Happy 90th, George Ancona! (Writer/photographer, "Handtalk" series, 1974-1991)

[leno...@yahoo.com]

Born in Brooklyn, he now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The "Handtalk" series is co-authored by Remy Charlip and Mary Beth
Miller.

He's written about 60 books and illustrated well over 40 more by other
authors, including Barbara Brenner, Sue Alexander, Maxine B.
Rosenberg, Joan Anderson, and Shirley Climo.

He also did films for Sesame Street. In 1975, he worked on an episode of Big Blue Marble - "Switzerland, Tunisia, Yugoslavia, Iceland, California, Connecticut."

http://seesaw.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54fabf0ec88330105365eb940970c-320wi
(cover of the first "Handtalk" book)

http://www.georgeancona.com/

From an interview:

I started getting assignments from Vogue magazine, because I had done
a lot of pictures with my children, and that's what I showed. And they
had a magazine called "Vogue Children" at the time, and I fit right
in, and I started doing that.

Then a friend of mine was Freddy Brenner, who was a men's fashion
illustrator when we had worked at Esquire. His wife was Barbara
Brenner, who wrote children's books. And we were having lunch one day
at the house, and she said, "You know, I have an idea for a book, and
I think photographs might be better than illustrations. It's called
Faces." And she asked me would I like to try it.

I said, "Sure." So, I tried it, and I designed the book also. And we
presented it, and they loved it.

We did another book together, called Bodies. And then after that, the
editor said, "George, why don't you try writing a book?"

"Me? Write? I never went to college. I'm always a visual person."

And he said, "Well, you see, if you were to write the text, you would
get the other 50 percent of the royalty."

"Alright." So, I wrote, and I did a book called Monsters on Wheels.
They liked it. They published it and, voila, I'm an author.


http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=george+ancona&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=uYgZS7b6DMyg8AbW0snTAw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCUQsAQwAw
(photos and covers)

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1282&bih=831&ei=wPrnXbHVBIK05gL46quIAw&q=george+ancona+kirkus&oq=george+ancona+kirkus&gs_l=psy-ab.3...192995.194402..194930...1.0..0.102.655.7j1......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i67j0j0i22i30j33i160.pRb32ge55zE&ved=0ahUKEwixtZXPz5zmAhUCmlkKHXj1CjEQ4dUDCAo&uact=5
(Kirkus reviews)

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20296.George_Ancona
(reader reviews)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzvYyqxzwOo
(2008 interview - 6:17 minutes)

https://www.abqjournal.com/643388
(2015 article)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6824305090004971270&ei=SokZS_H2N9SclAeJvaTcBw&q=%22george+ancona%22&hl=en#
(12-minute interview)

http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/ancona/transcript
(same interview - in print)

https://www.google.com/search?ei=2fnnXffuIbHJ5gLBr6PADQ&q=george+ancona+interview&oq=george+ancona+interview&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i160.6622.8289..8463...0.0..0.189.1053.11j1......0....1..gws-wiz.......0j0i22i30j33i299.d0lqSbM42rE&ved=0ahUKEwi3v5_hzpzmAhWxpFkKHcHXCNgQ4dUDCAo&uact=5
(more interviews)

https://www.google.com/search?q=george+ancona&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiHi9mfz5zmAhUlwFkKHW3BC8IQ_AUoAHoECBEQCA&biw=1282&bih=831
(videos of Ancona)



WRITINGS:
AND PHOTOGRAPHER

Monsters on Wheels, Dutton (New York, NY), 1974.
And What Do You Do?, Dutton (New York, NY), 1976.
I Feel: A Picture Book of Emotions, Dutton (New York, NY), 1977.
Growing Older, Dutton (New York, NY), 1978.
It's a Baby!, Dutton (New York, NY), 1979.
Dancing Is ..., Dutton (New York, NY), 1981.
Bananas: From Manolo to Margie, Clarion (New York, NY), 1982.
Teamwork: A Picture Essay about Crews and Teams at Work, Crowell (New York, NY), 1983.
Monster Movers, Dutton (New York, NY), 1983.
Freighters, Crowell (New York, NY), 1985.
Sheep Dog, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1985.
Helping Out, Clarion (New York, NY), 1985.
Turtle Watch, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1987.
Riverkeeper, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1990.
The Aquarium Book, Clarion (New York, NY), 1991.
Man and Mustang, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1992.
My Camera, Crown (New York, NY), 1992.
Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1993.
Powwow, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1993.
Ser util, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993.
The Golden Lion Tamarin Comes Home, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1994.
The Piñata Maker/El piñatero, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1994.
Ricardo's Day/El día de Ricardo, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.
Fiesta U.S.A., Dutton (New York, NY), 1995.
Stone Cutters, Carvers, and the Cathedral, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1995.
Earth Daughter: Alicia of Acoma Pueblo, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1995.
In City Gardens, Celebrations Press (Glenview, IL), 1996.
Mayeros: A Yucatec Maya Family, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1997.
Let's Dance!, Morrow/Avon (New York, NY), 1998.
Fiesta Fireworks, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1998.
Barrio: José's Neighborhood, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1998.
Carnaval, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1999.
Charro: The Mexican Cowboy, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1999.
Cuban Kids, Marshall Cavendish (Tarrytown, MD), 2000.
Harvest, Marshall Cavendish (Tarrytown, MD), 2001.
Come and Eat, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2001.
Murals, Walls That Sing, Marshall Cavendish (Tarrytown, MD), 2003.
Capoeira: Game! Dance! Martial Art!, Lee & Low (New York, NY), 2007.
Self Portrait, Robert C. Owen (New York, NY), 2007.

Author's works have been translated into Spanish.


"HANDTALK" SERIES; AND PHOTOGRAPHER

(With Remy Charlip and Mary Beth Miller) Handtalk: An ABC of Finger Spelling and Sign Language, Parents' Magazine Press (New York, NY), 1974.
(With Remy Charlip and Mary Beth Miller) Handtalk Birthday: A Number and Story Book in Sign Language, Four Winds Press (New York, NY), 1987.
(With Mary Beth Miller) Handtalk Zoo, Four Winds Press (New York, NY), 1989.
(With Mary Beth Miller) Handtalk School, Four Winds Press (New York, NY), 1991.


"VIVA MEXICO!" SERIES; AND PHOTOGRAPHER

The Fiestas, Marshall Cavendish (Tarrytown, MD), 2002.
The Folk Arts, Marshall Cavendish (Tarrytown, MD), 2002.
The Past, Marshall Cavendish (Tarrytown, MD), 2002.
The People, Marshall Cavendish (Tarrytown, MD), 2002.
The Foods, Marshall Cavendish (Tarrytown, MD), 2002.


"SOMOS LATINOS" SERIES; AND PHOTOGRAPHER

Mi barrio/My Neighborhood, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2004.
Mi casa/My House, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2004.
Mi escuela/My School, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2004.
Mi familia/My Family, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2004.
Mis amigos/My Friends, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2004.
Mi musica/My Music, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2005.
Mis abuelos/My Grandparents, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2005.
Mis comidas/My Foods, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2005.
Mis fiestas/My Celebrations, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2005.
Mis juegos/My Games, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2005.
Mis quehaceres/My Chores, Children's Press (Danbury, CT), 2005.


PHOTOGRAPHER

Barbara Brenner, A Snake-lover's Diary, Scott Young Books, 1970.
Barbara Brenner, Faces, Dutton (New York, NY), 1970.
Barbara Brenner, Bodies, Dutton (New York, NY), 1973.
Louise Jackson, Grandpa Had a Windmill, Grandma Had a Churn, Parents' Magazine Press (New York, NY), 1977.
Jean Holzenthaler, My Feet Do, Dutton (New York, NY), 1979.
Louise Jackson, Over on the River, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1980.
Sue Alexander, Finding Your First Job, Dutton (New York, NY), 1980.
Howard Smith, Balance It, Four Winds Press (New York, NY), 1982.
Maxine B. Rosenberg, My Friend Leslie: The Story of a Handicapped Child, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1983.
Joan Anderson, First Thanksgiving Feast, Clarion (New York, NY), 1984.
Maxine B. Rosenberg, Being Adopted, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1984.
Joan Anderson, Christmas on the Prairie, Clarion (New York, NY), 1985.
Maxine B. Rosenberg, Being a Twin, Having a Twin, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1985.
Joan Anderson, The Glorious Fourth at Prairietown, Morrow (New York, NY), 1986.
Maxine B. Rosenberg, Making a New Home in America, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1986.
Maxine B. Rosenberg, Living in Two Worlds, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1986.
Joan Anderson, Pioneer Children of Appalachia, Clarion (New York, NY), 1986.
Floreva G. Cohen, My Special Friend, Board of Jewish Education (New York, NY), 1986.
Sam and Beryl Epstein, Jackpot of the Beagle Brigade, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1987.
Joan Anderson, Joshua's Westward Journal, Morrow (New York, NY), 1987.
Maxine B. Rosenberg, Artists of Handcrafted Furniture at Work, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1988.
Maxine B. Rosenberg, Finding a Way: Living with Exceptional Brothers and Sisters, afterword by Stephen Greenspan, Lothrop (New York, NY), 1988.
Joan Anderson, From Map to Museum: Uncovering Mysteries of the Past, introduction by David Hurst Thomas, Morrow Junior Books (New York, NY), 1988.
Joan Anderson, A Williamsburg Household, Clarion (New York, NY), 1988.
Joan Anderson, The American Family Farm: A Photo Essay, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1989.
Marcia Seligson, Dolphins at Grassy Key, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1989.
Joan Anderson, Spanish Pioneers of the Southwest, Dutton (New York, NY), 1989.
Shirley Climo, City! New York, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1990.
Shirley Climo, City! San Francisco, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1990.
Joan Anderson, Harry's Helicopter, Morrow (New York, NY), 1990.
Sally Hobart Alexander, Mom Can't See Me, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1990.
Joan Anderson, Pioneer Settlers of New France, Dutton (New York, NY), 1990.
Maxine B. Rosenberg, Brothers and Sisters, Clarion (New York, NY), 1991.
Joan Anderson, Christopher Columbus: From Vision to Voyage, Dial (New York, NY), 1991.
Shirley Climo, City! Washington, DC, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1991.
Christine Loomis, My New Baby-sitter, Morrow (New York, NY), 1991.
Bonnie Larkin Nims, Just beyond Reach and Other Riddle Poems, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1992.
Sally Hobart Alexander, Mom's Best Friend, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1992.
Joan Anderson, Earth Keepers, Gulliver Green/Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1993.
Mildred Leinweber Dawson, Over Here It's Different: Carolina's Story, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1993.
Joan Anderson, Richie's Rocket, Morrow (New York, NY), 1993.
Joan Anderson, Twins on Toes: A Ballet Debut, Lodestar (New York, NY), 1993.
Joan Anderson, Sally's Submarine, Morrow (New York, NY), 1995.
Joan Anderson, Cowboys: Roundup on an American Ranch, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.
Barbara Beasley Murphy, Miguel Lost and Found in the Palace, Museum of New Mexico Press (Santa Fe, NM), 2002.
Pat Mora, Join Hands: The Ways We Celebrate Life, Charlesbridge (New York, NY), 2008.


OTHERS:

Olé Flamenco!, 2010;
Gio and His Family, 2010;
Come and Eat, 2011;
It's Our Garden, 2012.



Lenona.

[leno...@yahoo.com]

http://thelatinoauthor.com/authors/a/ancona-george/
(his life, in his words)

https://www.encyclopedia.com/children/scholarly-magazines/ancona-george-1929
(includes LONG list of awards and an article on his work)