Works by
Hudson Talbott
(Writer)

Dinosaur Series

• We're Back:  A Dinosaur's Story (1987) -- Named Children's Book of the Year by the Library of Congress
  What would happen if a time-traveling salesman from another planet tested a new product called Brain Grain I.Q.Enhancer on a bunch of dinosaurs and then dropped them off in New York City? And it happens to be Thanksgiving Day? Here's a hint: they flee to the safety of the Museum of Natural History after causing panic when they mistake the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade for a welcoming ceremony.

  First published in 1987, We're Back! was named Children's Book of the Year by the Library of Congress. In 1993 it was transformed into an animated feature film by Steven Spielberg and continues to enjoy an ongoing life as a home video. In print for over twelve years, this book and the two sequels listed below will soon be republished by Hudson's current publisher.  Ages 4 - 8

  • See also the Movie Storybook Edition (1993) with Beverly Lazer-Bahr, Illustrator

• Going Hollywood: A Dinosaur's Dream (1989)
  Rex and the gang take their shot at fame and glory while contending with tar pools, big feet and Hollywood-size egos. The film rights to this book were also purchased by a major Hollywood studio but for some unknown reason it has never been produced. Go figure!   Baby - Preschool

• Your Pet Dinosaur: An Owner's Manual (1992)
  No modern home is complete without a guide to the care and feeding of those scaley rascals. Dr.Rex, foremost authority from the Museum of Relatively Natural History, leads us through such sticky situations as housebreaking you pteranadon, teething triceratopses, and the heartbreak of delinquent dinos (just hide the car keys).

Tales of King Arthur Series

1. The Sword in the Stone (1991)
   Except for the dragon-shaped constellation that appeared at his birth, there was nothing that suggested Arthur was destined for greatness.

   Raised by the gentle Sir Ector, Arthur spends his boyhood exploring the Welsh woodlands, until one day a messenger arrives announcing a grand tournament to be held in London. Arthur's older brother, Sir Kay, insists they must attend with Arthur as his squire. After traveling the long road to London on horseback, Kay performs brilliantly in the contest, but it's young Arthur himself who ultimately wins the day.

   The first volume of the Tales of King Arthur series introduces younger readers to the classic story known for over one hundred years as "The Sword in the Stone." Hudson Talbott has faithfully retold this heroic tale with humor and warmth, showing a human side to Arthur rarely glimpsed before. His vivid, richly colored paintings capture a crowded London at Christmastime and magnificent knights jousting on the field of battle, as well as the legendary sorcerer Merlin and the magical sword that reveals Arthur's destiny.

   Alive with the drama of medieval England, this book will awaken young readers' interest in the legendary king who set new ideals for knightly valor.  Ages 4 - 8

2. King Arthur and the Round Table (1995)
   As a lad of only sixteen years, Arthur pulled the sword from the stone and thus became High King of all Britain. But scarcely has he begun to arrange his court when twelve of the country's lesser kings, jealous of Arthur's glory, declare war on him.

   Culminating in the Battle of Bedegraine, this war is fateful in more ways than one--for not only does it secure Arthur's place among his people, it also unites his destiny with that of Lady Guinevere.

   In this, the second volume of his Tales of King Arthur series, Hudson Talbott masterfully retells the saga of Arthur's early days as leader of Britain, his building of Camelot, and the dedication of the Round Table--a unique brotherhood of knights devoted to unity and peace.

   Hudson Talbott's thrilling text and dazzling paintings bring this tale of heroism, romance, and pageantry to life. The scenes of daring battle and the splendor of Arthur's court are re, produced here in glorious full color for readers to turn to again and again.  Ages 4 - 8

3. Excalibur (1996)
   Wielding the great Pendragon sword, the young King Arthur leads his men to victory in the Battle of Bedegraine. Afterward, as his knights disperse in pursuit of individual glory, Arthur enviously wishes for a quest of his own. Against Merlin's advice, he sets off to fight the fierce warrior King Pellinore, with nearly tragic results, until at last he is led to the Lady of the Lake -- guardian of the noble sword Excalibur. Hudson Talbott's masterful storytelling and dramatic paintings capture Arthur's struggle to find the wisdom he needs to be king. Exciting scenes from the days of chivalry and heroism burst from every page of this stunning masterwork. All ages.

4. Lancelot (1999)
   In the golden days of Camelot, no celebrated warrior could match the fighting skill and brilliance of Lancelot. Orphaned as an infant and raised by a powerful enchantress, the youth's extraordinary instinct in battle shines bright from his earliest years -- and so he is readily welcomed into the company of the Round Table, King Arthur's highest order of knights.

   Seeking to bring peace to Arthur's kingdom, Lancelot earnestly serves all those in peril in the name of the beloved Queen Guinevere, swiftly vanquishing beasts and villains and even rescuing the queen herself Nothing, it seems, can harm the valiant Lancelot -- until his own pride drives him away from Arthur's court. Setting off for mysterious new lands, he soon meets a princess who will change his life forever. But will the great hero ever return to Camelot?

   Hudson Talbott vividly reveals Lancelot as a man whose passion and instinct are at once the sources of his greatest strength and gravest danger. Rendered with all of the breathtaking drama and romance of the first three volumes in, the Tales of King Arthur series, here is a rare vision of one of the most popular and compelling heroes of Arthurian legend.  Ages. 4 - 8

Other

• The Lady at Liberty:  Memoirs of a Monument (1991)
  The Statue of Liberty needs a little time off from her duties and decides to go and see the land she has been hostessing for the last century. The art for this book was originally created as a collection of greeting cards, calendars, and posters commissioned by Bloomingdale's Dept. store. Many are still available through Easy Street Publications.

  • See also Statue of Liberty Centennial Paper Doll Book (1986)

• Amazon Diary: The Jungle Adventures of Alex Winter (1996)
  The tale of Alex Winters, a sixth grader from Chicago on his way to visit his parents in South America. When his small plane crashes in the Amazon Jungle he is rescued by a stone-age tribal people known as the Yanomami. The book is made up of the character's diary entries while living with the Yanomami, all based on the authors' own, true experiences. Unique in its collage -style use of photography, illustration, and hand-written text, Amazon Diary re-creates the experience of contact with a quickly disappearing culture from a kid's point of view.

• O'Sullivan Stew (1999)
  Someone has stolen the witch of Crookhaven's horse, and there will be no peace in the village until it is returned. So bold, brassy Kate O'Sullivan takes matters into her own hands. But instead of saving the day, she manages to land herself-and her family-in trouble with the king. So Kate sets out to save their hides the only way she knows how-with a good story. Filled with imagination, wit, and a healthy helping of good old-fashioned Irish blarney, this is a hilarious tale that will keep readers coming back for more.  Ages 4 - 8

• Forging Freedom: A True Story of Heroism During The Holocaust (2000)
  Jaap Penraat can't understand the Germans' hatred of his Jewish neighbors in his hometown of Amsterdam. As the restrictions multiply and the violence escalates, Jaap knows he must take action to help his friends. He begins by using his father's printing press to forge identification cards and papers for Jewish neighbors and refugees, but as the Nazi grasp tightens, he is forced to take a more drastic path--leading twenty Jews on the dangerous first leg of a journey to Paris, the start of the underground pipeline to safety.
  
  This initial group of twenty men is only the beginning; the number eventually grows to over four hundred Jews saved from certain death by Jaap Penraat's heroic efforts, brought to life in this vivid retelling.  Ages 4 - 8

• Safari Journal: The Adventures in Africa of Carey Monroe  (2003)
  Twelve-year-old Carey Monroe has no idea what he's in for when his wacky aunt Elaine drags him along on an African safari. Soon after arriving in Kenya, Carey meets a Maasai man and his son, who open Carey's eyes to the ways of their people and the beauty of the African landscape and wildlife. Their adventures turn suspenseful when they encounter an international poaching ring that trades illegally in rhino horns and elephant tusks.  Explore the world of the Maasai people at Carey's side by reading his journal, filled with his vivid accounts, photographs, and illustrations. 
  Ages 9 - 12

See also:

• How to Show Grown-Ups the Museum (1985) by Philip Yenawine
  A kid-friendly guide to the collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Commissioned by the M.O.M.A.

• Into the Woods (1989) by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, Adapted and Illustrated by Hudson Talbott
  Once upon a time... Those four words begin any number of coming-of-age stories where characters such as Cinderella, Jack (of the beanstalk fame), and the girl with the red cape learn some very real -- and often painful -- lessons on the way to growing up. Hudson's illustrations accompany his novelization of the now legendary Broadway musical by the Pulitzer Prize-winning team of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. In honor of the revival of the musical now running on Broadway, Simon and Schuster has published a soft-cover edition of the book. 

• Leonardo's Horse (2000) by Jean Fritz

• Show Way (2005) by Jacqueline Woodson
  Soonie’s great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, and with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She pieced together bright patches with names like North Star and Crossroads, patches with secret meanings made into quilts called Show Ways—maps for slaves to follow to freedom.When she grew up and had a little girl, she passed on this knowledge.And generations later,Soonie—who was born free—taught her own daughter how to sew beautiful quilts to be sold at market and how to read.
  
  From slavery to freedom, through segregation, freedom marches and the fight for literacy, the tradition they called Show Way has been passed down by the women in Jacqueline Woodson’s family as a way to remember the past and celebrate the possibilities of the future. Beautifully rendered in Hudson Talbott’s luminous art, this moving, lyrical account pays tribute to women whose strength and knowledge illuminate their daughters’ lives.