Illustrator of more than 80 books for children, Ed Young is best known for his picture books based on folktales, and he takes inspiration for his work from the philosophy of Chinese painting where both words and artwork are essential elements.  Ed Young has twice been the U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award and received the Caldecott Medal for Lon Po Po, a Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood.

In Seven Fathers, Young illustrates a traditional Norwegian folktale. The Emperor and the Kite is a Chinese folktale, retold by Jane Yolen, and Seven Blind Mice is a retelling of the folktale “The Blind Men and the Elephant” which appears in many Asian cultures.

Notice all the shiny medals on the book covers? For a list of Ed Young’s book awards, you can visit his web page. His books use a variety of art styles, but frequently include collage and cut paper.

Mighty Moby is Young’s latest book and features an adorable surprise ending!

For anyone with an interest in art, folktales or Asian culture, these books are fascinating to explore.