Born in Warsaw, Poland, young Uri escaped with his family in 1939, after experiencing the horrors of war. Wandering for several years, they arrived in Paris in 1947. The family moved to Israel two years later. Eventually, Uri came to the United States, where his career blossomed. He has illustrated the texts of numerous, notable authors. A reluctant writer at first due to concerns about his ability to communicate in English, he went on to write many of his own stories. And he's created a number of marvelous tales. Here are the ones we like best. Only a partial list of awards is cited.
How I Learned Geography
Caldecott Honor 2009,
Publishers Weekly, Best Children's Books of the Year
Publishers Weekly, Best Children's Books of the Year
A work of fiction based on a true incident in the author's life. A young boy living as a refugee in a far-away land dreams of exotic places after his father brings home a map from the market instead of food. Fanciful, heartwarming, and exquisitely illustrated.
One Monday Morning
Horn Book Honor, ALA Notable Book 1967
Horn Book Honor, ALA Notable Book 1967
A little boy at home on a rainy day imagines royal visitors. “One Monday morning the king, the queen, and the little prince came to visit me. But I wasn't home . . . " True to his philosophy of letting the illustrations tell the story in a picture book, these are the only words on the first ten pages. On each subsequent day, the royal family is accompanied by another member of the household (knight, guard, cook, etc., the procession growing quite large), only to find the the boy away. The color palette is minimal compared with the author's later books, yet the illustrations are whimsical and endearing.
Snow
Caldecott Honor 1999, ALA Notable Children's Book
Captures the joy in a child's heart upon experiencing a snowfall. The dreary, gray skies are a perfect backdrop to the falling snow. From the sparse, melting flakes to a village covered in white (the skies turn blue in the end), Shulevitz's art is enchanting. Grown-ups trudge home as a boy and his dog, along with Mother Goose characters rejoice in the gift from above. A minimum of text is needed as the illustrations tell the story.
The Travels of Benjamin of Tudela
National Jewish Book Award,
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year,
100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, New York Public Library 2005
School Library Journal Best Books of the Year,
100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, New York Public Library 2005
Based on the true adventures of a medieval Jewish wanderer from Spain whose journeys took him to Europe, Asia, and Africa. The original Benjamin chronicled his explorations, describing routes he took, dangers he encountered, and the status of Jewish communities. Benjamin's travels predate those of Marco Polo. Shulevitz's work is a glorious tribute, with amazing, detailed illustrations. More than a picture book for children, young adults and grown-ups will also enjoy this stunning work.
