Roger Duvoisin
Roger Duvoisin was a Swiss-born artist and author renowned for his contributions to children's literature. Born on August 28, 1904, he exhibited a passion for art, music, and literature from a young age, furthering his education in Switzerland and France. After moving to New York with his wife, Louise Fatio, in 1927, Duvoisin's career in children's publishing began unexpectedly when a manuscript he wrote was picked up by a publisher. Over nearly five decades, he wrote and illustrated more than forty books, becoming especially famous for his beloved characters, such as Petunia the duck and the Happy Lion. His works are characterized by high-quality illustrations and a unique sense of humor that resonates with children. Duvoisin received numerous accolades throughout his career, including a Caldecott Medal for *White Snow, Bright Snow* in 1946. He passed away on June 30, 1980, in New Jersey, but his legacy endures through the enduring popularity of his stories and illustrations, which continue to enchant new generations of readers.
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Roger Duvoisin
- Born: August 28, 1904
- Birthplace: Geneva, Switzerland
- Died: June 30, 1980
- Place of death: Morristown, New Jersey
Biography
Roger Duvoisin was born on August 28, 1904, to Jacques J. Duvoisin and Judith More Duvoisin. He demonstrated early in life his talent and interest in art, music, and books. He was educated in music and art in Switzerland and France. After completing his education, he worked producing textile designs. He married Louise Fatio in 1925. In 1927, Duvoisin and his wife moved to New York, where he took a position with the Maillinson’s Silk Company. Although the business folded within four years, the company’s president shared one of Duvoisin’s manuscripts for a child’s book to publisher Charles Scribner, who subsequently brought out the book in 1932.
This accidental beginning led Duvoisin into a career that extended for the next forty-eight years. In 1940, Duvoisin published Donkey-Donkey: The Troubles of a Silly Little Donkey. This book set a pattern for Duvoisin’s work; he often turned to animal stories and fables for his sources. During the 1930’s and 1940’s, Duvoisin also illustrated many books for other writers. In the late 1940’s, he began an important collaboration with the writer Alvin R. Tresselt. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, Duvoisin developed the characters for whom he is likely to be best remembered: the duck Petunia, and the Happy Lion.
In all, Duvoisin wrote and illustrated seven books starring Petunia. The Happy Lion books were written by Duvoisin’s wife, Louise Fatio. The couple produced ten books in the series over twenty-six years. Throughout his career, Duvoisin published books that were of high quality in their illustrations and filled with a gentle, droll humor. Duvoisin died suddenly of a heart attack on June 30, 1980, in Morristown, New Jersey. His last book was published several months after his death.
Duvoisin’s contributions to children’s literature can be measured by both the quality and quantity of his work. He wrote and illustrated more than forty books and illustrated more than 140 additional books. Beloved by both critics and children, Duvoisin earned many awards during his lifetime. He won a Caldecott Medal for White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin R. Tresselt in 1946. Another collaboration with Tresselt resulted in a Caldecott Honor book in 1965, Hide and Seek Fog. In 1956, he and his wife were given a West German children’s book award for The Happy Lion. In addition, in 1968, he was nominated for a Hans Christian Anderson Award. He also earned the Rutgers award for distinguished contribution to children’s literature, the University of Southern Mississippi medallion for distinction, and the Irwin Kerlan Award by the University of Minnesota.
Duvoisin will be remembered for his high-quality illustrations combined with his exceptional talent in taking a child’s point of view in his writing. His characters such as Petunia and the Happy Lion will likely continue to delight children long into the twenty-first century.