshanna.