Byron Barton (September 8, 1930 – June 3, 2023) was an American writer and illustrator of children's picture books. His works received six ALA Notable Book Awards, five SLJ Best Books of the Year selections, and two Reading Rainbow picks.
Personal life and education Barton, whose birth name was Byron Vartanian, was born on "September 8, 1930 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Toros and Elizabeth Vartanian." He moved with his family to Los Angeles while he was in grade school, and there, he developed his interest in art, later attending Los Angeles City College. In 1950, he received a scholarship to study at Chouinard Art Institute (CAI), though he was unable to immediately attend due to being drafted into the Korean War. After being discharged, Barton returned to CAI, completing his studies in 1956.
Barton died at his home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida on June 3, 2023, at the age of 92.
Career Following the completion of his studies at the Chouinard Art Institute in 1956, Barton moved to New York City and began working as an ad designer and animator for CBS.
The first book he illustrated, Constance C. Green's A Girl Called Al, was published in 1969. Two years later, he published his first self-authored book, Elephant. Barton went on to write and author many more books, working with authors such as Russell Hoban, Jack Prelutsky, Marjorie W. Sharmat, and Seymour Simon. His works have received six ALA Notable Book Awards, five SLJ Best Books of the Year selections, and two Reading Rainbow picks. One of his books, Where's Al, was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books selection. His last book, My House, was published in 2016.
Awards and honors Barton's works have received six ALA Notable Book Awards and five SLJ Best Books of the Year selections. One of his books, Where's Al, was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books selection.
Two books Barton illustrated were featured on Reading Rainbow: Charlotte Pomerantz's The Tamarindo Puppy and Other Poems (1985) and Diane Siebert's Truck Song (1990).
The Horn Book Magazine included six of his books on their lists of the best picture books of the year: Machines at Work (1987); I Want To Be An Astronaut (1988); Bones, Bones Dinosaur Bones (1999); My Car (2001); My Bus (2014); and My Bike (2015).
Publishers Weekly included My Car on their list of the best picture books of 2001. The following year, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) included it on their list of Notable Children's Books.
School Library Journal named My Bus one of the best picture books of 2014.
Selected works
1972, Where's Al? 1973, Buzz Buzz Buzz 1974, Harry Is a Scaredy-Cat 1974 Jack and Fred 1975, Hester 1976, Bullfrog Grows Up (illustrator) 1977, Bullfrog Builds a House (illustrator) 1978, Arthur's New Power (illustrator) 1979, Wheels 1980, Good Morning, Chick (illustrator) 1980, Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport (illustrator) 1981, Building a House 1981, Jump, Frog, Jump (illustrator) 1982, Airport 1984, Truck Song (illustrator) 1986, Boats 1986, Trucks 1986, Trains 1986, Planes 1987, Machines at Work 1988, I Want to Be an Astronaut 1989, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs 1990, Bones, Bones, Dinosaur Bones 1991, The Three Bears 1993, The Little Red Hen 1995, The Wee Little Woman 1996, Big Machines (illustrator) 1996, Tools 2001, My Car 2014, My Bus 2015, My Bike 2016, My House
References