Wisniewski, << wihz NEHS skee, >> David (1953-2002), was an American artist who worked as a clown and puppeteer before becoming an author of children’s books. Wisniewski won praise for his cut-paper illustrations for picture books, which he also wrote. He made the illustrations three-dimensional by layering the paper and using foam behind some of the cut-outs. Wisniewski based most of his work on folk tales and legends from many cultures. Many of his stories have a moral message.
Wisniewski won the 1997 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations for Golem (1996). The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the best picture book by an American. Golem is based on a Jewish folk tale about a giant clay man brought to life by a rabbi to protect Polish Jews from attacks during the 1600’s. See Golem.
Wisniewski’s first book, The Warrior and the Wise Man (1989), is set in ancient Japan. Elfwyn’s Saga (1990) is a folk tale that takes place in Iceland. Rain Player (1991) is based on a Mayan legend. Sundiata: Lion King of Mali (1992) takes place in Africa. The Wave of the Sea-Wolf (1994) is an adaptation of a religious story from the Native American Tlingit of Alaska.
Wisniewski also wrote and illustrated three comic picture books. They are The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups (1998) and its sequel, The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups: The Second File (2001), and Tough Cookie (1999).
Wisniewski was born on March 21, 1953, at South Ruislip Air Force Base in England, where his father was a United States Air Force officer. Wisniewski performed as a circus clown from 1973 to 1976, when he became interested in puppetry. He was a puppeteer for the Maryland National Capital Park Planning Commission from 1977 to 1980 before starting his own puppet theater. He wrote Worlds of Shadow: Teaching with Shadow Puppetry (1997). Shadow puppets influenced the style of his cut-paper illustrations. Wisniewski died on Sept. 11, 2002, of a neurological illness.
