Acclaimed children's book illustrator Józef Wilkoń turned 80 Feb. 12, but said he has no intention of retiring or resting on his laurels. Wilkoń said he has a new project on his agenda, a book entitled Psie życie (It's a Dog's Life).

A painter and sculptor as well as illustrator, Wilkoń is known around the world. The Japanese city of Oshima has gathered a collection of 300 works by Wilkoń, on display at the Oshima Museum of Picture Books.

Works by Wilkoń have been shown at more than 60 exhibitions worldwide. He is the only Pole among 168 children's book writers and illustrators from around the world nominated for this year's Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in Sweden. The winners will be announced in March at a book fair in Bologna, Italy.

At the end of last year, the Media Rodzina publishing house published Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book with illustrations by Wilkoń. He produced a total of 240 drawings for the book, but only 80 illustrations are printed in the new edition.

D.P.