Mitsumasa Anno

Anno was born in Tsuwano of Shimane Prefecture on March 20, 1926. He is a graduate of the Yamaguchi Teacher Training College. Anno dreamed of becoming an artist from his earliest years. Eventually, he began designing books after retiring from his job teaching at a primary school. Urged on by Tadashi Matsui of Fukuinkan Shoten, he released his first picture book, "Topsy Turvies" . Since that time, he has been extremely active in the writing, illustration and designing of picture books. With a firm grounding in both mathematics and literature, Anno has published numerous books teeming with originality. Some of his most famous picture books are "Anno's Magical ABC", "Anno's Twice Told Tales by the Brothers Grimm and Mr. Fox".

Mitsumasa Anno was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the highest honor attainable in the field of children's book illustration in 1984. Mr. Anno lives in Japan.

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