Bill Peet was the author of 34 books published by Houghton
Mifflin. One of these, BILL PEET: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, was named a
1989 Caldecott Honor Book. All of Bill Peet’s books published by
Houghton Mifflin Company, including his first book for children
published in 1959, HUBERT''S HAIR-RAISING ADVENTURE, remain actively
in print today.
In both his career as an author and illustrator of children’s
books and in his work as sketch artist and continuity illustrator
at Walt Disney, Bill Peet created a menagerie of memorable
characters. As he himself noted, "I write about animals because I
love to draw them. Most of my animal characters have human
personalities, and some are much like the people I know."
At Walt Disney, where Bill Peet worked for 27 years, he was a key
participant in the production of classic films such as Fantasia,
Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and 101 Dalmatians
for which he was not only an artist, but the screenwriter as
well.
Bill Peet’s signature style enabled him to create fast-paced
stories of fantastical adventure delivered with warmth and
laugh-out-loud hilarity. His unfailing humor did not, however,
prevent him from addressing such poignant issues as kindness toward
others and respect for the environment. Through the exploits of his
characters, Peet offered his audience a chance to see themselves
and their world through new eyes.
"At some point," Bill Peet once said, "it occurred to me that
drawing was something I couldn’t possibly give up, and somehow it
must be turned into a profession." He went on to not only fulfill
his dream but to introduce generations of young readers to his
delightful vision of humor, friendship and compassion.
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