We pay tribute to the authors, illustrators, and publishing professionals we have lost this year.
Author-illustrator Derek Anderson, known for his expressive and often humorous acrylics in Lauren Thompson’s Little Quack picture books and numerous self-illustrated books, died on April 26 in St. Paul, Minn. He was 55.
Prolific children’s book author Kate Banks, whose prose was praised as lyrical, clever, and graceful, died on February 24 in Switzerland. She was 64.
Picture book author-illustrator Lynne Barasch, who created lively biographies as well as stories inspired by her family life, died on March 7. She was 84.
French author-illustrator Laurent de Brunhoff, acclaimed for carrying on the legacy of beloved character Babar the elephant, first illustrated by his father Jean, died on March 22 at his home in Key West, Fla. He was 98.
Children’s book author Cynthia DeFelice, oft-lauded for her deft storytelling and absorbing themes, died on May 24, in Geneva, N.Y. She was 72.
Author and illustrator Bruce Degen, best known for his humorous artwork depicting the fun and informative field trips of Ms. Frizzle’s class in the Magic School Bus picture book series by Joanna Cole, died on November 7 in Newtown, Ct. He was 79.
Swiss self-taught artist and animator Étienne Delessert, known for the surrealistic, wildly imaginative images in his more than 80 children’s books, died on April 22 in Lakeville, Conn. He was 83.
Dilys Evans, a trailblazing representative of children’s book illustrators, and a fierce champion for recognition of their contributions to the fine arts world, died July 23 at her Santa Fe, N.M. home. She was 88.
Children’s nonfiction author and former children’s librarian Norman H. Finkelstein, best known for his works exploring aspects of the Jewish experience, died on January 5, in Framingham, Mass. He was 82.
Accomplished painter and author-illustrator Leonard Everett Fisher, widely known for his atmospheric, realistic artwork in books focused on American and world history and mythology, died on March 2 in Westport, Conn. He was 99.
Children’s author, educator, and free speech champion Robie Harris, best known for her stories about young children’s powerful emotions and her frequently challenged and banned books on human sexuality, including It’s Perfectly Normal, died in New York City on January 6. She was 83.
Children’s book author, illustrator, and designer Nonny Hogrogian, acclaimed for her vibrant woodcut and mixed-media artwork and twice awarded the Caldecott Medal, died on May 9 in Holyoke, Mass. She was 92.
Children’s author Katey Howes, whose picture books often focused on STEM/STEAM themes, creativity, and individualism, died on May 20 in Langhorne, Pa. She was 47.
Award-winning author-illustrator Petra Mathers, known for her naive-flavored pencil and watercolor artwork, died on February 6 with her husband, author and photographer Michael Mathers, at their home in Astoria, Ore. She was 78.
Picture book author Florence Minor, who collaborated on numerous books for children with her husband, illustrator Wendell Minor, died on May 21 in Washington, Conn. She was 74.
Author Francine Pascal, whose massively popular Sweet Valley High series broke new ground—and several records—in the YA publishing realm, died July 28 in Manhattan. She was 92.
Children’s author, illustrator, animator, and designer James Proimos, known for his quirky picture books and boldly hued cartoon characters, died on July 8. He was 66.
Award-winning visual artist, children’s book author-illustrator, and teacher Faith Ringgold, widely acclaimed for her works depicting African American heroines and themes, and for her unique “story quilt” medium, died on April 13 in Englewood, N.J. She was 93.
Author and educator Lore Segal, who wrote and translated clever and sunny children’s tales alongside the autobiographical adult stories and novels informed by her early life as a Jewish refugee during WWII, died on October 7 at her home in Manhattan. She was 96.
Esteemed children’s editor Dinah Stevenson, a keen spotter of talent who shepherded numerous books and authors to the industry’s highest accolades, and former publisher of Clarion Books, died on January 23 in Hoboken, N.J. She was 81.
Prolific author-illustrator Mike Thaler, best known for his many riddle books and his humorous Black Lagoon Adventures series, died on March 23 in Yakima, Wash. He was 87.
This article has been updated with further information.
