Sucie Stevenson is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She is mostly known as the illustrator of the popular Henry and Mudge children’s books by Cynthia Rylant.
Background
Sucie Stevenson was born as Susan Stevenson in 1956, in Greenwich, Connecticut, United States. She is a daughter of James Stevenson and Jane (Walker) Stevenson. Stevenson's father was a New Yorker cartoonist, journalist, playwright, novelist and author of children’s books. Her sister Harvey Stevenson works as a children’s book author and artist.
Career
Early in her career, Stevenson worked as a manual laborer, shellfisher, housepainter, mason’s helper, theater technician, mural painter and flower delivery truck driver. Currently, she is an Illustrator and author of children’s books. Stevenson has illustrated Cynthia Rylant's series of books “Henry and Mudge” since 1987. The books include such titles as Henry and Mudge, Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble, Henry and Mudge in the Green Time, Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All, Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night. Stevenson also illustrates the Annie and Snowball series by Cynthia Rylant.
Stevenson's own writings included such children’s books as Do I Have to Take Violet?, I Forgot, Christmas Eve, Jessica the Blue Streak, The Princess and the Pea, The Twelve Dancing Princesses and The Emperor's New Clothes. Her first solo book Do l Have to Take Violet? was published in 1987. It was about Elly, a bunny who is asked by her mother to take her little sister Violet for a walk; Elly resists, but after yielding, finds that she has fun with Violet. Then came the 1988 book I Forgot, in which lovable young Arthur, a platypus, has great difficulty remembering things, even after his parents give him a good talking-to. Stevenson’s next 1988 solo publication was Christmas Eve, in which Elly and Violet, the bunny sisters, reappeared to debate what kinds of holiday preparations to make and whether Santa would remember them. Her 1989 book Jessica the Blue Streak is about Jessica, a puppy, who experiences some strife but comes through with flying colors after her first day in a family that includes five children and two older dogs.
In 1992, Stevenson turned to the strategy of retelling old favorite tales with The Princess and the Pea, the Hans Christian Andersen classic. She made some imaginative innovations, however: the main characters are rabbits, the prince rides on a camel, and the setting is an island in the South Pacific. Stevenson retold The Grimm Brothers’ The Twelve Dancing Princesses in 1996. She narrated the tale from the point of view of a gardener in the castle—who, like the other characters, is a canine. The Emperor's New Clothes followed in 1997.
Views
Quotations:
"It seems such a privilege in this world. I look out my window and see all the traffic below, and I get to stay home and work at my desk and draw. I feel as though I’ve been reprieved from life." - Stevenson about her career