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Small, David, 1945-

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1945-

Biography

David Small is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books. His books have been awarded a Caldecott Medal and two Caldecott Honors, among other recognition. He was born and raised in Detroit and began drawing at an early age.

He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree at Wayne State University and a master of fine arts degree at Yale University. Small taught art for many years on the college level, ran a film series, and made satirical sketches for campus newspapers. His first book, Eulalie and the Hopping Head, which he wrote and illustrated, was published in 1981.

Small earned a 1997 Caldecott Honor and The Christopher Medal for The Gardener, with Sarah Stewart, his wife. In 2001 Small won the Caldecott Medal for So You Want to Be President?, combining political cartooning with children's book illustration. He received a second Caldecott Honor in 2013 for illustrating Toni Buzzeo's One Cool Friend. Small's drawings have appeared in the New Yorker and the New York Times. On July 15, 2014, he was announced as a finalist for the 2015 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature.

David Small and his wife Sarah Stewart make their home in an historic manor house in Mendon, Michigan.

His current work and list of awards can be found on his website.

Found in 325 Collections and/or Records:

One Cool Friend - Envelope 1/1 (O/A), 2012

 File — Envelope 46: [Barcode: 31141024382462]
Scope and Contents

31 pieces of draft artwork in watercolor, pastel, ink, and pencil, 6 pages of printed correspondence and draft texts, and 59 piece of draft text/dummies in watercolor, pastel, pencil, and ink.

Dates: 2012

Our White House - Envelope 1/1 (O/A), 2008

 File — Envelope 47: [Barcode: 31141024382249]
Scope and Contents

3 pieces of original art in watercolor, pastel, ink, and pencil, 2 pieces of draft artwork in watercolor, pastel, ink, and pencil, about 30 black and white sketches in ink and pencil, 4 proof images, about 35 photographs, one sketchbook from May 2004 containing notes and sketches, and 8 pages of email correspondence

Dates: 2008

Paper John 1/2, 1987

 File — Frame 128: [Barcode: 31141024383379]
Scope and Contents

An ink and watercolor piece of a man wearing a paper hat sailing a ship made entirely of paper on rough waves.

Dates: Publication: 1987

Paper John 2/2, 1987

 File — Frame 129: [Barcode: 31141024459955]
Scope and Contents

An ink and watercolor piece of Paper John pulling a small, grey man up to his window.

Dates: Publication: 1987

Paper John - Envelope 1/2 , 1987

 File — Envelope 48: [Barcode: 31141024382363]
Scope and Contents

20 pieces of draft work watercolor, pastel, and pencil (need preserving), over 120 black and white sketches in ink and pencil, one draft book in pencil, two draft text scripts, and assorted correspondence.

Dates: 1987

Paper John - Envelope 2/2 (O/A), 1987

 File — Envelope 49: [Barcode: 31141024382488]
Scope and Contents

24 pieces of original art in watercolor, pastel, and pencil (all artwork present in the collection), 6 pieces of draft artwork in watercolor, pastel, and pencil, 10 pages of typed correspondence, 72 draft pages of text, one photograph, one piece of draft artwork in watercolor and pencil, 11 pieces of draft artwork in ink and pencil.

Dates: 1987

Petey's Bedtime Story - Envelope 1/1 (O/A), 1993

 File — Envelope 50: [Barcode: 31141024382231], Object: 1
Scope and Contents

20 pieces of original art in watercolor, pastel, and ink. (all artwork accounted for in the collection)

Dates: 1993