Illustration of children dancing.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Book of Jewish Holidays by Ruth Kozodoy. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1981 Susanne Suba.

Susanne Suba

Susanne Suba (1913–2012) emigrated from Hungary with her family as a young girl. She started drawing at the age of three, and studied art with her father, Miklos Suba, an architect and painter. After attending Pratt Institute, Suba pursued a career as an artist in New York City. She became a regular contributor to Publisher’s Weekly and illustrated a handful of covers and “spots” (small drawings) for The New Yorker beginning in the 1930s. Suba’s first illustrated book was Henry David Thoreau’s Life Without Principle. She went on to illustrate over 25 children’s books, including titles by her husband, Russell McCracken, as well as books she authored.

Upon her death, Suba gifted nearly 600 artworks to The Carle’s permanent collection. She also donated several rare first edition signed picture books, including ones by Ezra Jack Keats and William Steig.

Illustration of girl holding bird.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for Lottie’s Valentine by Katherine Wigmore Eyre. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1941 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of man in front of rows of birds.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for Lottie’s Valentine by Katherine Wigmore Eyre. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1941 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of girl opening door in hall with checkered floor.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for Lottie’s Valentine by Katherine Wigmore Eyre. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1941 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of elephant and other animals in lush landscape.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Elegant Elephant by Russel McCracken. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1944 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of various animals and people on blue background.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Gentle Giraffe by Russel McCracken. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1945 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of giraffes looking at menus in restaurant.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Gentle Giraffe by Russel McCracken. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1945 Susanne Suba.

Ginny Giraffe briefly leaves her home in the circus to visit her uncle, Gentleman Gerald Giraffe, at the zoo. Tired of the peanuts that children feed them, the duo decide to lunch at a sidewalk café. Suba’s red-checkered tablecloth adds a vivid splash of color to the composition.

Illustration of houses on fire and fire truck in front.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Gentle Giraffe by Russel McCracken. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1945 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of giraffes and children playing.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Gentle Giraffe by Russel McCracken. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1945 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of hound against red background.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Hobo Hound by May Edwards. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1947 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of boy dancing with hound.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for Sonny-Boy Sim by Elizabeth Baker. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1948 Susanne Suba.

Sonny-Boy Sim lives in “a little log house in the piney woods” with his Grandma, Grandpappy, and dog Homer. The boy and dog gleefully spend their days chasing deer, bears, and raccoons, while they fill their nights with dancing to the music of Grandpappy’s fiddle. Their exuberance proves contagious and soon wild animals emerge from the woods to join in the merriment.

Illustration of girls line up.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for A Rocket in My Pocket: Nonsense Rhymes and Chants by Carl Withers. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1948 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of girls playing game.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for A Rocket in My Pocket: Nonsense Rhymes and Chants by Carl Withers. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1948 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of children in line

Susanne Suba, Illustration for A Rocket in My Pocket: Nonsense Rhymes and Chants by Carl Withers. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1948 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of man milking cow

Susanne Suba, Illustration for A Rocket in My Pocket: Nonsense Rhymes and Chants by Carl Withers. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1948 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of girls dancing

Susanne Suba, Illustration for A Rocket in My Pocket: Nonsense Rhymes and Chants by Carl Withers. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1948 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of two women in overcoats.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for A Rocket in My Pocket: Nonsense Rhymes and Chants by Carl Withers. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1948 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of three people in cowboy hats sitting by fire.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for A Rocket in My Pocket: Nonsense Rhymes and Chants by Carl Withers. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1948 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of man sitting next to tree with rifle.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for Rip Van Winkle and other stories by Washington Irving. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1955 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of woman serving man at table.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Hunting Trip by Robert Burch. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1971 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of woman sitting under tree with owl.

In Moon-Uncle, Suba gives visual form to a collection of rhymes, riddles, and lullabies from India. Her sketchy rendering leaves ample space for four poems, which were printed between the tree branches.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for Moon-uncle, Moon-uncle, Rhymes from India translated by Sylvia Cassedy. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1972 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of mountain with people below.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Book of Jewish Holidays by Ruth Kozodoy. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1981 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of crowd and ethereal blue and green streaks overhead.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Book of Jewish Holidays by Ruth Kozodoy. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1981 Susanne Suba.

Illustration of children dancing.

Susanne Suba, Illustration for The Book of Jewish Holidays by Ruth Kozodoy. Gift of Susanne Suba. © 1981 Susanne Suba.

Featured Artists

Susanne Suba

Susanne Suba pursued her career in New York City after emigrating from Hungary as a child. A prolific artist, she regularly contributed to Publisher’s Weekly and illustrated over 25 children’s books.