National Museum of Wildlife Art Honors Book Illustrator Eric Rohmann

Children's book illustrator Eric Rohmann is the recipient of the 2013 Bull-Bransom Award, announced the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Rohmann was selected for the award, given annually for excellence in children's book illustration with a wildlife and nature focus, for the 2012 picture book "Oh, No!" (Schwartz & Wade Books), written by Candace Fleming. The artist traveled to Jackson Hole to accept the award at a ceremony presented as part of the National Museum of Wildlife Art's Celebration of Young Artists event on May 2.

"In a field of strong finalists, the judges agreed that Eric Rohmann's striking relief prints for "Oh, No!" were immediately accessible," says Bronwyn Minton, the museum's assistant curator of art. "His illustrations are energetic, funny, and he uses bold character design, with remarkable expression and movement." Past Bull-Bransom Award winners Sylvia Long and Kevin Waldron served on the judging panel that selected Rohmann from a group of five finalists.

A compelling read-aloud story about a pack of animals getting into a mess as one after another falls into a deep, deep hole with a hungry tiger looking on, "Oh, No!'s" lush southeast Asian rainforest setting is one Eric Rohmann experienced firsthand on a trip with his wife several years ago. "There is no better way to understand the jungle than to wander through and let the senses take over," says the artist, who admits that his favorite creature in the book is the Slow Loris, adding, "Who isn't fascinated by an adorable mammal that also happens to be poisonous?"

"My interest in art has always been entwined with my love of the natural world. My investigation of the world began in my backyard, with a hand lens and a pencil," says Bull-Bransom Award-winner Rohmann, who hopes to bring to children that same desire to learn about the world they live in. At the same time, Rohmann, whose past honors include winning the Caldecott Medal for illustration for his book "My Friend Rabbit" in 2003, often creates animal characters because they work as surrogates for people. "The characters become every person," he says.

Created in the tradition of such prestigious children's book illustrator honors as the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King and Hans Christian Andersen awards, the Bull-Bransom Award is presented in the form of a medal and $5,000 cash award. The National Museum of Wildlife Art named the award for Charles Livingston Bull and Paul Bransom, among the first American artist-illustrators to specialize in wildlife subjects.

Company Information: A member of the Museums West consortium and accredited by the American Association of Museums, the museum, officially designated the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States by an act of Congress in 2008, provides an exciting calendar of exhibitions from its Permanent Collection and changing exhibitions from around the globe. A complete schedule of exhibitions and events is available online at http://www.wildlifeart.org. The museum is also active on Facebook at wildlifeartjh and on Twitter at @wildlifeartjh.

Media Contacts: Darla Worden, WordenGroup Strategic Public Relations, 307.734.5335, darla(at)wordenpr(dot)com; Ponteir Sackrey, National Museum of Wildlife Art, 307.732.5444, psackrey(at)wildlifeart(dot)org