Last spring the children’s book community lost several beloved authors and illustrators, including the hugely talented Leo Dillon, Jean Craighead George, Ellen Levine, and Maurice Sendak. In honor of their memory and their many accomplishments, TeachingBooks.net is offering video and audio recordings of these creative artists whose work enriched the lives of so many people.

In alphabetical order:

Leo Dillon (March 2, 1933 – May 26, 2012)

For nearly 50 years, Leo Dillon collaborated with his wife Diane, creating books for children. In this exclusive video of the artists in their Brooklyn, New York, studio, Dillon muses on making “life an art” and the “spiritualist quality” of the stories the couple illustrated.

Jean Craighead George (July 2, 1919 – May 15, 2012)

Jean Craighead George, an enthusiastic naturalist, had an opportunity to study wolves on a scientific expedition to the Arctic. In this audio presentation, the author introduces and reads from her Newbery winner, Julie of the Wolves (Harper and Row,1972), a book that incorporated her observations of these animals.

Ellen Levine (March 9, 1939 – May 26, 2012)

Ellen Levine didn’t mind being called “divine.” In this TeachingBooks.net Author Name Pronunciation the author shares the history of her family name and tells how an incorrect pronunciation led to a flattering description.

Maurice Sendak (June 10, 1928 – May 8, 2012)

Maurice Sendak was witty and bold. In this audio presentation, the author/artist narrates the opening of Pincus and the Pig: A Klezmer Tale (Tzadik, 2004)–a version of Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Eight illustrations created by Sendak for this distinctive audio CD are also available for viewing.

Nick Glass and Carin Bringelson of TeachingBooks.net enjoy multimedia resources that connect us to books–and favorite writers and illustrators. Share your thoughts on this column by emailing nick@TeachingBooks.net.