Childrens and Illustrated Books: Revisiting A Few Early Berta and Elmer Hader Books

Today I revisited three early titles illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader. Stripey, A Little Zebra, Little Elephant, and A Monkey Tale. While the Hader's would become more well-known later in their careers for their Caldecott Honor Book Mighty Hunter and their Caldecott Award Winner The Big Snow, I find myself appreciating their earlier work more. At the time when they first started, many publishers limited artists based on the expense of reproducing color and half-tone artwork, particularly in the genre of picture books. What I appreciate about the Haders' early work is the way they worked masterfully within those limits.

Stripey, Little Elephant and A Monkey Tale were written by Hamilton Williamson and each book is about a different baby animal and how they use their natural abilities to survive. I really like these books and think they would still hold up today for very young readers.

Stripey, A Little Zebra by Hamilton Williamson. Illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1939.

Little Elephant by Hamilton Williamson. Illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1930.

A Monkey Tale by Hamilton Williamson. Illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1929.

There are also three other books in this series, which I currently do not own. Lion Cub, Humpy of the Sands and Baby Bear (which I have had in the past)

Baby Bear by Hamilton Williamson. Illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader, 1930.

I do think the Haders' later work is beautiful, but the books that they both wrote and illustrated don't seem to stand the test of time, with a few exceptions. Their Willow Hill stories are still very readable but have a quaint feeling that many young readers won't relate to. Nowadays they are collected, almost solely, for the artwork in the books and not the text.

Some other books by the Haders