Little Golden Book Freewheelin Favorites

Dennis R. Shealy is the author of many children’s books, including the popular Little Golden Books I’m a Truck, I’m a T. Rex!, My Little Golden Book About Dinosaurs, My LIttle Golden Book About the Solar System, I’m a Bulldozer, and The Noisy Garage. He lives in New York City with his wife and son.

Bob Staake‘s 2006 Golden Book The Red Lemon was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. His 2008 Golden Book The Donut Chef received glowing reviews from The Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly. In addition to his work with Random House, Bob’s titles include Mary Had a Little Lamp (Bloomsbury), Look! A Book! (Little Brown), and Cars, Galore (Candlewick). Outside of his work in children’s publishing, Bob’s illustrations have also been seen on several popular New Yorker covers, including the 11/17/08 “Reflection” cover that is officially the most popular New Yorker cover of all time. In 2008, Bob was the recipient of Time magazine’s 2008 Best Magazine Cover award.

TIBOR GERGELY (1900-1978) brought to life two of the most popular Little Golden Book characters, beloved by generations: Scuffy the Tugboat and Tootle. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he received his formal art schooling in Vienna at age 20. Gergely designed stage sets and marionettes and worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for central European newspapers. In 1939, Gergely immigrated to the United States, settling in New York. His long association with Golden Books began in 1942—the year of its launch—and continued as long as he lived. In 1955, Gergely received a Caldecott Honor for Wheel on the Chimney, written by Margaret Wise Brown, author of Goodnight Moon. He illustrated more than seventy Golden Books, including The Great Big Fire Engine Book, The Taxi That Hurried, Daddies, The Merry Shipwreck, Seven Little Postmen, The Happy Man and His Dump Truck, Animal Orchestra, and Animal Gym.

Brian Biggs was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He currently makes illustrations for books, posters, puzzles, and games in an old garage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Visit his website at www.mrbiggs.com.