Harold Berson


Harold Berson was an American illustrator and author, primarily of children's books.

Early life and education

Berson was born in New York City, grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles. He studied art in Paris.

Career

Berson travelled extensively in Turkey, North Africa and Europe with his wife, artist Paula Winter Berson. He began illustrating books in the late 1950s, mainly working in brush and ink and watercolor. His works include a number of self-illustrated retellings of traditional folk tales of those regions.
In a 1973 profile in the magazine Something About the Author, Berson said, "I love illustrating. I usually work in pen or brush and ink, mainly the latter. I use watercolor for the color, usually preseparated." Berson collaborated with many authors, including Barbara K. Walker, one-time curator of the Uysal–Walker Archive of Turkish Oral Narrative at Texas Tech University, illustrating a number of her works, including:
  • Watermelons, Walnuts, and the Wisdom of Allah, and Other Tales of the Hoca
  • Pigs and Pirates: a Greek Tale
  • ''New Patches for Old''

Selected bibliography