Elegant kittens and more: Manny Schongut's children books

Illustration for a Saki (H. H. Munro) story in The Literary Cat, edited by J.C. Suares and Seymour Chwast.

Published by the Push Pin Press in 1977.

Thanks to A Journey Round My Skull's beautiful book covers post and a tip from my lovely flickr friend art.crazed, I am very pleased to have discovered and to share the artwork of Emanuel (Manny) Schongut. Schongut is now a San Francisco resident but used to live in New York City, where he collaborated with the phenomenal Push Pin Studios and created illustrations for periodicals like The New York Times, New York Magazine and Harper's Bazaar.

Following is a selection of illustrations recently uploaded by Schongut in his flickr set dedicated to the numerous children's books (over twenty) he has worked on during his still productive editorial career.

from Stone Man, Stone House, written by Anne Merrick Epstein, illustrated and designed by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Doubleday in 1972.

from Elidore and the Golden Ball, written by Georgess McHargue, illustrated by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Dodd, Mead & Company in 1973.

I asked Schongut about the influence of late 19th century illustration on this book's beautifully outlined drawings, silhouettes and elegant compositions, and he kindly answered:

"You are correct about Elidore. I think Heath Robinson (not Charles, always preferred Heath), Rackham, a bit Beardsley, and Howard Pyle. I think Pogany as well, Kay Nielson, Dorothy Lathrop, maybe Rockwell Kent, and too many more! Jean de Bosschere, the wonderful Boutet De Monvel, and Maude and Miska Petersham have had some influence. As a child I had access to early elementary school readers inherited from an older sister. I still have them and more I have collected through the years, these may really be my roots. The illustrations in the color fairy books and Jessie Willcox Smith illustrations, Japanese prints, art nouveau, art deco, early Disney, early to mid 20th century magazine illustration. Although probably not obvious, Richard Lindner, who taught at Pratt Institute, had a strong influence. Later on when I worked on projects with Milton Glaser and Seymour Chwast at New York Magazine and Pushpin studios, I suppose I could not help but absorb a bit there!"

What an impressive list of inspirations! And it includes at least five artists that I am not familiar with and definitely need to check out ASAP... thanks again, Mr. Schongut!

from The Lonely Skyscraper, written by Jenny Hawksworth, designed and illustrated by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Methuen/Walker books, Doubleday, and Hachette in 1980.

from Five Kitten Board books (Look Kitten, Play Kitten, Wake Kitten, Catch Kitten)

illustrated, designed, and written by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Walker Books London in 1983. Co published in the U.S., France, and the Netherlands.

from Christmas Eve Blizzard, written by Andrea Vlahakis, illustrated by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Sylvan Dell in 2005.

from Turtles In My Sandbox, written by Jennifer Keats Curtis, illustrated and designed by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Sylvan Dell in 2006.