Tomes, Margot

Margot Tomes was born August 10, 1917 in Yonkers, New York. She attended the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and early in her career worked as a fabric designer. She began illustrating books in the 1950s, mainly works for adults including mysteries and cook books. In 1963 she illustrated her first book for children, The Brave Balloon of Benjamin Buckley. Throughout her long and prolific career, Margot Tomes illustrated dozens of books for children. She did illustrations for works of fiction and non-fiction, and in both she was noted for her attention to detail particularly in works of historical fiction and those dealing with American history. Margot Tomes worked with a number of well-known authors including Jean Fritz, many of whose popular books on early American history Margot Tomes illustrated with her sense of "whimsy" that was also cited by critics as part of the books' appeal and complemented perfectly the texts. Margot Tomes worked in a variety of media but her style is considered "recognizable" by many due to its detail, humor, and portrayal of characters. Margot Tomes also illustrated a number of adaptations of folk and fairy tales by Wanda Gag. In these books her trademark style comes through yet adds to the books' appeal by demonstrating the "whimsical quality" she was noted for but also bringing out the stories' morals and occasional underlying darkness. Margot Tomes continued to illustrate children's books up to the time of death on June 25, 1991 in New York City.

From the guide to the Margot Tomes Papers, 1951-1991, (University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc])

American illustrator of children's books.

From the description of Snowy day : stories and poems : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438207

From the description of Papers, 1951-1991. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62448475

From the description of Everything under a mushroom : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438192

From the description of If there were dreams to sell : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62448481

From the description of Wanda Gag's The six swans : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402903

From the description of Witch's hat : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490626

From the description of Cecelia and the blue mountain boy : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490611

From the description of Pot full of luck : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490618

From the description of Little Sister and the Month Brothers : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438201

From the description of Witch hazel : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438212

From the description of Garlanda : the ups & downs of an uppity teapot : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62448480

From the description of The land of forgotten beasts : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438198

From the description of The Halloween pumpkin smasher : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438196

From the description of The art of Creole cookery : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438188

From the description of Landslide : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62448482

From the description of Where do you think you're going, Christopher Columbus? : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62448485

From the description of The teeny, tiny witches : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438210

From the description of The soup bone : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438208

From the description of New Year's poems : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62448483

From the description of Sara Crewe : or, what happened at Miss Minchin's : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62448484

From the description of The fisherman and his wife : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490613

From the description of Prize performance : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490619

From the description of I saw three ships : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490614

From the description of Wanda Gag's The sorcerer's apprentice : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490624

From the description of What's the big idea, Ben Franklin? : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490625

From the description of This time Tempe Wick? : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490620

From the description of Five children and a dog : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62448479

From the description of The mysterious girl in the garden : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438202

From the description of Chimney sweeps : yesterday and today : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62448478

From the description of Plenty for three : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438204

From the description of Becky and the bear : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490610

From the description of By George, bloomers! : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438189

From the description of Kill with kindness : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490615

From the description of Birthday poems : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686368

From the description of Tattercoats : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686380

From the description of A secret house : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686377

From the description of And then what happened, Paul Revere? : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686364

From the description of King George's head was made of lead : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686373

From the description of Lysbet and the fire kittens : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686375

From the description of The lap-time song and play book : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686374

From the description of Stone soup : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686379

From the description of One, two, three and many : a first look at numbers : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686376

From the description of Crazy quilt cookery : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686372

From the description of The shadowmaker : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686378

From the description of Those foolish Molboes : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62686381

From the description of Wanda Gag's The earth gnome : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402899

From the description of Joe and the talking Christmas tree : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402895

From the description of Jack and the wonder beans : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402894

From the description of Turtle and snail : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402898

From the description of Size, distance, weight : a first look at measuring : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402897

From the description of Giant poems : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402893

From the description of Anna, Grandpa, and the big storm : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402887

From the description of The brave balloon of Benjamin Buckley : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402889

From the description of Everyone is good for something : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402892

From the description of Clever Gretchen and other forgotten folktales : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402890

From the description of Wild cherry tree road : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62402905

From the description of Rome and a villa : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490616

From the description of Wanda Gag's Jorinda and Joringel : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62490622

American illustrator children's books.

From the description of Phoebe and the general : production material. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62438206