On December 25, 2011 we lost a great author and illustrator of children’s picture books: Simms Taback.  Taback won the Caldecott Award for his book Joseph had a Little Overcoat.  He was known for his colorful and slightly wonky illustrations.  His pages are peppered with little asides and comments and legal notices and short poems that broaden the enjoyment of every story.  He was fond of repetitive text and peek-a-boo pages, which you will see when you read This is the House that Jack Built, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and the afore-mentioned Joseph…  His stories bring humor and joy to all of his readers.  Check him out today at your favorite branch library.

From www.simmstaback.com:

Simms Taback was born in New York City in 1932. He grew up in the Bronx. In 1953 Simms graduated from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Art. ... In 1963, Simms formed a successful design studio in partnership with Push Pin Studios co-founder Reynold Ruffins. He worked as an illustrator, writer, art director and graphic designer, and taught at the School of Visual Arts and Syracause University. Simms was a founding president of The Illustrators Guild, which later merged and became the New York Graphic Artists Guild, of which he was a founding member and president. He continued his tireless efforts as an advocate for artists’ rights with his service as author, editor and production supervisor for the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing and Ethical Guidelines.