Author Spotlight: Hans
Wilhelm
Light-hearted,
joy-filled, but message-rich: those are the stories of writer and illustrator
Hans Wilhelm. From his hit books Tyrone
the Horrible, Bunny Trouble and I'll Always Love You, to older works
like Tales From the Land Under My Table,
Wilhelm combines happy endings with engaging plot twists and turns, and warm
and colorful watercolor illustrations to tie it all together.
When Hans was born, his father was
in a prison camp during World War II. He has written that, as a child, he often
felt "different" from other children and sought an outlet for creative
expression through drawing. Therefore, it is not surprising that his stories
often reflect a sensitivity to children who might feel lonely or in precarious
situations. His book, I'll Always Love
You, is a true story about the death of his dog Elfie. It broke new ground
by covering death in a children's book.
His famous series about another dog,
Waldo, stemmed from his perception that so many children in America are growing
up without a father, stripped from friends by frequent moves from place to
place, and separated from grandparents when they move away in retirement. He
thought that the security and friendship of having a fun, big, shaggy dog would
be a good model on having lasting, trusting relationships. The public must have
agreed, for the Waldo character has spawned more than 50 books, television
shows and other spinoffs.
A native of Germany who lived in
Africa and has traveled most of the world, Wilhelm settled in Connecticut with
his artist wife. See more on www.HansWilhelm.com
He has a knack for characters who
solve problems without creating more problems. For example, Tyrone the Horrible is a dinosaur bully,
but the loveable and meek hero dinosaur comes up with an effective, nonviolent way
to stop him in his tracks with a specially-made sandwich.
Tyrone
the Horrible is online in living color, for you to read to your child
online:
http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/Childrenpics/TYRONE%20THE%20HORRIBLE.pdf
