Clement Hurd

Clement Hurd

Clement G. Hurd (January 12, 1908-February 5, 1988) was an American illustrator of children's books. He is best known for his collaborations with author Margaret Wise Brown, including Goodnight Moon (1947) and The Runaway Bunny (1942). He also illustrated a number of books written by his wife Edith (a friend of Brown's) as well as a children's book written by Gertrude Stein, The World Is Round. He also wrote and illustrated the book "Run,Run,Run"

The son of a New York mortgage banker Richard Melancthon Hurd, Hurd was educated at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, studied architecture at Yale University and painting with Fernand Léger in Paris. On seeing two of his paintings, Brown asked him if he would consider illustrating children's books.

His son Thacher Hurd is also a children's book author and illustrator, and referred in an interview to the "wonderful aura of creativity" surrounding his father and the Vermont farm that was their home.

A doctored/altered photo of Hurd was included in the 60th anniversary republication of Goodnight Moon with a cigarette removed from his hand, causing controversy over publication standards.[1]

References

  1. ^ Wyatt, Edward (November 17, 2005). "'Goodnight Moon', Smokeless Version accessdate = 07 2 6 2007". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/17/books/17moon.html?ex=1185595200&en=06e006a2482fc284&ei=5070.