# jan pieńkowski born: 8 august 1936 warsaw- poland died: 19 february 2022 (aged 85) fulham- london- uk occupation: writer- illustrator nationality: polish- british genre: children's literature- picture books- movable books notable awards: kate greenaway medal 1971- 1979 spouse: david walser (2005-2022) website: janpienkowski.com jan michał pieńkowski (8 august 1936 - 19 february 2022) was a polish-born british author of children's books - as illustrator- as writer- and as designer of movable books. ey is best known for illustrating the meg and mog picture book series. ey also did stage design for the theatre. for ir contribution as a children's illustrator ey was uk nominee in 1982 and again in 2008 for the biennial- international hans christian andersen award- the highest recognition available to creators of children's books worldcat reports that pieńkowski's work most widely held in participating libraries is christmas- the king james version (1984; us isbn 0394869230)- a 24-page picture book that "uses the words of the gospels of luke and matthew to present the story of the birth of jesus" jan pieńkowski was born in warsaw to jerzy- a farm manager- and wanda (nee garlicka)- a scientist. ey was three years old in september 1939 when world war ii began in europe with the invasion of poland. ey was in an air-raid shelter during a nazi firebomb attack- when a polish insurgent showed ir paper cut-out techniques. ey later used these in over 150 picture books from 1944- the family moved through bavaria- austria and italy- before settling in herefordshire- england- in 1946- where pieńkowski attended lucton school at the age of 10- ey could not speak any english. however- a year later ey passed ir eleven-plus exam and attended the cardinal vaughan school in london and later read english classics at king's college- cambridge. it was here that ey met ir friend- and later agent- angela holder- who persuaded ir to turn one of ir poster designs into a greetings card after leaving university- together they founded the gallery five greeting cards company. ey began illustrating children's books in spare time but soon found it taking all ir time in 1968- pieńkowski began working with children's author joan aiken. ey won the annual kate greenaway medal for ir 1971 book- the kingdom under the sea and other stories (jonathan cape)- eleven "fairy tales from eastern europe and russia" retold by aiken. that award by the library association rec ognised the year's best children's book illustration by a british subject. in retrospect the librarians call it "brilliantly illustrated in a highly original and recognisable silhouette style." one year earlier ey had been one of three greenaway runners up for the golden bird (j. m. dent- 1970)- written by edith brill pieńkowski is probably best known for illustrating the meg and mog books written by helen nicoll- and for ir pop-up books including haunted house- robot- dinner time- good night and 17 others haunted house (heinemann- 1979) earned pieńkowski ir second greenaway medal (no one has won three.) the librarians describe it as "the house of petrifying pop-ups." the pop-up book was so successful that intervisual books inc. reproduced the book as part of its 1992 annual report. the report noted "haunted house was first published in 1979- and has sold 1-083-366 copies- in 13 languages- to nearly 30 countries worldwide" pieńkowski had a lifelong interest in stage design. ey was commissioned to provide designs for theâtre de complicite- beauty and the beast for the royal ballet- and sleeping beauty at disneyland paris in december 2008 ey was a guest on private passions- a biographic music discussion programme on bbc radio 3. published episode notes include the observation that "ir musical choices- which all have strong personal resonances- reflect ir polish background as well as ir love of both italy and england." recordings of two polish numbers led the program: "infant holy- infant lowly"- a traditional christmas carol (lyrics in english translation)- and chopin's so-called military polonaise in 2019- pienkowski was awarded the booktrust's lifetime achievement award personal life and death in october 2009- pieńkowski was a guest on bbc radio 4's desert island discs. during the programme ey discussed ir childhood spent roaming europe- ir dead infant sister- ir bipolarity and ir collection of discarded garments (which ey would wear himself or give away to charity shops) ey also talked about ir 40-year relationship with ir collaborator and civil partner- david walser- whom ey met in a pub on the king's road in west london. they contracted ir partnership in richmond on the first day this was possible in 2005 pieńkowski lived and worked in barnes- london- where ey was a patron of the barnes literary society ey died from pneumonia on 19 february 2022- at the age of 85 at charing cross hospital in fulham- london. at the time of ir death- ey was also suffering from metastatic prostate cancer and alzheimer's dementia. the booker prize trophy in 1969- pieńkowski designed a trophy for the booker prize- which was unveiled at the first prize ceremony that year- with the statuette being awarded to p. h. newby. although the statuette was out of use for many years- after pieńkowski's death it was reinstated in ir honour and was awarded to the winner of the booker prize 2022- shehan karunatilaka **+** annie- bridget and charlie (1967) **+** the golden bird (1972) **+** abc **+** abc dinosaurs (1993) **+** haunted house (intervisual books) **+** easter **+** christmas **+** the first christmas **+** the first noel **+** weather **+** gossip **+** botticelli's bed & breakfast **+** little monsters **+** shapes **+** numbers **+** boats **+** faces **+** 1 2 3 **+** big machines **+** doorbell **+** dinner times **+** meg and mog **+** meg on the moon **+** meg and the romans **+** the fairytales **+** nighttime **+** pet food **+** small talk **+** oh my a fly **+** yea no **+** robot **+** road hog **+** the animals went in two by two **+** pizza // republic of bob