E. Michael Mitchell's Illustrations for "Exactly Like Ben's" Children's Book (1956)

Here's all of the illustrations by Michael Mitchell for the children's book Exactly Like Ben's by Lillian Gardner, published in 1956 by Franklin Watts Inc.

Better known as E. Michael Mitchell (1920-2009), he designed the iconic dust jacket to J.D. Salinger's Catcher In the Rye in 1951. Salinger and Mitchell were close friends for most of their lives -- until they had a big falling out. 

Via Wikipedia:

"While Salinger was working on his now-famous book in 1950, he and Mitchell were "neighbors" in Westport, Connecticut and Salinger often visited the Mitchells' home, sometimes staying in their guest house to write, and often reading portions of the manuscript to Mitchell and his wife Esther. After Salinger moved to New Hampshire and became increasingly reclusive, he and Mitchell, then illustrating books and working as an instructor for the 'Famous Artists School,' began a correspondence that went on for more than forty years, though, periodically, there was also personal contact - Mitchell recalled being best man at Salinger's Vermont wedding to 21-year-old Claire Douglas in February 1955. Mitchell would later speak to Salinger of "our long and strangely gap-toothed friendship."

"(When they had a falling out in the 1990s, Mitchell sold 14 of Salinger's letters to a book-dealer who placed them in the Morgan Library and Museum in New York. Finally put on public exhibition in 2010 after the author's death, the Salinger-Mitchell letters, dated between 1951 and 1995, were described by the Library as an 'extraordinarily rare and revealing correspondence,' which 'richly document a period of Salinger’s life that has remained obscure and provide hitherto unknown details about the daily habits and thought of this legendary author.')"

Mitchell worked, illustrating for the major magazines for a while in the 1950s before turning to teaching for the Famous Artists School, then at Parsons, and Cal Arts. He worked on many animation projects for Ruby Spears and Hanna-Barbera. His many credits include Yellow Submarine.

His work for this 1956 book is really ahead of its time. Dense and lush, with every line alive and vibrant - and a lovely interplay between design and illustration; light and dark. He has an ink line that's alive. 

The cover looks to be by someone else.

I bought this at the Arundel Flea Market in Arundel, ME back before the real cold weather hit. I just liked the illustrations and had no idea that this was THE E. Michael Mitchell who did the iconic cover to one of the most iconic books. 

Chris Wilson has much more at his blog. 

These are big scans. Please enjoy.

If interested, take a look at these short documentaries made by his Parsons School of Design students about Mike Mitchell, their beloved instructor:

Mike Mitchell: Life Drawing and Beyond (part 1)

Mike Mitchell: Life Drawing and Beyond (part 2)

My Little WORLD- E. Michael Mitchell on colors & designs