October 7, 1931- November 18, 2012
Born in Newport, and a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, author and illustrator Robert E. Barry was a beloved and most modest man-about-town who loved libraries and often shared his favorite articles, stories, and drawings with lucky librarians. My personal favorite—after his own drawings and notes—was the December 28, 2007 New York Times article entitled “The Library’s Helpful Sage of the Stacks,” about the New York Public Library librarian, David Smith, whose business card reads “Librarian to the Stars.” Robert Barry was one of Newport’s stars. One of his earlier books, Faint George, was selected by the New York Times as one of the Ten Best Illustrated Books of the Year in 1957. His book Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree was originally published in 1963 by Doubleday. In the year 2000, Doubleday requested new color illustrations and published a new edition of the book. It became a New York Times bestseller.
Throughout his career as a writer, illustrator, and teacher, Mr. Barry lived in Germany, Switzerland, and the Caribbean. He taught in the design department at the University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth. He lived in Newport for many years and was a longtime member of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum.
The following books by Robert E. Barry are found in the Redwood Library’s collections:
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
Snowman’s Secret
Next Please
Ramon and the Pirate Gull
The Musical Palm Tree
This is the Story of Faint George Who Wanted to be a Knight
Rowena Dunlap Burke
Redwood Library and Athenaeum
December 13, 2012
6 comments:
I have Mr Wiiowby's Christmas Tree 1963 edition. I read it, then read it to my children.My stepson was severely injured in the war, Marine piolet Jay Stuart. He was in a coma for a long time, my daughter wanted to send him the book to cheer him up. He was half way across the world in ICU. I suggested we read it at bedtime every night for him. We did. He came out of the coma knowing every word of the book. Today he has a son, with a second on the way. He reads this same book to his son and tells him how it helped bring him back for Christmas that year. I don't know if the author or his children are alive, I am 59, so I hope he hasn't passed. I would like to purchase a signed copy as a family heirloom. I have never sent a text mail before, so I pray this reaches someone who can help me.
Dear Diane,
Mr. Barry died just before Thanksgiving in 2012. He would have appreciated your story. He did like stories!
He does have family left, his wife, 2 sons,a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter.
I am 55 years old. I just read the book to my 75 year old mother and sister, as this has been a part of our family tradition since the early 60's. On Christnas Eve, as I attempted to go to bed, my 15 year old pulled me out of bed to read the book, as I forgot our family tradition. My 25 year old joined us for the read. To Mr. Barry's family, we want you to know what a gift he continues to be for generations of Egans, Milburns and Soloffs. My favorite... Rollicking, Frolicking, carrot shaking."
I was a friend of Mr Barry's son (John) back in the early '70s and spent a little time at their wonderful carriage house; got to see some of the original drawings for his books too. Nice family... nice memories. Sad to learn of his passing today.
I was a student of Bob's at SMU (now UMASS Dartmouth) in the mid-eighties. He was by far my favorite instructor and his sense of humor made his classes a pleasure. At the time, we did not know the full extent of his reputation as a children's book illustrator and he was so modest that we never saw any of his work other than the sports greeting cards he produced. It's great to know that Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree is still in print and his style still looks fresh and vibrant. I was saddened to learn of his passing. I'd love to have one more conversation with him and let him know that the lessons he imparted to his students went way beyond illustration and design techniques, they made us all better people.
I don't have children but I am now an 'adopted' aunt and great-aunt. I worked in the local county library after school and although in high school, I loved reading the children's books.
In a class where we had to write book reports on a book we normally wouldn't read, I asked the teacher if I could do an illustrated book report on Faint George. I was told I could do it, but that I should write the author for permission, which I did.
Mr. Barry wrote back and gave his permission and said that he hadn't heard of an illustrated book report, certainly not on one of his books but he was glad I (as an almost-adult) enjoyed the book so much that I wanted to review it.
I didn't review it as an adult, I did it as the child within me who found delight in the story and the illustrations.
I got an A+ but I got more than that. How Faint George resolved the problem I had remembered and applied to many situations.
When the elder of my 'adopted' nieces had a child my first thought was finding good books. Not necessary Newberry or Caldicott winners but books that I liked reading and would love to read to a child. And my measure is 'does it make me feel happy like Faint George.
I discovered Mem Fox and chose Where Is The Green Sheep? The Barry Criteria did not fail me. It became her favorite book. A year later, it's still her favorite.
And her next favorite is another Mem Fox book. Ms Fox uses different artists and the match-ups seem to work very well.
Erin (the mother) loves the book to and with its success with Talia, has bought copies of the book for all her friends with young children. Since it's an older book no one was aware of it and asked her about it. Since I used to make the girls' costumes when they were young (3 & 5), involving them in the process, I was their 'magical aunt'.
(I read ALL the colored Fairy Books (Blue, Pink, Red, etc) as well as growing up with an older edition of Olive Beaupre Miller's My Book House so creating costumes was second nature (all the ones I would have loved as a child) and doing that was almost as good as introducing them to a special book. Their mother didn't sew so I'd visit and we talk and I'd sew and they were and are more family than if I'd had my own)
So Erin said, 'oh, it's my magical aunt. She just knows what kids want and I can't WAIT until Talia's old enough for a special costume'. (Unfortunately they live near Sacramento & I live in LA so it will have to be an unfitted costume).
So sometime when Erin visits her mother and we talk I know she'll ask me how I do know what books to pick and I'll tell her about Faint George who has been a lifelong friend of mine.
When I was older and found my sister had lost most of the Book House series I came across a set in a thrift store (a newer version in some stories) and bought it. When I moved, I gave the set to a good friend who is/was a librarian (of the library in the small town where I lived). She wasn't aware of the series but she had two girls and the books became invaluable travel companions since they offered quality writing, good illustrations, and a variety of stories. She still has them.
I will have to look for Robert Barry books at the library. I wish Faint George were still in print; a real book, not the one shelved in the special section of my heart.
I'm so glad he reached so many people and shared so much.
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