Cooper Edens


Cooper Edens is an author and illustrator of more than 25 children's books.. He's best known for "If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow" and "Add One More Star to the Night". These works reflect his "horizontal" approach to storytelling. that asks the reader to solve a non-linear string of "problems" rather than follow a hero or heroine through a linear progression of plot points He has also collaborated with other artists on a number of children's books and in compilations of classic children's story illustrations.

History

Cooper Edens was born and raised in the Seattle area. His parent's house, on Lake Washington, encouraged solitary daydreaming and reading. In first grade, his principal told his mother that he shouldn't return to class because he was too creative. His mom said "Good". He took a year off from school and spent much of his time with coloring books, graduating soon to channeling Monet and Van Gogh with crayons and cardboard.
Edens used that medium—crayon on cardboard—to illustrate his first words-and-art creation. He was steered by other publishers to Harold and Sandra Darling, of Green Tiger Press, who published "If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow" in 1978. The title highlights the style: antique-looking images, colored in a luminous, impressionist style, are juxtaposed with brief, haiku-like "If... " statements The style found a large audience: over 1.3 million print copies of "...Night Rainbow" have been sold. Many of his works are now published by Chronicle Books.
While other books use the same "horizontal" approach, Cooper has also worked with other artists on numerous collaborations. His partnership with Sandra Darling, author of the popular "Good Dog Carl" series, has produced seven books. Edens has also worked with partners to compile books that use art from the history of children's literature to retell the story, and to show how different artists create different realities for their stories. He is now working on projects to create digital, interactive versions of some of his classics.
According to Edens, he "is for infinite possibilities. If you don't like the way the world looks straight ahead, use your peripheral vision."
Edens also wrote lyrics for MerKaBa and the band White.

Awards

Edens earned the Children's Critic Award in 1980 for The Starcleaner Reunion. He was also the American nominee for the Golden Apple Award in 1983 for Caretakers of Wonder.

List of Works

Author-Illustrator

  1. If You're Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow, Green Tiger Press, 1978, 2nd edition, 1984, reprinted, Chronicle Books, 2002.
  2. The Starcleaner Reunion, Green Tiger Press, 1979.
  3. Caretakers of Wonder, Green Tiger Press 1980.
  4. With Secret Friends, Green Tiger Press, 1981.
  5. Inevitable Papers, Green Tiger Press, 1982.
  6. Paradise of Ads, Green Tiger Press, 1987.
  7. Now Is the Moon's Eyebrow, Green Tiger Press, 1987.
  8. Hugh's Hues, Green Tiger Press, 1988.
  9. Nineteen Hats, Ten Teacups, an Empty Birdcage, and the Art of Longing, Green Tiger Press, 1992.
  10. The Little World, Blue Lantern Books, 1994.
  11. If You're Still Afraid of the Dark, Add One More Star to the Night, Simon & Schuster, 1998.

    Author

  12. Emily and the Shadow Shop, illustrated by Patrick Dowers, Green Tiger Press, 1982.
  13. A Phenomenal Alphabet Book, illustrated by Joyce Eide, 1982.
  14. The Prince of the Rabbits, illustrated by Felix Meroux, Green Tiger Press, 1984.
  15. Santa Cows, illustrated by Daniel Lane, Green Tiger Press, 1991.
  16. The Story Cloud, illustrated by Kenneth LeRoy Grant, Green Tiger Press, 1991.
  17. A Present for Rose, illustrated by Molly Hashimoto, Sasquatch Books, 1993.
  18. Shawnee Bill's Enchanted Five-Ride Carousel, illustrated by Daniel Lane, Green Tiger Press, 1994.
  19. Santa Cow Island, illustrated by Daniel Lane, Green Tiger Press, 1994.
  20. How Many Bears?, illustrated by Marjett Schille, Atheneum, 1994.
  21. The Wonderful Counting Clock, illustrated by Kathleen Kimball, Simon & Schuster, 1995.
  22. Santa Cow Studios, illustrated by Daniel Lane, Simon & Schuster, 1995.
  23. Nicholi, illustrated by A. Scott Banfill, Simon & Schuster, 1996.
  24. The Christmas We Moved to the Barn, illustrated by Alexandra Day, HarperCollins, 1997.
  25. Taffy's Family, HarperCollins, 1997.
  26. Invisible Art, Blue Lantern Studio, 1999.
  27. The Animal Mall, illustrated by Edward Miller, Dial, 2000.
  28. Special Deliveries, illustrated by Alexandra Day, HarperCollins, 2001.

    Illustrator

  29. Alexandra Day, Helping the Sun, Green Tiger Press, 1987.
  30. Alexandra Day, Helping the Flowers and Trees, Green Tiger Press, 1987.
  31. Alexandra Day, Helping the Night, Green Tiger Press, 1987.
  32. Alexandra Day, Helping the Animals, Green Tiger Press, 1987.

    Other

  33. Children from the Golden Age, 1880–1930, Green Tiger Press, 1987.
  34. The Glorious Mother Goose, illustrated by various artists, Atheneum, 1988.
  35. Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: The Ultimate Illustrated Edition, Bantam, 1989.
  36. Beauty and the Beast, Green Tiger Press, 1989.
  37. Goldilocks and the Three Bears, illustrated by various artists, Green Tiger Press, 1989.
  38. Little Red Riding Hood, illustrated by various artists, Green Tiger Press, 1989.
  39. The Glorious ABC, illustrated by various artists, Atheneum, 1990.
  40. Day and Night and Other Dreams, Green Tiger Press, 1990.
  41. Hansel and Gretel, illustrated by various artists, Green Tiger Press, 1990.
  42. Jack and the Beanstalk, illustrated by various artists, Green Tiger Press, 1990. Favorite Fairy Tales, illustrated by various artists, Chronicle Books, 1991.
  43. The Three Princesses, illustrated by various artists, Bantam, 1991.
  44. An ABC of Fashionable Animals, Green Tiger Press, 1991.
  45. The Flower Shop, illustrated by various artists, Blue Lantern Books, 1992.
  46. The Heart Shop, illustrated by various artists, Blue Lantern Books, 1992.
  47. , Clement Moore, The Night before Christmas, illustrated by various artists, Chronicle Books, 1998.
  48. Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio, illustrated by various artists, Chronicle Books, 2001.
  49. E. Charles Vivian, Robin Hood, illustrated by various artists, Chronicle Books, 2002.
  50. 'Tis the Season: A Classic Illustrated Christmas Treasury, illustrated by various artists, Chronicle Books, 2003.
  51. Robert Louis Stevenson, A Child's Garden of Verses, illustrated by various artists, Chronicle Books, 2004.
  52. Princess Stories, illustrated by various artists, Chronicle Books, 2004.
  53. The Glorious American Songbook, illustrated by various artists, Chronicle Books, 2005.