Through the Looking Glass and What I Found There

​The illustrator and writer, Leonard Weisgard is one family member I really wish I'd had the chance to meet. 

The Caldecott award-winning illustrator of more than 200 children’s books (who also got to study dance with Martha Graham - sigh!) was my Dad's first cousin (and shared his first name) but I'd never heard of him until a few years back when my uncle mentioned him.

Mr Peaceable Paints. Written and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard

My Dad was not enthusiastic about my pursuit of an artistic career so it might be that he thought it expedient not to mention his namesake or he simply may not have known much about him back in that pre-Google era.

Page from Who Dreams of Cheese? Written & illustrated by Leonard Weisgard (1963)

Weisgard's whimsical illustrations came back into my life today when I accidently came across a feature on them on Brain Pickings.

Illustration by Leonard Weisgard from The Wizard of Oz

You can see more of his work here on the website created by his children as a tribute or on Flickr and Pinterest.

Tales from Shakespeare illustrated by Leonard Weisgard