James E. Ransome Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Children's Books
The Old Dog | (1972) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Do Like Kyla | (1990) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Aunt Flossie's Hats | (1991) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
All the Lights in the Night | (1991) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Creation | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Uncle Jed's Barber Shop | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Red Dancing Shoes | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Hummingbird Garden | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Girl Who Wore Snakes | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
My Best Shoes | (1994) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Bonolo and the Peach Tree | (1994) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
That Cat! | (1994) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Bonesy and Isabel | (1995) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Celie and the Harvest Fiddler | (1995) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Freedom's Fruit | (1995) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Eli and the Swamp Man | (1996) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Dark Day, Light Night | (1996) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Wagon | (1996) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Bimmi Finds a Cat | (1996) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Jukebox Man | (1998) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Your Move | (1998) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Let My People Go | (1998) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Secret of the Stones | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Quinnie Blue | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Visiting Day | (2001) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Building a New Land | (2001) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
How Animals Saved the People | (2001) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Peepers | (2001) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Under the Quilt of Night | (2002) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl | (2003) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
A Pride of African Tales | (2003) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Sky Boys | (2004) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
It Is the Wind | (2005) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
This Is the Dream | (2005) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
What Lincoln Said | (2008) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Our Children Can Soar | (2009) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Baby Blessings | (2010) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Gunner, Football Hero | (2010) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
A Joyful Christmas | (2010) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
New Red Bike! | (2011) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
When Grandmama Sings | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
My Teacher | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Christmas Tugboat | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
This Is the Rope | (2013) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Joltin' Joe DiMaggio | (2014) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Granddaddy's Turn | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
My Name Is Truth | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Nutcracker in Harlem | (2017) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Be a King | (2018) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Bell Rang | (2019) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Patricia C. McKissack Chapter Books
Let My People Go | (1998) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Miami Gets It Straight | (1999) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Amistad | (2005) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Ann Turner Children's Books
Dakota Dugout | (1985) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Nettie's Trip South | (1987) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Time Of The Bison | (1987) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Hedgehog for Breakfast | (1989) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Katie's Trunk | (1992) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Stars for Sarah | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Apple Valley Year | (1993) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Angel Hide and Seek | (1998) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Drummer Boy: Marching to the Civil War | (1998) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Let's Be Animals | (1998) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Red Flower Goes West | (1999) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Heron Street | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Secrets From The Dollhouse | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Abe Lincoln Remembers | (2000) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
In the Heart | (2001) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Shaker Hearts | (2002) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
When Mr. Jefferson Came to Philadelphia: What I Learned of Freedom, 1776 | (2003) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Pumpkin Cat | (2004) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Sitting Bull Remembers | (2007) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Sewing Quilts | (2012) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
My Name Is Truth | (2015) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Publication Order of Reading Rainbow Books
Over the River and Through the Wood | (1844) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Kenny's Window | (1956) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Crictor | (1958) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Through Grandpa's Eyes | (1971) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
My Puppy Is Born | (1973) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
I Have a Sister--My Sister is Deaf | (1977) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Mummies Made in Egypt | (1979) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Eats | (1979) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Could Be Worse! | (1979) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Just Us Women | (1982) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Philharmonic Gets Dressed | (1982) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
A Medieval Feast | (1983) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Mystery on the Docks | (1983) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Moon | (1984) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Truck Song | (1984) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Three Days On A River In A Red Canoe | (1984) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Dabble Duck | (1984) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
George Shrinks | (1985) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Maps and Globes | (1985) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
The Paper Crane | (1985) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Lights! Camera! Action!: How a Movie is Made | (1985) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Shoes | (1986) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Honey, I Love And Other Poems | (1986) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
How a Book Is Made | (1986) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
I Like the Music | (1987) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale | (1987) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Bugs | (1987) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
I Read Signs | (1987) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
An Enchanted Hair Tale | (1987) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Sunken Treasure | (1988) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Storms | (1989) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies | (1990) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Galimoto | (1990) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
How Many Stars in the Sky? | (1991) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Sophie and Lou | (1991) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Mrs. Katz and Tush | (1992) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Home | (1992) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Water, Water Everywhere | (1994) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo | (1995) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
Mama Don't Allow | (2008) | Hardcover Paperback Kindle |
James E. Ransome is an artist and illustrator. He was born in North Carolina in Rich Square. He grew up in what he calls the rural South.
Because there simply were not that many around, he did not have the chance to visit museums or art galleries. He admits that he does not recall exactly when he first became interested in art. He does know that his early drawings were of different hot rods and copied images from either the Bible or comic books.
He would read from the Bible to his grandmother when he was young. The illustrations would come to his mind as he read, and his imagination would be filled up with dramatic scenes. He would also create his own stories after reading Mad magazine, featuring himself as well as his friends.
At his school, they unfortunately did not have any classes available for art. He started to borrow books that taught you how to draw from the library and taught himself, tuning into shows on television that went over artists, art, and more. He enrolled in a course found in a comic book back section that did help him get the basics about cartoons and how to draw them when he was younger.
When he got older, he found that the television images that he saw were impressive. He loved the cinematography of it all and was fascinated by how the scenes would be set up. He had an instant interest in film making as a result.
The author moved to New Jersey to Bergenfield after his first year of high school. At his new school, he at last had the chance to develop his skills by taking classes in photography as well as film making. These courses had a great impact that would go on to influence the illustration styles that he used. In the subject of photography, he was able to find out how different approaches like value and perspective could have on an image.
Film making showed him the ways that you could change the story pace with angles of camera and more. He produced several films and liked working on his own, animating his own film visions. He would go on to take a class in painting and drawing at the suggestion of his film teacher that ended up sparking his interest in it once more.
He attended Pratt Institute and lived in Brooklyn, graduating with his Bachelors. He discovered different artists in his art history classes that had a huge influence on his personal painting style. He also met Jerry Pinkney, an illustrator that motivated him with what he had been able to accomplish and his work. He has since become a friend and mentor.
He likes illustrating books because every book has a voice. He has a different approach when it comes to each book. He lives in New York with his wife who also writes books for children. They have worked on a lot of books together. The two of them have a dog as well as four children together.
He has been illustrating for a long time and has received many honors, awards, and general recognition. Ransome has been named one of 75 authors as well as illustrators that people should know by the Children’s Book Council.
He has received a Coretta Scott King Award for his illustrating (and an honor award for his work illustrating Uncle Jed’s Barbershop, which was also named a Notable Book by the ALA). Barbershop was also featured on the television show for children, Reading Rainbow, as have other books that he has done work on (How Many Stars, Sweet Clara). on the PBS show Storytime also featured The Old Dog. He also received an IBBY Honor Award for The Creation.
He has shown his works in shows both solo and group all over the United States. He has received an N.A.A.C.P.’s Image Award for his illustrations in 1999. His book Satchel Paige, composed along with his wife, has been widely praised and named to be one of the year’s best children’s book selections.
This illustrator and artist was also acknowledged in 2001 by the School Library Media Specialists with an award for his total body of work (an award named after character and literary feature Rip Van Winkle).
James has received several more awards as well. In 2002 he had the honor of receiving an award for having the year’s best book from S.E.B.A., and his book Visiting Day also received some attention that year by being named one of ten top diversity books. James received an executive arts award in 2004 for his work as a solo artist by a local art association in Dutchess County.
In addition to composing artwork and illustration for books, Ransome has also done some interesting work with public art! He has been commissioned to work on several murals in Indianapolis by the Children’s Museum. He has done the same in Cincinnati and Greensboro, North Carolina for an Underground Railroad center and a library, respectively.
He was also commissioned to make a historical painting for a library in New Jersey. His work has also been featured on a poster that was designed to celebrate the anniversary of Brown versus The Board of Education. His Visual Stories traveling exhibit has been making its way around the whole of the United States ever since 2003. He has also had his work featured in art collections for children’s books, both public and private.
James E. Ransome has done the new illustrations for the book The Old Dog. Originally published in 1974, this book is about a dog that loved playing and running and jumping. Ben loves his dog, and she’s the best friend anyone could ever have. But as he grows older, so does his dog. This is a sweet but sad book so only read if you know you’ll be prepared!
He has also illustrated Do Like Kyla, originally published in 1990. This is a cute book about two sisters that imitate each other. Older sister Kyla is the model for how to do everything, and her little sister does everything that her big sister does. Check out this book if you are looking for something fun to read with your kids!
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