Schoenherr, John (1935-2010), was an American author and illustrator of children’s books known for his wildlife pictures. Schoenherr won the 1988 Caldecott Medal for his illustrations for Owl Moon (1987), written by the American author Jane Yolen. The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually for the best picture book by an American.
Owl Moon tells the story of a father who takes his daughter into the woods to look for owls. Schoenherr illustrated the book with soft water colors that portray the wonder a child feels when introduced to the wilderness. The book reflects the respect for nature that appears throughout Schoenherr’s work. Schoenherr traveled throughout the world to gather material for his illustrations and paintings of animals in their natural environments.
Schoenherr first gained recognition for his illustrations for Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era (1963), a best-selling novel about a raccoon by the American writer Sterling North. Schoenherr also illustrated Julie of the Wolves (1972), which won the 1973 Newbery Medal for the American author Jean Craighead George. The Newbery Medal is awarded every year to the best children’s book by an American.
Schoenherr illustrated a series of animal stories by the American author Miska Miles, beginning with Mississippi Possum (1965). Schoenherr’s other notable collaborations with American authors include Incident at Hawk’s Hill (1971) by Allan W. Eckert, Simon Underground (1976) by Joanne Ryder, and Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud (1997) by Lynn Plourde.
Schoenherr wrote several animal stories that he also illustrated. They include The Barn (1968), Bear (1991), and Rebel (1995).
John Carl Schoenherr was born on July 5, 1935, in New York City. He received a B.F.A. degree from the Pratt Institute in 1956. In addition to his work in children’s literature, Schoenherr illustrated several hundred covers of science-fiction novels and exhibited his paintings in many one-man shows. He died on April 8, 2010.
