It’s the birthday of children’s book author Graeme Base (b. 1958), creator of some of the most gorgeously illustrated children’s books on the planet.

Born in Amersham, England, but raised in Australia from the age of eight, Base is best known for Animalia (1986), an alliterative alphabet book in which every page is absolutely stuffed with intricate, fantastical images. His most famous piece of art is the “L” page from this book, which reads, “Lazy Lions Lounging in the Local Library.” One of the lions is chewing a copy of “Lassie Come Home.” Animalia has sold more than five million copies worldwide. (Fun fact for Jethro Tull fans: Base says that the “H” page of Animalia featuring Horrible Hairy Hogs “was inspired by the album cover of Jethro Tull’s Heavy Horses.”)

Base started out in advertising, hated it, and got canned. This prompted him to start freelancing as an illustrator for other people’s books. Soon he figured out that if he wrote the books himself, he could draw whatever he wanted and not what others wanted. His first book was My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch (1983) but it was his second, Animalia, that launched a huge career. He’s also written/illustrated The Eleventh Hour (1989, featuring a mystery), The Waterhole (2001), Jungle Drums (2004), The Legend of the Golden Snail (2010, a personal favorite in our house), The Jewel Fish of Karnak (2011), The Last King of Angkor Wat (2014), and many more. Each is a feast for the eyes. (See “Lazy Lions Lounging” plus other selected works by Base right here.)

Base lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his wife Robyn (also an artist) and three children, although they’re nearly grown and out of the house by now. When asked in an interview about his favorite interaction with a child regarding his work, Base quoted from a child’s letter to him from years ago: “Dear Mr. Base, I really like your book Animalia—I nearly bought a copy.”

Enjoy this fine Friday, whether you’re surrounded by sun or living in a snow globe as we are, and stay scrupulously honest to the data.