Henry Cole (illustrator)

Henry Cole (born 1955) is an American author and illustrator of children's books. He has illustrated several books for author Pamela Duncan Edwards.

Henry Cole, born 1955 near Purcellville, Virginia, United States, most often uses a cartoon-like style with vivid colors and primarily works in acrylics and colored pencils.

Cole grew up on a dairy farm in Virginia. He enjoyed art as a child and frequently made birthday cards for friends or signs for school functions He later went on to study Forestry at Virginia Polytechnic and State University. He never received any formal art training, but his mother was an illustrator who has given him advice throughout his career.

Before Cole was an illustrator, he taught science at Langley Elementary School in Virginia from 1984–1999. He frequently used art to illustrate a concept during his classes. Pamela Duncan Edwards, the school librarian at Langley Elementary, often had Cole illustrate things in the library. Being an elementary school teacher, Cole often got to hear visiting illustrators speak and thought that he might be interested in pursuing illustration as a career. After Cole and Edwards attended a children's literature conference together, they decided to collaborate on a book. Their first book, Some Smug Slug, was published in 1996. They have since published over 20 books together.Livingstone Mouse, (1998) developed after Edwards found a mouse in her mailbox and called for Cole's help, has won numerous awards such as Best Children's Book of the Year designation, Bank Street College of Education in 1996, ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award in 1997, and California Young Reader Medal in 1999

Cole has collaborated with other authors as well as celebrities such as Julie Andrews and Harvey Fierstein. The Sissy Duckling (2002), written by Fierstein, was a Lambada Literary Award Finalist in 2002 Some of Cole's most famous works are Moosestache (1999) written by Margie Palatini, Moosletoe (2000) written by Margie Palatini, Big Chickens (2008) written by Leslie Helakoski, and Honk! The Story of a Prima Swanerina (2000) written by Pamela Duncan Edwards, which has recently been made into an animated video by Disney.

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