Erick Ingraham [1950 - ]
First Children's
book published in 1977
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 23, 1950
Dr. David Stuart Ingraham - Veterinarian
Elizabeth Shelley Ingraham - Elementary School Teacher
Erick Ingraham's talent for drawing was encouraged by his parents and teachers
since early childhood. His artistic mother developed his appreciation of
form, color and detail in nature and art. His father brought out the practical
side of his personality by explaining and showing how things work.
Music took priority over formal art training at Great Valley High School,
Malvern, PA., where he played both the baritone horn and the string bass.
Art became his main interest once again upon entering college in 1968. He
received his Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts/Painting from Kutztown State
University in 1972.
As he was completing his education in art, his interests had gravitated
toward the great illustrators in recent history. His favorites still include:
Arthur Rackham, Maxfield Parrish, Howard Pyle, N.C.Wyeth, W.Heath Robinson
and Edmund Dulac. He began calling himself an illustrator in 1974 when he
received his first book contract for Producing Your Own Power (Rodale
Press).
Erick Ingraham's first children's book was Harry and Shellburt (Macmillan
1977). Interwoven between book illustrations covering a wide spectrum of
subjects, he produced twelve more children's books: Cross-Country Cat
(Morrow 1979), Old Blue (Putnam 1980), Hot-Air Henry (Morrow
1981), Porcupine Stew (Morrow 1982), Little Daylight (Morrow
1988), High-Wire Henry (Morrow 1991), The Animals' Lullaby (Morrow
1993), Henry the Sailor Cat (Morrow 1994). Night in the Barn (Morrow
1995), Flood (Morrow 1997), Blue-Ribbon Henry (Morrow1999)
and the sixth "Henry" story by Mary Calhoun, Henry The Christmas Cat (HarperCollins 2004).
Among Mr. Ingraham's many awards are the American Book Award and BIB for
Porcupine Stew in 1983 and a Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Cross-Country
Cat.
If you really want to dig deeper, go to "The Full Story- ErickIngraham - That Was Then, This Is Next"
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