Crockett Johnson

Crockett Johnson was an American children’s author and illustrator who wrote and illustrated several beloved books during his lifetime. He was born in 1906 and died in 1975. His most notable works include two Harold books, the Barney Books, and the very popular Barnaby comic strips. He is best known for his illustrations of Harold and his imaginative and whimsical storylines.

Crockett Johnson was born David Johnson Leisk in 1906 in New York City. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Russia, and he grew up in an artistic family. After graduating from high school and attending classes at the Art Students League in Manhattan, Johnson pursued a career in commercial art and design in New York. He eventually moved to Southern Vermont, where he worked at the Rutland Herald newspaper and developed a number of illustrations for them.

In the late 1930s, Crockett Johnson began working at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, where he contributed artwork and designs for the King Features Syndicate. This is when he created the beloved character of Harold, the mischievous and curious boy with a blue hat. His first Harold book, Harold and the Purple Crayon, was published in 1955 and quickly became a bestseller.

In the 1950s, Johnson moved away from creating single-panel comic strips and began writing and illustrating a series of Barney books, which featured the same lovable character of Harold. In these stories, Harold embarks on a series of adventures. His imaginative tales became popular among children and adults alike.

Crockett Johnson is most renowned for the Barnaby comic strip, which ran for 12 years in several major newspapers. In the comic strip, Barnaby Baxter is a young boy with a long nose and a popularity for getting into trouble. His adventures were accompanied by his fairy godfather, Mr. O'Malley, and his sidekick, Dab-Dab the duck.

The Barnaby comic strip was especially popular among children, who could relate to Barnaby’s dreams, fantasies, and misadventures. Johnson used his artwork to capture the whimsical and humorous aspects of the storyline. Johnson produced the comic strip until 1967, when he retired and moved to Florida.

In addition to his works of children’s literature and artwork, Johnson also wrote several books for adults. These include The Origins of Consciousness in Motor and Sensory Controls (1964) and The Universe of the Mind: The Limits of Meaning and Language.

Crockett Johnson is best remembered for his illustrations of Harold and Barnaby. His work has had a lasting influence on children’s literature, and his characters are still beloved today. He was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame in 2007, and a special Crockett Johnson exhibit was held at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum.