Fred Marcellino (1939–2001)

Author of The Story of Little Babaji

5+ Works 888 Members 29 Reviews

About the Author

Fred Marcellino, October 25, 1939 - July 12, 2001 Fred Marcellino was born October 25, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York. In 1960, he graduated from Cooper Union with a degree in painting and proceeded to Venice to study for a year. He specialized in creating art for album covers, but in 1975 switched to show more designing exclusively for book covers. Marcellino was contracted by such publishers as Random House, Simon and Schuster, Knopf and Houghton Mifflin. He produced over forty book covers in a ten year period and then stopped to produce his own books, children's stories which he illustrated himself. In 1990, Marcellino received a Caldecott Honor for his illustration of "Puss in Boots." In 1999, his book "I, Crocodile," was one of the New York Times' Best Illustrated Children's Books. Fred Marcellino died on July 12, 2001 at the age of 61 from colon cancer. show less

Includes the names: Fred Marcellino, Fred Marsellino

Image credit: Photo which accompanied author's obituary.

Works by Fred Marcellino

Popular Recent

The Story of Little Babaji (1996) 622 copies

I, Crocodile (1999) 245 copies

Arrivederci, Crocodile: or See You Later, Alligator (2019) 14 copies

The art of Fred Marcellino (2002) — Illustrator — 6 copies

Yo, Cocodrilo (Spanish Edition) (2000) 1 copy

Work Explorer

Associated Works

The Handmaid's Tale (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 42,691 copies

The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1983) — Cover artist, some editions — 22,566 copies

The Trumpet of the Swan (1970) — Illustrator, some editions — 11,809 copies

Night Shift (1976) — Cover artist, some editions — 9,149 copies

Cat's Eye (1988) — Cover artist, some editions — 9,139 copies

The Bonfire of the Vanities (1987) — Cover artist, some editions — 8,995 copies

The Wasp Factory (1984) — Cover artist, some editions — 7,132 copies

Dragonsong (1976) — Cover artist, some editions — 7,072 copies

Dragonsinger (1977) — Cover artist, some editions — 6,289 copies

Dragondrums (1979) — Cover artist, some editions — 5,591 copies

The Accidental Tourist (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 5,418 copies

The Golden Notebook (1962) — Cover designer, some editions — 5,415 copies

Winter's Tale (1983) — Cover designer, some editions — 4,725 copies

Immortality (1990) — Cover artist, some editions — 4,548 copies

Momo (1973) — Cover artist, some editions — 4,008 copies

The Joke (1969) — Cover artist, some editions — 3,830 copies

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (1982) — Cover artist, some editions — 3,656 copies

In Patagonia (1977) — Cover artist, some editions — 3,277 copies

Waterland (1983) — Cover designer, some editions — 2,422 copies

The Drowned and the Saved (1986) — Cover artist, some editions — 2,117 copies

The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love (1989) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,965 copies

The White Hotel (1981) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,668 copies

Slow Learner (1984) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,477 copies

The Names (1982) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,386 copies

World's End (1988) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,377 copies

Books of Blood, Vol. 4 (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,347 copies

Riddley Walker (1980) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,347 copies

Death is a Lonely Business (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,314 copies

The Twenty-Seventh City (1988) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,236 copies

Books of Blood, Vol. 5 (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,224 copies

Mockingbird (1980) — Cover artist, some editions — 1,077 copies

Puss in Boots (1697) — Illustrator, some editions — 914 copies

Ratner's Star (1976) — Cover artist, some editions — 847 copies

Birdy (1978) — Cover artist, some editions — 825 copies

The Steadfast Tin Soldier (1838) — Illustrator, some editions — 760 copies

The Ginger Tree (1977) — Cover artist, some editions — 748 copies

The Book and the Brotherhood (1987) — Cover artist, some editions — 730 copies

The Viceroy of Ouidah (1980) — Cover artist, some editions — 718 copies

Hawk of May (1980) — Cover artist, some editions — 687 copies

The Engineer of Human Souls (1984) — Cover artist, some editions — 669 copies

The Last World (1988) — Cover artist, some editions — 668 copies

Radix (1981) — Cover artist, some editions — 565 copies

The Ice-Shirt (1990) — Cover artist, some editions — 561 copies

Kingdom of Summer (1981) — Cover artist, some editions — 491 copies

First Light (1989) — Cover artist, some editions — 454 copies

A Place I've Never Been (1990) — Cover artist, some editions — 446 copies

Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula (1978) — Cover artist, some editions — 444 copies

Millennium (1976) — Cover artist, some editions — 428 copies

A Rat's Tale (1986) — Illustrator — 425 copies

You Bright & Risen Angels (1987) — Cover artist, some editions — 419 copies

In Winter's Shadow (1983) — Cover artist, some editions — 419 copies

The Truth About Lorin Jones (1988) — Cover artist, some editions — 399 copies

Pilgermann (1983) — Cover artist, some editions — 345 copies

Painting the Darkness (1989) — Cover artist, some editions — 341 copies

The Night of the Moonbow (1989) — Cover artist — 321 copies

The Wall Jumper (1982) — Cover artist, some editions — 307 copies

The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz (1973) — Cover artist, some editions — 304 copies

The Wainscott Weasel (1993) — Illustrator — 278 copies

The Trap (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 273 copies

Picture Palace (1978) — Cover artist, some editions — 271 copies

August (1983) — Cover artist, some editions — 270 copies

They Went That-a-Way (1988) — Cover designer, some editions — 252 copies

The Golden Droplet (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 221 copies

Eye Among the Blind (1976) — Cover artist, some editions — 202 copies

Shadow of a Broken Man (1977) — Cover artist, some editions — 183 copies

Learning to Swim and Other Stories (1982) — Cover artist, some editions — 181 copies

The Feud (1983) — Cover artist, some editions — 167 copies

The Compromise (1983) — Cover artist, some editions — 164 copies

Lookout Cartridge (1974) — Cover artist, some editions — 160 copies

The Pelican Chorus: and Other Nonsense (1907) — Illustrator, some editions — 159 copies

The Silent Executioner (1911) — Cover artist, some editions — 147 copies

The Best Science Fiction of the Year #6 (1977) — Cover artist, some editions — 138 copies

An Affair of Sorcerers (1979) — Cover artist, some editions — 135 copies

Golden Days (1987) — Cover artist, some editions — 132 copies

The Unborn (1981) — Cover artist, some editions — 131 copies

His Little Women (1990) — Cover artist, some editions — 127 copies

The MacGuffin (1991) — Cover artist, some editions — 119 copies

Bigfoot Dreams (1997) — Cover artist, some editions — 116 copies

Inspector Saito's Small Satori (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 114 copies

Journeys (1984) — Cover artist — 113 copies

Moon Deluxe: Stories (1983) — Cover artist, some editions — 113 copies

Making Sense Of Wine (2003) — Cover artist, some editions — 111 copies

City of Whispering Stone (1978) — Cover artist, some editions — 111 copies

The Passion Artist (1979) — Cover artist, some editions — 104 copies

Time After Time (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 99 copies

Vital Parts (1970) — Cover artist, some editions — 99 copies

Plus (1976) — Cover artist, some editions — 96 copies

The Frenzy of Renown: Fame and Its History (1750) — Cover artist, some editions — 93 copies

Getting into death and other stories (1973) — Cover artist, some editions — 91 copies

Ouch!: A Tale from Grimm (1998) — Illustrator — 89 copies

Nowhere (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 86 copies

Just Another Day in Paradise (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 81 copies

Young Mutants (1984) — Cover artist, some editions — 76 copies

Loving Little Egypt (1987) — Cover artist, some editions — 73 copies

The Psychopath Plague (1978) — Cover artist, some editions — 69 copies

Death in a Serene City (1990) — Cover artist, some editions — 69 copies

North Gladiola (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 66 copies

Young Extraterrestrials (1984) — Cover artist, some editions — 65 copies

Voices and Visions: The Poet in America (Companion to the PBS Series) (1987) — Cover artist — 64 copies

Hearts (1980) — Cover artist, some editions — 59 copies

Fisher's Hornpipe (1656) — Cover artist, some editions — 55 copies

Conscience Place (1983) — Cover artist, some editions — 47 copies

Slow Fade (1984) — Cover artist, some editions — 45 copies

Separate Checks (1984) — Cover artist, some editions — 44 copies

Young Monsters (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 43 copies

Tetrarch (1980) — Cover artist, some editions — 38 copies

Young Ghosts (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 31 copies

Say Goodbye to Sam (1984) — Cover artist — 27 copies

Alive and Dead in Indiana (1984) — Cover artist, some editions — 24 copies

Rumor Has It (1991) — Cover artist, some editions — 23 copies

The Nightmare Factor (1978) — Cover artist, some editions — 23 copies

A Guide to Opera Recordings (1987) — Cover artist, some editions — 22 copies

Dreamwatcher (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 20 copies

Playing After Dark (1986) — Cover artist, some editions — 20 copies

The Late Night Muse (1991) — Cover artist, some editions — 19 copies

Tunnel War (1979) — Cover artist, some editions — 16 copies

Fisherman's Guide: A Systems Approach to Creativity and Organization (1985) — Cover artist, some editions — 16 copies

Wish You Were Here (1984) — Cover artist — 13 copies

The Genesis Rock (1980) — Cover artist, some editions — 12 copies

The Ravens of the Moon (1978) — Cover artist — 12 copies

The Coming of the Demons (1982) — Cover artist — 11 copies

Atlantic City Proof (1979) — Cover artist, some editions — 11 copies

The Complete Guide to Collecting Art (1982) — Cover designer, some editions — 11 copies

Sounding the Territory (1982) — Cover artist, some editions — 10 copies

Memoirs of a Caddy (1991) — Cover artist, some editions — 10 copies

A Dime to Dance By (1983) — Cover artist, some editions — 9 copies

Natural Order (1990) — Cover artist — 6 copies

Tagged

animals (14) butter (6) children (8) children's (19) children's book (8) children's books (7) children's fiction (7) children's literature (6) crocodiles (22) diversity (6) Egypt (10) family (15) fantasy (11) fiction (38) first edition (5) folklore (6) folktales (16) food (6) France (13) Fred Marcellino (7) history (14) humor (10) illustrated (7) India (59) IYL-owns (7) juvenile (7) Little Black Sambo (12) Lower Grammar (5) multicultural (9) Napoleon (14) Napoleon Bonaparte (5) pancakes (13) Paris (11) picture book (83) retelling (6) tiger (7) tigers (35) TOG (7) TOG Y1 (6) Year 1 (6)

Common Knowledge

Birthdate: 1939-10-25
Date of death: 2001-07-12
Gender: male
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Place of death: New York, New York, USA
Education: Bayside High School, Queens, NY
Cooper Union Art School
Yale University
Occupations: illustrator
book jacket designer
children's book author
Awards and honors: Caldecott Honor Medal
National Book Awards Nevelson prize
Fulbright Scholarship

Members

Reviews

The Story of Little Babaji by Helen Bannerman

This updated version of "Little Black Sambo" has berien praised for its quality. It is clearly placed in India (always the setting) while maintaining the clever story. It could be a little long for kindergartners, Illustrations are beautiful and child-friendly.

review based on previous readings, and a You Tube read aloud.

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Hunley | 15 other reviews | Dec 3, 2020 |

I, Crocodile by Fred Marcellino

A crocodile is taken from Egypt by Napoleon, and turned into a Parisian entertainment. When the crocodile fad passes, the beast escapes into the sewers and provides its entertainment (and food) from among the Parisians. [return][return]Grown-ups will appreciate this book on a different level than kids -- the Napoleonic history and the mordant humor. In fact, I'm not sure exactly how well this book works for the picture-book crowd, but it's definitely entertaining in a Shel Silverstein-kind of way for the adult parents.… (more)

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adaq | 11 other reviews | Dec 25, 2019 |

The Story of Little Babaji by Helen Bannerman

Those of us of a certain age knew this tale as Little Black Sambo, and of course it was fairly problematic in that form. For some reason Bannerman, who lived many years in India and clearly set this story in its jungle, populated the tale with black characters who did not belong there, and who were usually represented in offensively stereotypical fashion. This version replaces Sambo with Babaji, and lets the inherent charm of the story shine through. The illustrations by Fred Marcellino are just marvelous.… (more)

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laytonwoman3rd | 15 other reviews | Dec 12, 2019 |

Arrivederci, Crocodile: or See You Later, Alligator by Fred Marcellino

This is a fun, whimsical tale with tons of historic and international surprises...and maybe a few bites on the way.

The Crocodile isn't so excited about Napoleon dragging him off to Paris, but at least, he escaped and is living in the sewer. Until he discovers that Napoleon is headed to Venice, that is. A long trip to Italy ends with many pleasant surprises, and the Crocodile might have discovered just the right place to be. If he can stay away from Napoleon.

I did not get a chance to read the first book but will be changing that. This book can be read as a stand alone, however.

This is a book for small adventure fans, who are ready for rivers of fun as waves of unexpected moments and excitement. It's told from the Crocodile's point of view. He's not only a curious reptile, but humorous too. While Venice in all of it's richness is already a treat to discover, it's even more interesting from the eyes of a crocodile. It's hard not to like him as he runs across true wonders, finds a place to fit in, and maybe escapes Napoleon's grip again.

Young readers are introduced to Venice not only through Crocodile's tale, but with colorful illustrations. The pride and energy of Venice comes to life as the fish markets, architecture, people and even a bit of the underwater world are presented. It's fun simply to gaze through the illustrations and see what Crocodile is up to next.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the illustrations as well as the fun story quite a bit. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.… (more)

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tdrecker | Sep 13, 2019 |

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