While Wisniewski enrolled at the University of Maryland College Park, financial issues led him to drop out after just one semester. It was around this time that he also gained his love of reading. He learned to love art at an early age when his mother taught him how to draw as a first grader.

His family moved around Europe for much of his childhood before returning to the US, where they continued to move often to wherever his father was stationed at the time. Wisniewski was born in 1953 in England, where his father was stationed as a master sergeant in the United States Air Force. Let's take a closer look at the work of David Wisniewski in this edition of our Caldecott Winning Illustrators Series: David Wisniewski’s intricate paper cutouts and collages for his work on Golem are beautiful and detailed works of art that are sure to add to anyone looking to collect Caldecott wining books. While often awarded to artists that work in mediums like paint or pen, 1998’s medal went to a writer/illustrator who’s medium was more related to his background in clowning and puppetry. Wisniewski died on September 11, 2002.Each year the Caldecott Medal is awarded to the panel-declared best illustrated children’s book of that year. The illustrations for that book won an important award called the Caldecott Medal in 1997. Golem (1996) is a Jewish legend about a giant made of clay that comes to life. Another book, Sundiata: Lion King of Mali (1992), retells a legend from Africa. The book is set in ancient Japan and tells the story of two brothers who each want to be the new emperor. Wisniewski’s first book was The Warrior and the Wise Man. He cut shapes from pieces of paper and combined them to make the illustrations. Wisniewski and his wife stopped performing their puppet shows when their children were born. He married another member of the theater, and they set up their own company. In 1976 he went to work for a puppet theater. After that, he worked as a circus clown for several years. Wisniewski attended college at the University of Maryland for one year. He also enjoyed performing and thought he might want to be an actor. The young Wisniewski became interested in drawing at an early age. His books present folk tales from cultures throughout the world.ĭavid Wisniewski was born on a military base in England on March 21, 1953. David Wisniewski was an illustrator and author of award-winning books for children.

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