Erin Stead – illustratör

New York Times Bestseller!A School Library Journal Best Book of 2017A never-before-published, previously unfinished Mark Twain children’s story is brought to life by Philip and Erin Stead, creators of the Caldecott Medal-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee.   In a hotel in Paris one evening in 1879, Mark Twain sat with his young daughters, who begged their father for a story. Twain began telling them the tale of Johnny, a poor boy in possession of some magical seeds. Later, Twain would jot down some rough notes about the story, but the tale was left unfinished . . . until now.   Plucked from the Mark Twain archive at the University of California at Berkeley, Twain’s notes now form the foundation of a fairy tale picked up over a century later. With only Twain’s fragmentary script and a story that stops partway as his guide, author Philip Stead has written a tale that imagines what might have been if Twain had fully realized this work.   Johnny, forlorn and alone except for his pet chicken, meets a kind woman who gives him seeds that change his fortune, allowing him to speak with animals and sending him on a quest to rescue a stolen prince. In the face of a bullying tyrant king, Johnny and his animal friends come to understand that generosity, empathy, and quiet courage are gifts more precious in this world than power and gold.   Illuminated by Erin Stead’s graceful, humorous, and achingly poignant artwork, this is a story that reaches through time and brings us a new book from America’s most legendary writer, envisioned by two of today’s most important names in children’s literature."will capture the imaginations of readers of all ages"—USA Today, ★ ★ ★ ★ (out of four stars) ★ "Samuel Langhorne Clemens himself would be proud."—Booklist, starred review★ "a cast of eccentric characters, celestially fine writing, and a crusade against pomp that doesn''t sacrifice humor."—Publishers Weekly, starred review★ "Completing a story penned by arguably America''s greatest author is no easy feat, but the Caldecott-winning author-illustrator (and husband-wife) team proves more than equal to the task. . . . A pensive and whimsical work that Twain would applaud."—Kirkus, starred review★ "The combination of Twain’s (often sarcastic) humor and “lessons of life,” a touch of allegory, and Stead’s own storytelling skills result in an awesome piece of fantasy."—School Library Journal, starred review★ "Beautifully understated and nuanced illustrations by Erin Stead add the finishing flourishes to this remarkable work."—Shelf Awareness, starred review“drawn with a graceful crosshatched intelligence that seems close to the best of Wyeth.”—Adam Gopnik, The New York Times"Twain and the two Steads have created what could become a read-aloud classic, perfect for families to enjoy together."—The Horn Book"artful and meta and elegant”—The Wall Street Journal"should inspire readers young and old to seek further adventures with Twain."—The Washington Post

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Velveteen Rabbit with a stunning new edition of the timeless classic, with illustrations by Erin Stead, Caldecott Medal winner of A Sick Day for Amos McGee.NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR A cherished, 100-year-old classic gets a fresh and breathtaking new look with brilliant art by Caldecott Medal winner Erin Stead, who has cited this story as an influence on her acclaimed career.With the full, original story from the 1922 classic, this deluxe, collectable new edition of The Velveteen Rabbit will be the go-to gift for baby showers, birthdays, weddings, and holidays throughout the year.At first a brand-new toy, now a threadbare and discarded nursery relic, the velveteen rabbit is saved from peril by a magic fairy who whisks him away to the idyllic world of Rabbitland. There, he becomes "Real," a cherished childhood companion who will be loved for eternity. Treasured for generations, and given new life from one of today's most exciting children's book creators, here is a timeless tale about the magic of boundless love.