Kathy Pinna
Letter from Bruce's editor, Bonnie Verburg
Dear Friends,
It is with great sadness that we share the news that our beloved friend and Blue Sky Press illustrator, Bruce Wood, passed away on July 21.
Among his many accomplishments, Bruce collaborated with his mother, award-winning writer Audrey Wood, on such popular Blue Sky books as ALPHABET ADVENTURE; ALPHABET MYSTERY; and ALPHABET RESCUE. Bruce created brilliant, colorful images filled with hidden games and humor. He and Audrey also achieved great success in their two concept books, TEN LITTLE FISH and THE DEEP BLUE SEA. All of these books have had critical success and continue to reach a wide audience; they are favorites among children, parents, and educators. Bruce also created the art for SPACE ELF SAM, the first children's trade book featuring three-dimensional computer art.
Bruce Robert Wood grew up in a California home filled with creativity, imagination, and children's books. His parents, Don and Audrey Wood, are two of the most acclaimed, bestselling creators of children's books in the world. Bruce grew up in the cozy home made famous by the Woods' classic picture book THE NAPPING HOUSE. As a child, he posed for his father as a model for characters in several bestselling books, including QUICK AS A CRICKET; KING BIDGOOD'S IN THE BATHTUB, a Caldecott Honor Book; THE NAPPING HOUSE; and for his mother in her book, ELBERT'S BAD WORD.
As a student of drama, art, and computers, Bruce created his picture-book art using complex, three-dimensional computer modeling. During his student years at Cal Arts, Bruce came home one night and persuaded his computer-resistant parents to try a very basic computer art software program. Finally, after much resistance, Don and Audrey gave it a try. They ended up staying up all night, "playing" with Bruce's computer. This mentoring by their son resulted in numerous children's books by Bruce's parents-and later, Bruce-all created on the computer. Those books include JUBAL'S WISH, illustrated by Don Wood, and both RED RACER and A BOOK FOR HONEY BEAR, written and illustrated by Audrey Wood. This month, Don Wood completed HOT SPOT, a full-color, 176-page graphic novel for Blue Sky, all created on the computer and inspired by Bruce. Audrey's new fall book, A DOG NEEDS A BONE, was inspired by her two pug dogs chosen for her by Bruce.
The Woods are a unique family of artists, and Bruce was the fifth-generation professional artist on his mother's side. Bruce's life has been filled with joy and laughter-reflected in the playfulness and fun in his sunny, engaging books. Everything he undertook was graced with his infectious happiness, generosity, and pure joy. Everyone who knew him cherished his friendship and admired his warmth, patience, and good spirit. He will be deeply missed.
Bruce Wood is survived by his parents, Don and Audrey Wood, his wife, Nicoa Wood, and his three-year-old daughter, Manhattan. In lieu of flowers, the Wood family has asked that donations be made to: The Bruce Wood Memorial Fund, Inside Out Community Arts, 2210 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA 90291 (310-397-8820 x102), an organization that uses the arts to help at-risk youth. Correspondence can be sent care of Bonnie Verburg at the Blue Sky Press, 1158 26th Street #775, Santa Monica, CA 90403.
It is with great sadness that we share the news that our beloved friend and Blue Sky Press illustrator, Bruce Wood, passed away on July 21.
Among his many accomplishments, Bruce collaborated with his mother, award-winning writer Audrey Wood, on such popular Blue Sky books as ALPHABET ADVENTURE; ALPHABET MYSTERY; and ALPHABET RESCUE. Bruce created brilliant, colorful images filled with hidden games and humor. He and Audrey also achieved great success in their two concept books, TEN LITTLE FISH and THE DEEP BLUE SEA. All of these books have had critical success and continue to reach a wide audience; they are favorites among children, parents, and educators. Bruce also created the art for SPACE ELF SAM, the first children's trade book featuring three-dimensional computer art.
Bruce Robert Wood grew up in a California home filled with creativity, imagination, and children's books. His parents, Don and Audrey Wood, are two of the most acclaimed, bestselling creators of children's books in the world. Bruce grew up in the cozy home made famous by the Woods' classic picture book THE NAPPING HOUSE. As a child, he posed for his father as a model for characters in several bestselling books, including QUICK AS A CRICKET; KING BIDGOOD'S IN THE BATHTUB, a Caldecott Honor Book; THE NAPPING HOUSE; and for his mother in her book, ELBERT'S BAD WORD.
As a student of drama, art, and computers, Bruce created his picture-book art using complex, three-dimensional computer modeling. During his student years at Cal Arts, Bruce came home one night and persuaded his computer-resistant parents to try a very basic computer art software program. Finally, after much resistance, Don and Audrey gave it a try. They ended up staying up all night, "playing" with Bruce's computer. This mentoring by their son resulted in numerous children's books by Bruce's parents-and later, Bruce-all created on the computer. Those books include JUBAL'S WISH, illustrated by Don Wood, and both RED RACER and A BOOK FOR HONEY BEAR, written and illustrated by Audrey Wood. This month, Don Wood completed HOT SPOT, a full-color, 176-page graphic novel for Blue Sky, all created on the computer and inspired by Bruce. Audrey's new fall book, A DOG NEEDS A BONE, was inspired by her two pug dogs chosen for her by Bruce.
The Woods are a unique family of artists, and Bruce was the fifth-generation professional artist on his mother's side. Bruce's life has been filled with joy and laughter-reflected in the playfulness and fun in his sunny, engaging books. Everything he undertook was graced with his infectious happiness, generosity, and pure joy. Everyone who knew him cherished his friendship and admired his warmth, patience, and good spirit. He will be deeply missed.
Bruce Wood is survived by his parents, Don and Audrey Wood, his wife, Nicoa Wood, and his three-year-old daughter, Manhattan. In lieu of flowers, the Wood family has asked that donations be made to: The Bruce Wood Memorial Fund, Inside Out Community Arts, 2210 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA 90291 (310-397-8820 x102), an organization that uses the arts to help at-risk youth. Correspondence can be sent care of Bonnie Verburg at the Blue Sky Press, 1158 26th Street #775, Santa Monica, CA 90403.
