Walter Crane

Crane is considered to be one of the three founders of modern illustration, along with Caldecott and Greenaway. Crane was born in Liverpool, England, the son of an artist. His subject matter came from traditional folk tales, legends, nursery rhymes, and songs. His style was praised for its decorative borders, its control of the entire picture frame, and its use of color. In addition to his output as an illustrator and writer of children's books, Crane lectured and wrote about his profession, was the director of design at the Manchester School of Art, served as principal of the Royal College of Art, and did frieze and mosaic decorations and tapestry designs. His "Toy Books" (a term used as a series designation by the publisher) include: Absurd ABC, Alphabet of Old Friends, Beauty and the Beast, Bluebeard, Chattering Jack, Cock Robin, Dame Trot and Her Comical Cat, Fairy Ship, Forty Thieves, Frog Prince, Goody Two Shoes, Grammar in Rhyme, Hind in the Wood, The House That Jack Built, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Mother Hubbard, Noah's Ark Alphabet, Old Courtier, One Two, Buckle My Shoe, Princess Bell Etoile, Puss-in-Boots, Sing a Song of Sixpence, Sleeping Beauty, Three Bears, Valentine and Orson, and Yellow Dwarf. Many of Crane's illustrated books are available in libraries and some of his illustrations have been used in recent titles along with the work of other illustrators.