Diane Stanley: An Annotated Booklist
created by Shelley Sgammato, Milford Town Library
December 2006
Highlights:
Diane Stanley is a highly regarded children’s author and illustrator having authored and illustrated many children’s books in a variety of genres. Stanley is often associated with her award winning picture book biographies, a few which were co written with her husband Peter Vennema. Stanley was inspired to write her first picture book biography “Peter the Great” after hearing an audiotape adult biography of the outlandish czar. Stanley’s love for picture books began while reading to her young daughters; Stanley saw a picture book as “the perfect marriage of words, pictures, design and message.” In a review of Stanley’s picture book biography “Joan of Arc” for School Library Journal by Shirley Winton, Winton commended Stanley’s “talent for historical research, skill in writing clear and interesting prose and ability to adapt different art styles and techniques appropriate to her subjects."
Book List:
Peter the Great: Written and Illustrated by Diane Stanley: Four Winds Press 1986
A biography of the tsar who at the young age of ten with the belief that he should have what ever he wanted the sooner the better, began the transformation of Russia into a modern state in the late seventeenth to early eighteenth centuries.
Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England: Written by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema, Illustrated by Diane Stanley: Macmillian Publishing Company 1990.
A biography of Elizabeth I Queen of England whose strong will, shrewd diplomacy, religious tolerance, and great love for her subjects won the hearts of here people and the admiration of the enemies.
Cleopatra: Written by Diane Staley and Peter Vennema, Illustrated by Diane Stanley: Morrow Junior Books 1994.
Legendary successor of Alexander the Great, Cleopatra ruled Queen of Egypt for 21 years raising her country to new heights and ultimately bringing it to it’s down fall.
Michealangelo: Written and illustrated by Diane Stanley Harper Collins Publishers 2000.
A biography on the life of an artist who towered above the late Renaissance and whose brilliance in architecture, painting and sculpture amazes us and moves us to this day.
Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare: Written by Diane Stanley and Perter Vennema, Illustrated by Diane Stanley: Morrow Junior Books 1992
A brief biography of the world’s most famous playwright based on historically correct information about one of the greatest English-speaking playwrights in the world.
Joan of Arc: written and illustrated by Diane Stanley: Morrow Junior Books1988
Diane Stanley unfolds the story of the simple (determined martyr) 13-year old village girl who in just a few years would lead France to independence from English rule, and thus become a symbol of France’s national pride. History is brought to life through carefully researched, vivid narrative and beautiful, gilded illustrations inspired by the illuminated manuscripts of the time.
Shaka: King of the Zulus: Written by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema, Illustrated by Diane Stanley: Harper Trophy reissue 1994.
A biography of the nineteenth-century military genius tribal Zulu chief who rose from humble beginnings to lead a mighty people nearly two centuries ago to become King of his peoples.
Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam: Written and Illustrated by Diane Stanley: Harper Collins Publishing 2002
A picture book biography that will allow readers to learn some history, geography, quite a lot about Islam, as well as about the life of Salah al-din (Saladin), the Islamic warrior known for his civility. Stanley recounts how through Saladin’s treacherous life-long religious crusade, he still maintained a high level of honor and chivalry.
Charles Dickens: The Man Who Had Great Expectations: Written by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema, Illustrated by Diane Stanley: Harper Collins Publisher 1993.
Incisively written and beautifully illustrated picture book biography that follows the life and writing career of the infamously popular 19th–century author Charles Dickens.