Once, I remember being asked, "Do I 'write' books?" I'm not sure that's a proper description of what I do. Thirty odd years ago, while employed as an artist-in residence at Doubleday, my editor Bill Hall suggested I write a book. "Lee, I have an idea. Since we've temporarily run out of artwork for you, you might fill the time writing a book...on drawing."
After spending every spare moment of my life until then as a total graphics person, advertising artist, fine artist, cartoonist, designer, animation in-betweener and illustrator of a great many books, I didn't feel qualified to "write"! But, I made the effort and produced a forty-eight page, minimum text, maximum art book entitled "Draw Draw Draw." Surprise! A modest success.
Then it was back to the drawing board for a decade. When another slack period occurred, I thought, wouldn't it be neat to "author" a second book? Doubleday agreed and we put together "Draw 50 Animals." That was in 1974. We have since produced twenty-six "Draw 50" titles. Except for brief introductions and occasional labels, these books are virtually without text.
In a recent interview included in the book, "Nonfiction for Young Adults, from Delight to Wisdom," by Betty Carter and Richard Abrahamson, the first question to me was prefaced with, "In a recent study of nonfiction books circulated in junior high libraries, drawing books were the most circulated kind of nonfiction, and your books were the most checked out of all the drawing titles."
Believe me, as a result, I am thrilled, happy as a lark, pleased as punch and spend fifteen minutes each day smiling happily at the thought! Yet, if you've checked out the "Draw 50s," you know that I am decidedly not a "writer."
What is most meaningful to me is what I've learned from librarians and letters from my readers. In this era of visual entertainment and education, my non-threatening, minimal text books (and others like them) have brought many kids and young adults back into using the libraries and liking books. That's the fantastic, unexpected, but heart-warming reward that came my way. Although unintentionally, how nice to know I've helped bring many young people back to books, back to reading, as well as into drawing!
My story? At 18 I got my first job at Walt Disney Studios. Counting travel time across country, that job lasted three months. I've been cashing in on the glory ever since!
I've worked in animation, advertising, comic books, teaching, illustrating books (about 150). I'm the author of more than thirty books (mostly the "Draw 50" series). All have helped me happily avoid facing reality. We now live in the paradise of Southern California, but maintain membership in the Berndt Toast Gang, New York's Chapter of the National Cartoonist's Society.