Dorothy+P+Lathrop

Dorothy Pulis Lathrop was born in Albany, New York, in 1891. The early influence of her artist mother and her paternal grandfather, who ran a bookshop in Connecticut, made illustration and literature focal points in her life. While attending Vassar College she intended to pursue a writing career but was swayed, by economic exigencies, to favour art instead.

She studied with Arthur Dow and afterwards Henry McCarter and F. Luis Mora, and began illustrating in 1918. The first book for which Miss Lathrop did the text as well as the pictures was The Fairy Circus (1931). Animals remained her preferred and best-realized subjects, drawn usually from the live models provided by her household pets. Among many awards she has received was the first presentation of the Caldecott Medal for Animals of the Bible (1938). For many years she shared a studio with her sister Gertrude, a noted sculptor.

He in turn, leaning over the rock stared back into Martin's face with his immense fishy eyes.
Little Boy Lost ALFRED A KNOPF 1920

He felt sudden darkness above his head, and a cold terror crept over his skin.
The Three Mulla Mulgars DUCKWORTH 1921

Oh, but if I might hold it in my hand one moment, I think that I should never even sigh again!
The Three Mulla Mulgars DUCKWORTH 1921