About
Gennady Spirin (born 25 December 1948) is a Russian painter and children's book illustrator. A graduate of the Surikov School of Fine Art in Moscow and the Moscow Stroganov Institute of Art, he is noted for his unique style of watercolor illustration. He has illustrated works by classic authors such as William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov, and Leo Tolstoy as well as children's books by contemporary celebrities. He is perhaps best known for his illustration of Madonna's Yakov and the Seven Thieves and Julie Andrews' Simeon's Gift. His oil paintings hang in public and private galleries throughout the world. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1992, Spirin immigrated with his wife and sons to the United States, ultimately settling in Princeton, NJ, where he has lived and worked since.
Awards
Golden Apple Award, Biennale of Illustration (Bratislava), 1983 for “Marissa and Gnomes”
Fierra Di Bologna Honour, 1991 for “Sorotchintzy Fair”
Grand Prize VI Premio International Catalonia d’illustracio del Libres per a infants, (Barcelona) 1995 for “Kashtanka”
Five Gold Medals of Society of Illustrators (New York):
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Boots and Glass Mountain (1992)
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The Children of Lir (1993)
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The Frog Princess (1994)
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The Tale of Tsar Saltan (1996)
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The Story of Noah and the Ark (2004)
Best Illustrated Book of the Year designation, “New York Times” for:
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The Fool and the Fish (1990)
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Gulliver Adventures in Lilliput (1993)
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Kashtanka (1995)
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The Sea King’s Daughter (1997)
Bibliography
Explore the enchanting world of Gennady Spirin, an award-winning illustrator renowned for his beautifully illustrated children's books. With a 40-year career dedicated to captivating young readers, he has published over 50 beloved books that have delighted audiences worldwide. The following list captures the breadth and magic of his beloved publications across the decades. ● The Fairy Tales of Tundra (1977) ● The Little Humpback Horse (1983) ● Marissa and the Gnomes (1983) ● Once There was a Tree (1985) ● An Examples from Life (1985) ● The Enchanter's Spell (1987) ● The Mysterious Tale of Gentle Jack and Lord Bumblebee (1988) ● Masquerade (1988) ● Rumplestiltskin (1989) ● The Tale of the Unicorn (1989) ● The Fool and the Fish (1990) ● The White Cat (1990) ● Sorotchintzy Fair (1991) ● The Princess Who Could Not Laugh (1991) ● Boots & the Glass Mountain (1992) ● Snow White & Rose Red (1992) ● Gullivers Adventures in Lilliput (1993) ● The Children of Lir (1993) ● The Nose (1993) ● The Frog Princess (1994) ● Kashtanka (1995) ● The Nutcracker (1996) ● The Tempest (1996) ● The Tale of Tsar Saltan (1996) ● The Sea King's Daughter (1997) ● The Christmas Story (1998) ● The Crane Wife (1998) ● Jack and the Beanstalk (1999) ● The Easter Story (1999) ● Joy to the World (2000) ● Philipok (2000) ● Little Mermaids and Ugly Ducklings (2001) ● The Little Black Hen (2002) ● The Tale of the Firebird (2002) ● Simeon's Gift (2003) ● Moses: The Long Road to Freedom (2004) ● The Story of Noah and the Ark (2004) ● Yakov and the Seven Theives (2004) ● A Apple Pie (2005) ● Martha (2005) ● The Night Before Christmas (2006) ● Perceval: King Arthur's Knight of the Holy Grail (2007) ● We Three Kings (2007) ● Creation (2008) ● Goldilocks and the Three Bears (2008) ● The Lord is My Shepherd (2008) ● Life in the Boreal Forest (2009) ● The Twelve Days of Christmas (2009) ● Jesus (2010) ● Little Red Riding Hood (2010) ● Velveteen Rabbit (2011) ● Elephant (2013) ● Frog Song (2013) ● The Greatest Dinosaur Ever (2013) ● The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea (2015) ● The Deadliest Creature in the World (2016)
