Peter Spier

Spier worked between 1927 and 2017 across writer, children's writer, illustrator, journalist and editorial cartoonist and 1 further recorded occupations. This article rests on 76 published texts and 13 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is young adult literature. Places of work recorded in the authority are Netherlands, United States and New York City. Work by Peter Spier is recorded in the collections of Het Scheepvaartmuseum. Distinctions recorded are Caldecott Medal.

• Name — Peter Spier • Born — 6 June 1927 • Birthplace — Amsterdam, North Holland • Died — 27 April 2017 • Place of death — Port Jefferson, New York • Occupation — children's writer and illustrator • Language — English • Education — Rijksakademie in Amsterdam • Notable Works — *Island City: Adventures In Old New York (1961) • The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night (1961) • London Bridge Is Falling Down! (1967), in the Mother Goose Library Series • To Market! To Market! (1967) • Awards — Noah's Ark won: • Caldecott Medal from the American Library Association • 1982 National Book Award in the Picture Book category • 1978 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

Spier was born in Amsterdam, North Holland, and grew up in Broek in Waterland, the son of Jo Spier, a popular artist and illustrator, and Tineke van Raalte. Jo Spier was Jewish, and, during the Second World War, Peter and his father were two of nine prisoners of Villa Bouchina and were later imprisoned in Theresienstadt. After the war he studied at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam and joined the Royal Netherlands Navy for four years. The entire Spier family emigrated to the United States in 1950. Spier started his career as a commercial artist for advertising agencies and only later focused on writing and illustrating children's books. He died on April 27, 2017, in Port Jefferson, New York.

Like other children's illustrators such as Beatrix Potter or Christopher Wormell, Peter Spier demonstrates his talent and skills as an artist/illustrator using pen, ink and watercolour on paper. Many of Spier's illustrations are extremely detailed and historically accurate. Close examination will often yield a humorous scene not readily apparent at first glance the finding of which often delights readers of all ages.

Spier reserved all rights and retained the copyrights to his works. In correspondence he noted that many of the original publishing plates used to reproduce his work were not available though the original works were thought to survive.

The Doubleday & Company, Inc., of Garden City, New York, originally published many of Spier's works including The Mother Goose Library Series: "London Bridge Is Falling Down!". More recent publications can be found under the labels Doubleday Books For Young Readers, Dragonfly Books and Random House.

• Island City: Adventures In Old New York (1961) • The Fox Went out on a Chilly Night: An Old Song (1961) • London Bridge Is Falling Down! (1967), in the Mother Goose Library Series • To Market! To Market! (1967) • Hurrah, We're Outward Bound! (1968) • And So My Garden Grows (1969) • Of Dikes and Windmills (1969) • The Erie Canal (1970) • Gobble, Growl, Grunt (1971) • Fast-Slow High-Low (1972) • Crash! Bang! Boom! (1972) • Tin Lizzie (1975) • Noah's Ark (1977) • Bored—nothing to do! (1978) • Oh, Were They Ever Happy! (1978) • The Legend of New Amsterdam (1979) • Nothing Like a Fresh Coat of Paint (1980) • People (1980) • Peter Spier's Village Board Books (1981) • Bill's Service Station • Firehouse • The Toy Shop • My School • Pet Store • Food Market • Peter Spier's Christmas • Peter Spier's Little Bible Storybooks • Genesis creation narrative|The Creation • Noah • Jonah • Peter Spier's Little Animal Books • Little Cats • Little Dogs • Little Ducks • Little Rabbits • Dreams • We the People: The Constitution of the United States (1987) • Peter Spier's Advent Calendar: Little Town of Bethlehem • Peter Spier's Advent Calendar: Silent Night, Holy Night • Rain (1982) • Christmas! (1983) • The Book Of Jonah (1985) • Big Trucks, Little Trucks (1988) • Fast Cars, Slow Cars (1988) • Here Come The Fire Trucks (1988) • Trucks That Dig And Dump (1988) • Circus (1995)

Peter Spier is recorded with the occupation editorial cartoonist. Recorded with the occupation picture book writer. Recorded as writer, illustrator, journalist and editorial cartoonist. Established in Library of Congress under no2014102865. Established in RKDartists under 74287. Established in FAST under 27468.