Roger Duvoisin Mid-Century Illustrator Part 2

Welcome back to the amazing work of Roger Duvoisin. All of Duvoisin’s books are characterized by straightforward language and stories, but are always told with a good dose of gentle humor. Nothing slapstick, just straightforward funny. A mark of a great artist, perhaps, is his ability to make you like his work even if it is in a style which doesn’t usually appeal to you. Look at the way his animals prance, can’t you almost hear the clucking, mooing and general commotion going on lol.

He has a great range of styles and I love his painterly illustrations with the defining strokes and lines on top.

His animals are great characters and full of spark and spirit.

Duvoisin won the prestigious Caldecott Award for White Snow Bright Snow, written by Alvin Tresselt, in 1948, and the Caldecott Honor Award for Hide and Seek Fog, also by Tresselt, in 1966. Duvoisin continued to experiment artistically, exploring the medium of collage during the nineteen-sixties with the same robust enthusiasm he had shown for the bold designs of the twenties.

I’ve really enjoyed finding out more about this truly talented artist and illustrator and I hope you’ve enjoyed looking through my findings too. Here’s just a handful of the 200+ titles that Roger illustrated.

Roger Duvoisin understood and appreciated the child’s viewpoint as few adults do. It may well be that this rare quality, even more than his wit, warmth, humor, and artistic brilliance, shaped his unique contribution to American children’s book illustration.  To physically show you how just how productive Roger was, take a look at a simple list of his work. Can you imagine all the illustrations that went into this comprehensive library.  He should have a lifetime achievement award !

Roger Duvoisin’s Bibliography

A Little Boy Was Drawing written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1932

Donkey-Donkey: The Troubles of a Silly Little Donkey written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1933

All Aboard! written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1935

Mother Goose written by William Rose Benet and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1936

The Pied Piper of Hamelin written by Robert Browning and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1936

Riema, Little Brown Girl of Java written by Kathleen Morrow Elliott and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1937

And There Was America written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1938

Soomoon, Boy of Bali written by Kathleen Morrow Elliott and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1938

The Feast of Lamps written by Charlet Root and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1938

Jo-yo’s Idea written by Kathleen Morrow Elliott and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1939

Rhamon, a Boy of Kashmir written by Heluiz Washburne and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1939

Tales of the Pampas written by W.H. Hudson and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1939

Language Arts for Modern Youth written by Anonymous and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1939

Military French written by Anonymous and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1939

The Dog Cantbark written by Marjorie Fischer and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1940

Petits Contes Vrais written by Mary Riley and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1940

The Christmas Cake in Search of Its Owner written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1941

The Three Sneezes, and Other Swiss Tales written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1941

They Put Out to Sea: The Story of the Map written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1943

At Our House written by John G. McCullough and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1943

Jumpy, the Kangaroo written by Janet Howard and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1944

A Child’s Garden of Verses written by Robert Louis Stevenson and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1944

Fair, Fantastic Paris written by Harold Ettlinger and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1944

The Christmas Book of Legends and Stories written by Elva Smith and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1944

The Christmas Whale written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1945

The Happy Time written by Robert Fontaine and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1945

I won’t, Said the King; or, The Purple Flannel Underwear written by Mildred Jordan and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1945

Virgin With Butterflies written by Tom Powers and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1945

Bhimsa, the Dancing Bear written by Christine Weston and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1945

The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe written by Daniel Defoe and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1946

At Daddy’s Office written by Robert Jay Misch and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1946

Daddies, What They Do All Day written by Helen Walker Puner and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1946

The Successful Secretary written by Margaret Pratt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1946

Chanticleer, the Real Story of This Famous Rooster written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1947

Moustachio written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1947

White Snow, Bright Snow written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1947

The Four Corners of the World written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1948

Christmas Pony written by William Norman Hall and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1948

The Steam Shovel That Wouldn’t Eat Dirt written by Walter Retan and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1948

Johnny Maple-Leaf written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1948

Sun Up written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1949

Vavache, the Cow Who Painted Pictures written by Frederic Attwood and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1950

Petunia written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1950

The Christmas Forest written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1950

Hi, Mr. Robin! written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1950

Follow the Wind written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1950

Dozens of Cousins written by Mabel Watts and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1950

Love and Dishes written by Niccolo de Quattrociocchi and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1950

Petunia and the Song written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1951

Anna, the Horse written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1951

Autumn Harvest written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1951

The Camel Who Took a Walk written by Jack Tworkov and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1951

Farm Wanted written by Hilles Helen and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1951

The Talking Cat and Other Stories of French Canada written by Natalie Savage Carlson and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1952

A for the Ark written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1952

Petunia’s Christmas written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1952

Amahl and the Night Visitors written by Gian Carlo Menotti and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1952

Busby and Co. written by Coggins Herbert and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1952

Chef’s Holiday written by Jones Idwal and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1952

Petunia Takes a Trip written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1953

Follow the Road written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1953

Tell Me, Little Boy written by Doris Van Liew Foster and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1953

Easter Treat written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1954

The Happy Lion written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1954

I Saw the Sea Come In written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1954

The Night Before Christmas written by Clement C. Moore and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1954

Sophocles the Hyena written by James Moran and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1954

Flash of Washington Square written by Margaret Pratt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1954

Two Lonely Ducks: A Counting Book written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1955

One Thousand Christmas Beards written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1955

The Happy Lion in Africa written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1955

Little Red Nose written by Miriam Schlein and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1955

Wake Up, Farm! written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1955

One Step, Two… written by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1955

Ride with the Sun written by Harold Courlander and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1955

Trillium Hill written by E.L. Marsh and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1955

Bennie, the Bear Who Grew Too Fast written by Ferrin Beatrice and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1956

The House of Four Seasons written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1956

Tigers Don’t Bite written by Jack Tworkov and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1956

Christmas on the Mayflower written by Wilma Pitchford Hays and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1956

The Sweet Pattotie Doll written by Mary Calhoun and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1957

The Happy Lion Roars written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1957

A Doll for Marie written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1957

Wake Up, City! written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1957

Not a Little Monkey written by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1957

Does Poppy Live Here? written by Gregor Arthur and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1957

Wait Till Sunday written by Susan Dorritt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1957

Wobble the Witch Cat written by Mary Calhoun and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1958

Petunia, Beware! written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1958

The Frog in the Well written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1958

Winkie’s World written by William Norman Hall and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1958

The Little Church on the Big Rock written by Allen Hazel and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1958

Houn’ Dog written by Mary Calhoun and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1959

The Three-cornered Hat written by Pedro Antonio de Alarcon and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1959

The Three Happy Lions written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1959

Favorite Fairy Tales Told in France written by Virginia Haviland and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1959

A Fish Is Not a Pet written by May Natalie Tabak and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1959

The Pointed Brush written by Martin Patricia Miles and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1959

The Three-Cornered Hat written by de Alarcón Pedro Antonio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1959

Please Pass the Grass! written by Leone Adelson and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1960

Day and Night written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1960

Angelique written by Janice and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1960

Timothy Robbins Climbs the Mountain written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1960

In My Garden written by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1960

The Children Come Running written by Elizabeth Coatsworth and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1960

The Nine Lives of Homer C. Cat written by Mary Calhoun and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1961

Veronica written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1961

The Happy Hunter written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1961

The Happy Lion’s Quest written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1961

The Wishing Well in the Woods written by Priscilla Friedrich and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1961

The Miller, His Sons, and Their Donkey written by Aesopus and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1962

The Hungry Leprechaun written by Mary Calhoun and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1962

Our Veronica Goes to Petunia’s Farm written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1962

Under the Trees and through the Grass written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1962

Lisette written by Adelaide Holl and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1962

Spring Snow written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1963

Lonely Veronica written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1963

The April Umbrella written by Priscilla Friedrich and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1963

The Lamb and the Child written by Dean Frye and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1963

Veronica’s Smile written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1964

Red Bantam written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1964

The Happy Lion and the Bear written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1964

The Poodle Who Barked at People written by Charlotte Zolotow and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1964

Teddy written by Grete Janus Hertz and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1964

Petunia, I Love You written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1965

Days of Sunshine, Days of Rain written by Dean Frye and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1965

The Rain Puddle written by Adelaide Holl and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1965

Hide and Seek Fog written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1965

Nubber Bear written by William Lipkind and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1966

Around the Corner written by Jean B. Showalter and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1966

The Missing Milkman written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1967

The Happy Lion’s Vacation written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1967

Poems from France written by William Jay Smith and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1967

The World in the Candy Egg written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1967

The Old Bullfrog written by Berniece Freschet and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1968

The Remarkable Egg written by Adelaide Holl and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1968

Nubber Bear written by TBD and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1968

Earth and Sky written by Mona Dayton and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1969

What Is Right for Tulip written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1969

It’s Time Now! written by Alvin Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1969

The Beaver Pond written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1970

The Owl Book edited written by Shaw Richard and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1970

Veronica and the Birthday Present written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1971

The Happy Lion’s Treasure written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1971

The Crocodile in the Tree written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1972

The Web in the Grass written by Berniece Freschet and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1972

Jasmine written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1973

Hector Penguin written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1973

The Happy Lion’s Rabbits written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1973

See What I Am written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1974

Marc and Pixie, and the Walls in Mrs. Jones’s Garden written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1975

Petunia’s Treasure written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1975

Periwinkle written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1976

Which Is the Best Place? written by Mirra Ginsburg and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1976

What Ever Happened to the Baxter Place? written by Pat Ross and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1976

Heinz Hobnail and the Great Shoe Hunt written by Anne Duvoisin and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1976

Crocus written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1977

Hector and Christina written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1977

Mr. and Mrs. Button’s Wonderful Watchdogs written by Janice and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1978

What Did You Leave Behind? written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1978

Snowy and Woody written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1979

The Happy Lioness written by Louise Fatio and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1980

The Importance of Crocus written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1980

Petunia the Silly Goose Stories written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1987

Autumn harvest written by Alvin R. Tresselt and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin 1990

More images on the wonderful site of My Vintage Book Collection.

Again many thanks to ‘Eclipse‘ and  ‘ Through the Magic Door ‘ for their biographical details, helping to make this blog posting possible and I hope you enjoyed taking this journey with me. Do leave  leave a comment if you did. If anyone has any images of Rogers’ Textile designs from his time in Paris, I’d love to see them too. Please pass this site to your friends who may also appreciate it.

I thought it might be fun to create some Duvoisin inspired designs. So I took some elements of his work and put them into repeat.

And one of my own ideas taking inspiration from cars of his day. Hope you like it.