Here is another book I scored from the discard pile - unfortunately, it is not in the best shape, but I couldn't resist the illustrations. A Kiss Is Round, c. 1954, was illustrated by Vladimir Bobri. Ukrainian born Bobri, born in 1898, was a gifted illustrator, author, composer, educator and guitar historian. He started his career as an art director for Saks Fifth Avenue and soon became a prolific and celebrated graphic designer in New York, with innovative advertisements and contributions to Vogue, the New Yorker and Harper's Bazaar, among many other publications.
I have my eye out for few of his other children's books, I love his use of line in these illustrations. I would love to see more of his work, I think when I have a moment I will snoop around for examples of his commercial work.
Reading more about him on Wiki - he got caught up in the Russian Revolution, fighting on various sides in the civil war before managing an escape in 1917. As a refugee, he traveled on a handmade passport - his skill at calligraphy adept enough to pass the English, French, Italian and Greek consular authorities. During those years he "painted icons in the Greek islands, played the piano in a nickelodeon in Pera, painted signs Istanbul,
discovered an important Byzantine mural in an abandoned Turkish mosque,
and earned his passage to America by designing sets and costumes for
the Ballet Russes in Constantinople." He emigrated to the United States in 1921 {that is quite a life to live all before you turn 24!}
