Jim Arnosky was born in New York City on September 1, 1946. A self-trained illustrator, he is best known for his picture books about nature and wildlife, like I Was Born in a Tree and Raised by Bees (1977) and All About Rattlesnakes (1997). He has also written a number of instructional drawing books, among them Sketching Outdoors series (1987-1988) and Drawing from Nature (1982), which was adapted into a four-part PBS television series in 1987.

Arnosky takes inspiration from his environment, and the Vermont woods serve as the inspiration for many of his books, like Nearer Nature (1996). A recurring character in his books, the forest dweller Crinkleroot, serves as an educational tour guide to the wilderness. In addition to the picture books Arnosky wrote, he also worked with other authors as an illustrator. He illustrated three books with Miska Miles, including Small Rabbit (1977). His books have won a number of educational awards, including the Outstanding Science Book Award, Children’s Science Book Award, and the Eva L. Gordon Award from the American Nature Study Society. Arnosky lives with his family in Vermont.

Bibliography:

“Jim Arnosky.” Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2011.

Something About the Author, vol. 118.

The Jim Arnosky illustrations include color separations and pen and ink drawings. Six titles are represented, with four color separations and a drawing coming from Miska Miles’ Small Rabbit (1977). Other titles in the collection include Arnosky’s first book as an author-illustrator, I Was Born in a Tree and Raised by Bees (1977).

This collection is arranged alphabetically in seven series: I. Fitting In: Animals and their Habitats; II. I Was Born in a Tree and Raised by Bees; III. Look! How Your Eyes See; IV. Nathaniel; V. Porcupine Baby; VI. Small Rabbit; VII. Unidentified art. It is housed in the same box as the Margaret O. Hyde papers and the Frances Salomon Murphy writings.

Publication Information:

Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection, March 2012

Finding Aid Author:

Finding aid prepared by Caitlin Goodman

Sponsor:

The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project.

Access Restrictions:

This collection is open to researchers by appointment. Please contact the Curator for information.

Use Restrictions:

The right of access to material does not imply the right of publication. Permission for reprinting, reproduction, or extensive quotation from the rare books, manuscripts, prints, or drawings must be obtained through written application, stating the use to be made of the material. The reader bears the responsibility for any possible infringement of copyright laws in the publication of such material. A reproduction fee will be charged if the material is to be reproduced in a commercial publication.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

Gift of Jim Arnosky, 1977-1978.

• Color separations
• Drawings (visual works)

• Arnosky, Jim
• Berger, Gilda
• Berger, Melvin
• Freschet, Berniece
• Miles, Miska
• Sislowitz, Marcel J

• Children's authors--20th century
• Children's literature--20th century
• Illustrated children's books--20th century
• Illustration of books--20th century