Mordicai Gerstein
Personal Information
Description
Mordicai Gerstein (November 24, 1935 – September 24, 2019) was an American artist, writer, and film director, best known for illustrating and writing children's books. He illustrated the comic mystery fiction series Something Queer is Going On. Gerstein was born in Los Angeles, California. He illustrated the Something Queer Is Going On series, written by Elizabeth Levy, from 1973 to 2003. He won the 2004 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (Roaring Brook Press, 2003), which he also wrote. Created in response to the September 11 attacks, it features the story of Philippe Petit's unauthorized high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. Gerstein directed four holiday specials for NBC TV in the late 1970s and early 1980s based on the Berenstain Bears book series, the most notable being The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree, which premiered on December 3, 1979. Gerstein lived in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Books
Minifred goes to school
When Mr. Portly finds a kitten, he and his wife raise her like a child, but unlike a typical child, Minifred the kitten does not like to follow rules at home or at school.
Carolinda Clatter
The excessively quiet town of Pupickton and the sleeping lovesick giant upon which it was built, are both awakened by the joyful noise of a little girl's songs.
The white ram
A white ram, made on the sixth day of creation, waits patiently in the garden of Eden until the time is right, then runs to save a certain child in fulfillment of God's plan.
Sparrow Jack
In 1868, John Bardsley, an immigrant from England, brought one thousand sparrows from his home country back to Philadelphia, where he hoped they would help save the trees from the inch-worms that were destroying them. Based on a true story.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
A lyrical evocation of Philippe Petit's 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers.
Queen Esther The Morning Star
Retells the story of how a beautiful Jewish girl became the Queen of Persia and saved her people from death at the hands of the evil Haman.
The absolutely awful alphabet
An alliterative alphabet book presents mean and monstrous letters, from A (an awfully arrogant amphibian) to Z (a zig-zagging zoological zany).
Noah and the great flood
A retelling of the Old Testament story of how Noah and his family were saved, along with two of every living creature, when God destroyed the wicked of the world with a devastating flood.
The wild boy
Relates the story of a boy who grew up like a wild animal in the forests of France and was later captured and studied by doctors in Paris, but never became completely civilized.
Stop those pants!
A young boy has trouble getting dressed one morning when his clothes decide to play hard to get.
Jonah and the two great fish
Retells the Old Testament story of the man who disobeyed God's wishes and was swallowed by a great fish.
Behind the Couch
When Zachary loses his oldest toy and first friend, he searches for it behind the couch where he discovers a wonderful, imaginary world.
Bedtime, everybody!
It is time for bed, but Daisy has a hard time getting her stuffed animals to settle down.
The giant
Three lively little girls attempt to start a friendship with a lonely giant.
Daisy's garden
A young girl and all the animals of the field come together to plant and harvest a garden.
The shadow of a flying bird
Moses, at the end of his life, refuses to give up his soul to God, who is forced to take it himself with a single kiss.
The story of May
The month of May travels to meet her father December, and meets all of her relatives, the other months of the year, on the way.
The new creatures
An old man tells his grandchildren about a sheep dog named Herman who, during the days when dogs and cats ruled the world, discovered the first humans.