Jump to content

Brian Lies: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →Works: fixing page range dashes using Project:AWB
changed grammar in one spot and fixed some typos in the introductory paragraph
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Brian Lies''' (pronounced ''Lees'') (1963- ) is an American author and illustrator of children's books. His work include the ''Flatfoot Fox'' series by Eth Clifford and his own, popular ''Bats at the Beach'' and its sequel, ''Bats at the Library.'' Lies was interested in art since childhood,<ref name=Bio1>{{cite web |url=http://www.brianlies.com/brian_lies_bio.htm |title=Biography |accessdate=2009-04-20 |last=Lies |first=Brian |work= |publisher= }}</ref> and while studying literature and psychology at [[Brown University]]<ref name=Bio1/> he did political cartoons for the student newspaper, but was turned down when he applied for jobs at various publications.<ref name=Mehegan/> He then studied art at the [[School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]], and eventually did political cartoons for major newspapers and magazines.<ref name=CLN1/> He had, however, long been interested in children's books, and when he was approached by Susan Sherman (art director for children's books at Houghton Mifflin), who liked the way he portrayed emotions on his animal character's faces, he ended up illustrating the first book in the ''Flatfoot Fox'' series.<ref name=Mehegan/> As of 2006 that sereies is still in print.<ref name=Mehegan/> He also does illustrations for the children's magazines [[Spider (magazine)|Spider]], [[Carus Publishing Company|Ladybug]], and [[Carus Publishing Company|Babybug]].<ref name=CLN1>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/aifolder/aipages/ai_l/lies.html |title=Brian Lies |accessdate=2009-04-20 |publisher=Children’s Literature Network }}</ref>
'''Brian Lies''' (pronounced ''Lees'') (1963- ) is an American author and illustrator of children's books. His works include the ''Flatfoot Fox'' series by Eth Clifford and his own popular ''Bats at the Beach'' and its sequel, ''Bats at the Library.'' Lies was interested in art since childhood,<ref name=Bio1>{{cite web |url=http://www.brianlies.com/brian_lies_bio.htm |title=Biography |accessdate=2009-04-20 |last=Lies |first=Brian |work= |publisher= }}</ref> and while studying literature and psychology at [[Brown University]]<ref name=Bio1/> he did political cartoons for the student newspaper, but was turned down when he applied for jobs at various publications.<ref name=Mehegan/> He then studied art at the [[School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]], and eventually did political cartoons for major newspapers and magazines.<ref name=CLN1/> He had, however, long been interested in children's books, and when he was approached by Susan Sherman (art director for children's books at Houghton Mifflin), who liked the way he portrayed emotions on his animal character's faces, he ended up illustrating the first book in the ''Flatfoot Fox'' series.<ref name=Mehegan/> As of 2006 that series is still in print.<ref name=Mehegan/> He also does illustrations for the children's magazines [[Spider (magazine)|Spider]], [[Carus Publishing Company|Ladybug]], and [[Carus Publishing Company|Babybug]].<ref name=CLN1>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/aifolder/aipages/ai_l/lies.html |title=Brian Lies |accessdate=2009-04-20 |publisher=Children’s Literature Network }}</ref>


==Works==
==Works==

Revision as of 06:29, 9 January 2010

Brian Lies (pronounced Lees) (1963- ) is an American author and illustrator of children's books. His works include the Flatfoot Fox series by Eth Clifford and his own popular Bats at the Beach and its sequel, Bats at the Library. Lies was interested in art since childhood,[1] and while studying literature and psychology at Brown University[1] he did political cartoons for the student newspaper, but was turned down when he applied for jobs at various publications.[2] He then studied art at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and eventually did political cartoons for major newspapers and magazines.[3] He had, however, long been interested in children's books, and when he was approached by Susan Sherman (art director for children's books at Houghton Mifflin), who liked the way he portrayed emotions on his animal character's faces, he ended up illustrating the first book in the Flatfoot Fox series.[2] As of 2006 that series is still in print.[2] He also does illustrations for the children's magazines Spider, Ladybug, and Babybug.[3]

Works

Bats at the Beach was read on NPR's "Weekend Edition Saturday" by Daniel Pinkwater,[4] after which the book enjoyed a great deal of success, at one point ranking at No. 2 on Amazon.com, and leaving Houghton Mifflin to keep up with the sudden demand.[2] It also landed a spot on Publishers Weekly's children's picture book bestseller list[4] and was awarded an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award.[5] The story follows a group of bats, young and old, and their comical variations on such activities as sailing, surfing, putting on lotion, and roasting marsmallows. Matt Berman of Common Sense Media praised the book’s “simple and joyous concept” and noted the character’s gently rounded features.[6] Lies stated that he tries to keep the design of his animal characters as naturalistic as possible despite their often human-like behavior.[2] Lies got the idea from his daughter, who described a pattern of frost on the window as "a bat, with sea foam";[7] As Lies developed the idea, the verses came to him in a sudden inspiration.[2] The acylic paintings[8] use a lot of blues and browns and are often bathed in moonlight though no moon is ever seen.[2] The sequel, Bats at the Library, made it onto Time.com's Top 10 Children's Books of 2008 list,[9] and the ABA announced that the book had been named Best New Picture Book in the 2009 Indies Choice Book Awards.[10]

Judith Constantinides, in a review for School Library Journal, said his acrylic paintings for Donna M. Bateman’s Deep in the Swamp are reminiscent of an Audobon painting.[11] (The book also won a 2008 Southern Independent Booksellers Association Award.[12]) Constantinides, in an earlier review for School Library Journal, praised Lies’ Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle (which he wrote and illustrated) for its watercolor illustrations and the humorous details.[13] The book is about an optimistic (“despite his namesake”, as Constantinides notes) pig named Hamlet and his “pessimistic” porcupine friend Quince as they struggle to defend a giant sandcastle against the waves.[13] Popcorn! by Elaine Landau was nominated for the 2006 Rhode Island Children's Book Award.[14] and was also included in the Children's Agriculture Book series of Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom, which tries to select books that "hat accurately portray modern agriculture".[15]

Books Written and Illustrated by Brian Lies

  • Bats at the Library (2008) ISBN 0-618-99923-X
  • Bats at the Beach (2006) ISBN 0-618-55744-X
  • Hamlet and the Enormous Chinese Dragon Kite (2001) ISBN 1-9316590-1-X
  • Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle (2001) ISBN 0-9677929-2-4

Books Illustrated by Brian Lies

  • Deep in the Swamp Written by Donna M. Bateman. (2007) ISBN 978-1-57091-596-3
  • Finklehopper Frog Cheers Written by Irene Livingston (Tricycle Press, 2005) ISBN 1-58246-138-4
  • Lucky Duck Written by Ellen Weiss (2004)
  • Zoo Train by Lissa Rovetch
  • Spy Hops and Belly Flops Written by Lynda Graham-Barber (2004) ISBN 0-618-22291-X
  • Finklehopper Frog Written by Irene Livingston (2003) ISBN 1-58246-075-2 (also released in paperback with an audio cassette narrated by Steve Blane)
  • Dinosaur Footprints (Reading Intervention for Early Success) (2003) ISBN 0-618-23769-0
  • Dinosaurs (Reading Intervention for Early Success) Written by Adam Karlson. (2003) ISBN 0-618-23739-9
  • Popcorn! Written by Elaine Landau. (2003) ISBN 1-570-91443-5
  • See the Yak Yak Written by Charles Ghigna. (1999) ISBN 0-679-99135-2
  • The Midnight Fridge Written by Bruce Glassman. (1998)
  • Where are the Bears Written by Kay Winter. (1998)
  • Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Schoolhouse by Eth Clifford (1997) ISBN 0-395-81446-4
  • Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Bashful Beaver Written by Eth Clifford. (1995) ISBN 0-395-70560-6
  • Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Whoooo Written by Eth Clifford (1992) ISBN 0-395-60289-0
  • Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Nosy Otter Written by Eth Clifford (1992) ISBN 0-395-60289-0
  • George and the Dragon Word Written by Dianne Snyder. (1991) ISBN 0-395-55129-3
  • Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Eye by Eth Clifford (1990) ISBN 0-395-51945-4

References

  1. ^ a b Lies, Brian. "Biography". Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Mehegan, David (2006-07-29). "Illustrator's book has kids going batty". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  3. ^ a b "Brian Lies". Children’s Literature Network. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  4. ^ a b Roback, Diane (2006-07-24). "Children's Picture Book Bestsellers". Publishers Weekly. 253 (29). Reed Business Information: 16. ISSN 0000-0019.
  5. ^ "Early School Years: Fantasies". Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  6. ^ Berman, Matt. "Bats at the Beach - Brian Lies: Delightful bats' night out for pre-K and up". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  7. ^ Lies, Brian. "Frequently Asked Questions". Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  8. ^ Lies, Brian (2006). Bats at the Beach. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0-618-55744-X.
  9. ^ Goehner, Amy Lennard. "Top 10 Children's Books: 3. Bats at the Library, Written and illustrated by Brian Lies". The Top 10 Everything of 2008. Time. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  10. ^ "Headlines: Announcing the 2009 Indies Choice Book Award Winners!". Bookselling This Week. American Booksellers' Association. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  11. ^ Constsntinides, Judith (2007). "The Book Review: PRESCHOOL TO GRADE 4". School Library Journal. 53 (3). New York: Reed Business Information: 151. ISSN 0362-8930. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |quotes= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  12. ^ "News: BTW News Briefs". Bookselling This Week. American Bookseller’s Association. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  13. ^ a b Constantinides, Judith (2001). "The Book Review: PRESCHOOL TO GRADE 4". School Library Journal. 47 (6). New York: Reed Business Information: 124–125. ISSN 0362-8930. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |quotes= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "NOMINEES FOR THE YEAR 2006". Rhode Island Children's Book Award. Rhode Island Teacher's & Technology Initiative/Rhode Island Educational Media Association/Rhode Island Network for Educational Technology. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  15. ^ "Children's Books". Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brian_Lies&oldid=336753445"