Skip to main content

Small, David, 1945-

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1945-

Biography

David Small is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children's picture books. His books have been awarded a Caldecott Medal and two Caldecott Honors, among other recognition. He was born and raised in Detroit and began drawing at an early age.

He earned a bachelor of fine arts degree at Wayne State University and a master of fine arts degree at Yale University. Small taught art for many years on the college level, ran a film series, and made satirical sketches for campus newspapers. His first book, Eulalie and the Hopping Head, which he wrote and illustrated, was published in 1981.

Small earned a 1997 Caldecott Honor and The Christopher Medal for The Gardener, with Sarah Stewart, his wife. In 2001 Small won the Caldecott Medal for So You Want to Be President?, combining political cartooning with children's book illustration. He received a second Caldecott Honor in 2013 for illustrating Toni Buzzeo's One Cool Friend. Small's drawings have appeared in the New Yorker and the New York Times. On July 15, 2014, he was announced as a finalist for the 2015 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature.

David Small and his wife Sarah Stewart make their home in an historic manor house in Mendon, Michigan.

His current work and list of awards can be found on his website.

Found in 325 Collections and/or Records:

So You Want to Be President? - Envelope 2/2, 2008

 File — Envelope 57: [Barcode: 31141024382405]
Scope and Contents

44 pieces in watercolor, pastel, ink, and pencil (need preserving), 93 sketches in ink and pencil, 73 dummy/proof pages, sketches from the animated film of the book, and photos and stills from the animated version.

Dates: 2008

Stitches - Box 1/3 (O/A), 2009

 File — Envelope 58: [Barcode: 31141024381787]
Scope and Contents

205 piece of original artwork in watercolor and ink. (All pieces from the book are in the collection.)

Dates: 2009

Stitches - Box 2/3 (O/A), 2009

 File — Envelope 59: [Barcode: 31141024381779]
Scope and Contents

124 pieces of original artwork in watercolor and ink.

Dates: 2009

Stitches - Box 3/3, 2009

 File — Envelope 60: [Barcode: 31141024403664]
Scope and Contents

Over 200 pages of draft texts, proof pages, dummies, and a decorative box.

Dates: 2009

Stuck in the Muck - Envelope 1/1 (O/A), 1990

 File — Envelope 1: [Barcode: 31141024381951], Object: 2
Scope and Contents

6 pieces of original art in watercolor, pastel, ink, and pencil (needs preserving), 2 draft artwork pieces in watercolor, pastel, and ink, and 2 magazines where the story was published.

Dates: 1990

That Book Woman 1/4, 2008

 File — Frame 146: [Barcode: 31141024459781]
Scope and Contents

An ink and watercolor piece of a boy playing checkers alone while his family reads in the background.

Dates: Publication: 2008

That Book Woman 2/4, 2008

 File — Frame 147: [Barcode: 31141024459906]
Scope and Contents

An ink and watercolor piece of a boy bringing a book to a young girl sitting at a table.

Dates: Publication: 2008

That Book Woman 3/4, 2008

 File — Frame 148: [Barcode: 31141024459765]
Scope and Contents

An ink and watercolor piece of a woman on a horse riding in rain, snow, and other harsh weather.

Dates: Publication: 2008

That Book Woman 4/4, 2008

 File — Frame 149: [Barcode: 31141024459773]
Scope and Contents

An ink and watercolor piece of a boy holding a book on the front steps of a house in front of a woman on a horse.

Dates: Publication: 2008

That Book Woman - Envelope 1/2, 2008

 File — Envelope 51: [Barcode: 31141024382157], Object: 2
Scope and Contents

10 draft pieces in watercolor, pastel, pencil, and ink, along with 36 black and white pieces

Dates: 2008