Selected historical events
• September 21, 1908 — Born: Japanese-American illustrator Taro Yashima was born in Kagoshima, Japan. His works, including “Crow Boy,” “Umbrella,” and “Seashore Story,” have won three Caldecott Medals. They depict the lives of children in rural Japan and bridge cultural and educational gaps.
• September 21, 1896 — Born: German-American illustrator Kurt Werth was born in Leipzig, Germany. Known for his vibrant illustrations, he illustrated numerous American children’s books, including “Little Hero,” and his work, incorporating European artistic styles, contributed to visual innovations in children’s picture books in the mid-20th century.
• September 21, 1920 — Born: Soviet illustrator Leonid Vladimirsky (Russian: Леонид Владимирский) was born in Moscow. He created iconic illustrations for Alexander Volkov’s Oz series, which became a beloved work for Russian-speaking children and influenced the development of fantasy children’s books in Eastern Europe.
Other alternative events
• 1900: Miriam Yalan-Shteklis, an Israeli children’s author, was born. She was the first writer to win the Israeli National Prize for Children’s Literature. Her representative works, including the poetry collection “Song of the Stars,” enriched Hebrew children’s literature.
• 1906: Norwegian children’s author Lauritz Johnson is born. Nicknamed “Uncle Lauritz,” he wrote many children’s stories and promoted Norwegian folklore in his radio programs.
• 1945: Hans Wilhelm, a German-American children’s book author and illustrator, was born. He created the “Quacky Ducky” series, which sold over 10 million copies and emphasized humor and environmental themes. His Noodles book series has a Chinese translation: the “Quacky Ducky” series.
• 1971: American pop-up book illustrator Matthew Reinhart was born. He collaborated with Robert Sabuda to create interactive children’s books such as “Encyclopedia Prehistorica,” revolutionizing pop-up book design. His popular pop-up books in China include “Harry Potter: A Pop-up Guide to Diagon Alley and Beyond” and “World of Warcraft Pop-up Book.”