BORN:  October 19, 1931

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LIVED:       Malden, Massachussetts 

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SCHOOLING:

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Ed studied painting and illustration at the Massachusetts School of Art 

Received Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and illustration

 

Studied at Rhode Island School of Design.

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ARMY: Spent 2 years

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INFLUENCES:

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FAMILY:

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Met future wife, Barbara while studying at Massachusetts School of Art.

Barbara was a librarian at Brown University

Married in 1955

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Children

Daughter: Rebecca ( born in 1958)

Son: Michael (born in 1960)

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Although most people are aware of the fact that Barbara Emberley, Ed's wife, has frequently joined forces with Ed on book projects, few are aware of the part his children, Michael and Rebecca, have played. They, too, have worked on Ed's books, helping book projects move from the beginning idea to completion. Michael is now writing and publishing books of his own, and Rebecca is working on several book ideas herself. The Emberley family is very much a part of the children's book world.

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Emberley is best known for his children's book work - particularly instructional drawing books. Emberley believes that everyone can learn to draw. His drawing books for children feature clear step-by-step instructions employing numbers, letters, and shapes graded to the early elementary school level. For example, the book Ed Emberley's A.B.C. uses this style of instruction, presenting a single letter-based drawing for each letter of the alphabet.

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AWARDS:

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• The Wing on a Flea (1961) was an American Library Association Notable Book and made the New York Times list of best-illustrated books for that year.

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• Caldecott Honor in 1967 for One Ride Wide Rive to Cross  

 

• Caldecott Medal in 1968 for "Drummer Hoff"

    (a collaboration between him and his       wife)

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ACHIEVEMENTS:

 Wrote and illustrated over 80 books

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PRESENT:

• Barbara, Ed, and Michael Emberley live in a 1690 saltbox house in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

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Barbara and Ed still jog three times a week, “for our health, not because we like to.” And they cross-country ski daily while living in their winter home in North Conway. In the summer, sailing is a major event. As Ed says, “We hope to become more active physically as we grow older rather than less.” Michael spends the better part of his time bicycle racing or training for it. Rebecca now lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts.