Author and illustrator Raymond Briggs, finest identified for the 1978 traditional The Snowman, has died aged 88.
The announcement was made by his writer, Penguin Random House.
The Snowman was first launched as an image e book – and has offered greater than 5.5 million copies worldwide – earlier than it was become a much-loved animation in 1982.
Briggs additionally created beloved youngsters’s books Father Christmas and Fungus The Bogeyman.
A press release from his household mentioned: “We know that Raymond’s books have been beloved by and touched thousands and thousands of individuals world wide, who might be unhappy to listen to this information. Drawings from followers – particularly youngsters’s drawings – impressed by his books have been treasured by Raymond and pinned up on the wall of his studio.
“He lived a wealthy and full life and mentioned he felt fortunate to have had each his spouse Jean and his associate of over 40 years Liz in his life.
“He shared his love of nature with Liz on South Downs walks and on household holidays to Scotland and Wales. He additionally shared his sense of enjoyable and craziness along with his household, and along with his household of artist buddies – at get-togethers, fancy gown events, and summer time picnics within the backyard.
“He played practical jokes and enjoyed them being played on him. All of us close to him knew his irreverent humour – this could be biting in his work when it came to those in power. He liked the Guardian editorial describing himself as an ‘iconoclastic national treasure’.”
An extraordinary legacy
Francesca Dow, managing director of youngsters’s at Penguin Random House, which served as Raymond Briggs’ writer, mentioned: “I am very proud that Puffin has been the home of Raymond’s children’s books for so many years.
“Raymond’s books are image masterpieces that tackle a few of the elementary questions of what it’s to be human, chatting with each adults and kids with a exceptional economic system of phrases and illustrations.
“Raymond is probably best known for The Snowman. He needed greater freedom perhaps than the standard 32-page picture book format allowed and created a radical and beautiful innovation: a wordless picture book for children, a storyboard of stills that became an instant classic in its own right, as well as the much-loved animation.”
She mentioned he was “a brilliantly observant, funny storyteller, honest about how life is rather than how adults might wish to tell it to children”.
“A kindness, integrity and generosity run through all his books,” she added.
“And so in life: Raymond was a generous, unjealous spirit who was a pleasure to work with, as well as to visit in his Sussex cottage and experience his teasing genius in its home. He was funny! He made us laugh a lot. I will miss him. All of us who had the privilege of working with him will miss him.”
Ms Dow mentioned Briggs had been “unique” and had “inspired generations of creators of picture books, graphic novels, and animations”.
She added: “He leaves an extraordinary legacy and a big hole.”
Illustrator Rob Biddulph, whose titles embrace Dog Gone and Blown Away, paid tribute to Brigg’s affect on the business.
“A titan in our industry and a true one-off,” he mentioned. The Snowman was a piece of simple genius – a game-changer, not simply on this planet of youngsters’s books, however books full cease. Thank you for uplifting me, Mr Briggs. RIP.”
The Book Trust, which awarded Briggs a lifetime achievement award in 2017, said it was “devastated” to listen to of his demise.
Source: information.sky.com”