Creatures by Padraic Colum, illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff, is a whimsical and lyrical collection of poems and short prose pieces celebrating animals—both real and mythical—from around the world. Colum’s writing blends folklore, fable, and gentle humor, while Artzybasheff’s bold, stylized woodcut illustrations bring the creatures to life with striking expressiveness.
Artzybasheff’s angular, modernist designs (reminiscent of his later famous Time magazine covers) give the book a unique visual energy, making it a standout among early 20th-century children’s literature. Though lesser-known than Colum’s myth retellings (The Golden Fleece, The Children’s Homer), Creatures showcases his talent for blending poetry and storytelling with an artist’s vivid imagination.
