Wendell Minor (b. 1944) began his career as a book cover designer, creating iconic covers for noted authors David McCullough and Pat Conroy among many others. His transition to children’s book illustrator and author of over 60 award winning books continues to be very rewarding. As a nature lover and history buff, Minor loves sharing those interests with children through the books he has authored or co-authored with Jean Craighead George, Tony Johnston, Robert Burleigh, Charlotte Zolotow, Margaret Wise Brown, Buzz Aldrin, Mary Higgins Clark, Jane Yolen, and last but not least, his wife Florence. Minor’s books have received the Cook Prize, Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, Kirkus Best Books of the Year, New York Public Library’s 100 Best Books for Kids, Junior Library Guild Gold Selections, Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Children, Outstanding Science Trade Books, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library selection, Pennsylvania One Book Every Young Child selection, ALA Notable Book, John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young Readers, and the John and Patricia Beatty Award. Minor was honored to be the 2018-2019 Artist Laureate of the Norman Rockwell Museum. He has an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University of Connecticut. Minor has exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, Boston Public Library, New Britain Museum of American Art, Eric Carle Museum, and Norman Rockwell Museum, among many others. Wendell’s portrait of David McCullough’s “TRUMAN” is in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery.
Image credit:
Wendell Minor
To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee
Warner Books, 1987