Inspiring Children’s Author Lois Ehlert Passes
Lois Ehlert, children’s book author and illustrator of Color Zoo and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, passed away on Tuesday May 25, 2021 at the age of 86. Ms. Ehlert created 38 books for young readers of all ages. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 are two of the most loved and well read picture books of all time.
Born on November 9, 1934 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Ehlert traced her love of color, shape and creating to her parents. Both worked with their hands, her mother taught her to sew and shared fabric scraps with her, and her father shared his knowledge of carpentry and his project leftovers. They both completely supported Ehlert in her creativity. After attending high school Ehlert received a scholarship to the Layton School of Art which she attended and graduated from in 1957. She worked for a number of years as a freelance graphic designer illustrating children's books and then released her first book as an author and illustrator Growing Vegetable Soup, showing the steps in cultivating a garden. After publishing Growing Vegetable Soup she took classes and experimented with new dynamic ways to construct books, using die cut holes in the pages, combinations of light and dark colors, and fabrics.
Many of her stories featured her love of nature such as Waiting for Wings, the life cycle of a butterfly. She presented scientific process in such a way that they engaged children and made them curious about the world around them.
“If you are an artist or a writer like me, it sometimes is difficult to know just where ideas come from. That's a question people ask me all the time. Now that I'm grown up I realize that I write and draw things I know and care about. For instance, I think that having a garden most of my life provided me with ideas for Growing Vegetable Soup, and the Nuts to You! story was inspired by a real event - a squirrel really did sneak into my house through the window. But I still don't know exactly where all my ideas come from.“
Her books were not only wonderfully illustrated but also made use of found objects like seeds, ribbon, bottle caps and twigs. Always collecting things, Ehlert described a life long habit of never being able to pass up a leaf she thought was pretty. She used those leaves and other found objects to make Leaf Man, Wag a Tail, Boo to You and Rrralph.
Her work inspired many and has been innovative in children's book publishing. With a style that was singularly her own, her work will continue to delight generations for years to come.
Check out one of Lois Ehlert’s inspiring books by reserving a copy with your library card from the Library’s online catalog.