Max Velthuijs
Max Velthuijs | |
|---|---|
 Max Velthuijs (1977) | |
| Born | 22 May 1923 The Hague,Netherlands |
| Died | 25 January 2005(aged 81) The Hague |
| Occupation | Painter, illustrator and writer |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Genre | Children'spicture books |
Max Velthuijs(22 May 1923 – 25 January 2005) was aDutchpainter, illustrator and writer, one of the most famous children's illustrators in the Netherlands.[1]In 2004 he received theHans Christian Andersen Medalfor his "lasting contribution to children's literature".[2]
Biography
[edit]Velthuijs was born inThe Hagueon 22 May 1923. DuringWorld War II,he sometimes assistedJan Gregoorin forging stamps for theDutch resistancein identity papers of people in hiding.[3]
A productive commercial artist, his first children's book commission as an illustrator was relatively late in his career, in 1962 for the 10th edition ofVersjes die wij nooit vergeten[Rhymes we will never forget]. This was a famous book of rhymes for young children with several previous illustrators.[1]It was followed two years later byA is een aapje[A is for Monkey], whose success established his name as a children's book illustrator internationally. A German-language edition was published by NordSüd Verlag ofZürich(NorthSouth Books) and thereafter many of his books were co-published by NordSüd.[1]
Velthuijs is known best for theFrogpicture books (Dutch Wikipedia lists 21 titles). The first wasFrog in Love,published byAndersen Pressin 1989, which gained global recognition. According to an appreciation of Velthuijs and Frog, by Joanna Carey forThe Guardiana month before his death, Velthuijs "is in the unique position of living and working in The Hague but having all his books published first in England byKlaus FluggeatAndersen Press".NordSüd had rejected theFrog in Lovein 1988, but Flugge picked it up at a book fair, considered it extraordinary, and took it on.[4]In 2003, it wasadaptedas a children's play by David Farmer (Frog in Love), performed by the Tiebreak Theatre Company atNorwich Playhouse.[5]Frog is a Herowas included in theBritish National Curriculum.
Velthuijs died in The Hague, his native city, on 25 January 2005.[1]
The biennialHans Christian Andersen Awardconferred by theInternational Board on Books for Young Peopleis the highest recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children's books. Velthuijs received the writing award in 2004.[2]
In his acceptance speech Velthuijs observed (translated from Dutch): "Drawing a Frog is not so difficult. But how do you draw a Frog in love? Or a frightened frog?... And when I hear from parents and children how much they love Frog and his friends, I am overcome with joy and a feeling of accomplishment. And when you ask me how I did it, I have to answer that question with a simple 'I do not know'."[2]
Jury president Jeffrey Garrett credited him withfablesof human nobility, rather than Aesop's "foolishness, vanity, and meanness". "The stories of Kikker, or Frog, and his diverse group of friends are miniature morality plays for our age, demonstrating in framed vignettes—as if on a stage—that life can be hard but is in the end good, that there will be comfort: do not give up, do not lose faith, for you are stronger than you think, and you are not alone."[2]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^abcd "Max Velthuijs".Toin Duijx. IBBY. 2005. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ^abcd
"2004".Hans Christian Andersen Awards.International Board on Books for Young People(IBBY). With presentation speech by jury president Jeffrey Garrett, acceptance speech by Max Velthuis, and other contemporary material.
"Hans Christian Andersen Awards".IBBY. Retrieved 30 July 2013. - ^Lenteren P."Mijn hand wil altijd een andere kant op".Volkskrant.26 January 2005. Retrieved 2008-05-27.[dead link]
- ^ Carey, Joanna (11 December 2004)."Frog and friends".The Guardian.Retrieved30 July2013.
- ^"Frog in Love returns to wook the kids of Norfolk".BBC.15 July 2003.Retrieved14 May2012.
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