NewsPre-K to 8AcademicsFine Arts
Mordicai Gerstein to visit Lower School
Aug 17, 2006 12:43 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Author, painter, sculptor, prize-winning designer and director of animated films Mordicai Gerstein will visit the Lower School Wednesday, Oct. 4.
“Each year, students are treated to a visit by a guest author or illustrator in order to encourage them in their creative process and instruct them in diligence,” said Ann Glass, Lower School librarian. “I always try to find someone who appeals to students of all ages. Darlington is excited to welcome Mr. Gerstein. We hope his professional versatility and warm personality will encourage our students to dream big and work hard.”
Born in Los Angeles, he attended the Chouinard Institute of Art before moving to New York City, where he lived and worked for 25 years making animated films for television. In 1971, Gerstein collaborated with author Elizabeth Levy to create the “Something Queer is Going On” series of mystery books for Delacorte Press. He began writing and illustrating his own books in 1980, many of which have won awards in children’s literature.
Gerstein’s books are wide-ranging in subject, style and the age groups addressed, from contemporary fantasy and Biblical retellings, to biography and absurd alphabets, for preschoolers, high schoolers and even adults. He is the 2004 Caldecott Winner for his book “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers.”
Gerstein lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Susan Yard Harris, who is also an illustrator, and their daughter, Risa.
Past guest authors/illustrators visiting the Lower School have included Patricia Reilly Giff, David Winsniewski, Robert San Souci, Jack Gantos, Lynn Cullen, Mike Lester, Carmen Agra Deedy, Helen Lester and Jane Kurtz.
“Each year, students are treated to a visit by a guest author or illustrator in order to encourage them in their creative process and instruct them in diligence,” said Ann Glass, Lower School librarian. “I always try to find someone who appeals to students of all ages. Darlington is excited to welcome Mr. Gerstein. We hope his professional versatility and warm personality will encourage our students to dream big and work hard.”
Born in Los Angeles, he attended the Chouinard Institute of Art before moving to New York City, where he lived and worked for 25 years making animated films for television. In 1971, Gerstein collaborated with author Elizabeth Levy to create the “Something Queer is Going On” series of mystery books for Delacorte Press. He began writing and illustrating his own books in 1980, many of which have won awards in children’s literature.
Gerstein’s books are wide-ranging in subject, style and the age groups addressed, from contemporary fantasy and Biblical retellings, to biography and absurd alphabets, for preschoolers, high schoolers and even adults. He is the 2004 Caldecott Winner for his book “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers.”
Gerstein lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, Susan Yard Harris, who is also an illustrator, and their daughter, Risa.
Past guest authors/illustrators visiting the Lower School have included Patricia Reilly Giff, David Winsniewski, Robert San Souci, Jack Gantos, Lynn Cullen, Mike Lester, Carmen Agra Deedy, Helen Lester and Jane Kurtz.
