Alice Rose Provensen (néeTwitchell; 1918–2018) andMartin Provensen (1916–1987) were an American couple who illustrated more than 40 children's books together, 19 of which they also wrote and edited. According to Alice, "we were a true collaboration. Martin and I really were one artist."[1]
The pair met in 1943 when Martin, working as a creator of training films for the American military, was assigned to the Walter Lantz Studio. They were married in 1944 and settled inWashington, D.C., where they worked on war-related projects. After the war, they moved toNew York City where a friend helped them get their first job, illustratingThe Fireside Book of Folk Songs.[4] They illustrated severalLittle Golden Books includingThe Color Kittens byMargaret Wise Brown (1949). In 1952,Tony the Tiger, designed by Martin, debuted as aKellogg's mascot.[citation needed]
The Provensens were a runner-up for the 1982Caldecott Medal as illustrators ofA Visit to William Blake's Inn byNancy Willard (who won the companionNewbery Medal). Two years later they won the Caldecott forThe Glorious Flight, the story ofaviatorLouis Blériot, the first man to fly solo across theEnglish Channel, which they also wrote.[5] The annual award by U.S. professional librarians recognizes the year's "most distinguished American picture book for children".[6] Eight of their books were named toThe New York Times annual Ten Best Illustrated Books, includingOur Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm (1974) andAn Owl and Three Pussycats (1981).[7] The couple were collaborative illustrators for Donald Waxman's "Pageants for Piano," a series of pedagogical primers.[8]
The couple lived for many years at Maple Hill Farm inDutchess County, New York, which they portrayed inA Year at Maple Hill Farm (1978) as well asOur Animal Friends.[9] Martin died of a heart attack on March 27, 1987, inStaatsburg. Alice continued to live and work at Maple Hill Farm, publishing solo work such asThe Buck Stops Here: The Presidents of the United States (1990) andMy Fellow Americans: A Family Album (1995), two presentations of people and events from American history (juvenile nonfiction).[9][10]Punch in New York, published in 1991, received several honors and is dedicated to her grandson, Sean.
After turning ninety, Alice moved toSan Clemente, California, to live with her daughter, Karen Mitchell, and her family. Provensen continued working (an addition was added to her daughter's house for a studio) well into her nineties.[10] She died April 23, 2018, at age 99.[11]
Birds, beasts, and the third thing: poems by D.H. Lawrence (Viking, 1982) — an edition ofLawrence's 1925 collection
Karen's Opposites (Golden, 1963)
Karen's Curiosity (Golden, 1963)
"The Old-Fashioned Cookbook" by Jan McBride Carlton (Weathervane Books, 1975)
Publications by Alice Provensen since 1988
The Buck Stops Here: the presidents of the United States (Harper & Row, 1990)
Punch in New York (Viking, 1991) ‡
My Fellow Americans: a family album (San Diego: Browndeer Press, 1995)
Count on me (Harcourt Brace, 1998) — set of 10board books ‡
The Master Swordsman & The Magic Doorway: two legends from ancient China, retold and illus. Alice Provensen (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2001) ‡
A Day in the Life of Murphy (S&S BYR, 2003) ‡ ~Maple Hill Farm content
