Quite a story. Kazuo Iwamura died on December 19, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones, the French publishing house L'École des Loisirs said on Wednesday. The Japanese author-illustrator was known in particular in France, Japan and China for his series of children's books The Mouse family (14 Possible an original version).
A “renowned” artist
The Mouse family has become a great classic of L'École des Loisirs. On Instagram, the French publishing house paid a very beautiful tribute to the creator of the work, saluting a “renowned” artist, who knew how to “mark the history of children's literature with his unique style, imbued with poetry and sensitivity. “His death leaves a huge void in the world of illustration and children's literature, but his work will continue to live on in the hearts of children and adults who had the chance to discover his stories,” says the publisher.
Animals at the center of his works
Many French homes certainly have one of Iwamura's children's books in their library. FromA new home for the Souris family au Souris family breakfastpassing through Mouse Family Winter or even The Mouse Family dines in the moonlight the Japanese author's books were very successful, mainly in the 1980s and 1990s, notably thanks to anthropomorphism, which lends human trains to his animals.
The one who lived in Mashiko, a rural village about a hundred kilometers from the capital Tokyo, as reported by our colleagues from Liberationhad followed a course in the 1950s at the National School of Decorative Arts, then after his diploma, had worked as an illustrator for Japanese television programs NHK.
-Then, he wrote and drew his first children's books after working as a graphic designer in a cosmetics company. The Iwamura paw? Put animals at the center of his youth works. The proof in particular with Reflections of a frog and its sequel New Thoughts of a Frog, Squirrel Spring or even The Little Cat who woke up all wet.
Ten years ago, in December 2014, France awarded the badge of Chevalier des Arts et Lettres to Kazuo Iwamura, in “recognition of his exceptional work and his lasting influence in the world of illustration”, as specifies L’École des Loisirs. A man and mice which will remain in the great history of children's literature.
