Figure 1.-- This is an illustration from the Ladybird Key Words Reading Scheme meaning many British children learned to read with these books and illustrations. The idyllic world of Peter and Jane helped British children learn to read. We believe John Berry was the illustrator. .

John Leslie Berry is best known for his for Ladybirds books. His most famous work is the ionic Esso Tiger, although few who of the hundreds of millions who have seen the Esso Tiger know who the illustrator was. John was born in Hammersmith, West London (1920). His father was a foreman on the rail system. He displayed an artistic artistic talent at an early age. He began at the Hammersmith School of Art, studying under Alfred Egerton Cooper and William Dring (1934). He showed am interest in figure painting and etchings. His developing talent won him a scholarship to the Royal Academy Schools (1939). This was the wrong time to earn a scholarship. He could not begin his studies there because Britain was forced to go to War by Hitler and the NAZIs. He became an official war artist assigned to the Eighth Army fighting in the Western Desert, especially Egypt. Much of his work is held by the Imperial War Museum. He gathered material for paintings in historical periods like the 17th century as well as Islamic themes. After the War he began working with Ladybird, a publisher of children's books (1950s). Many of these books did not identify the illustrator. Other major Ladybird illustrators were Frank Hampson, Charles Tunnicliffe, and Harry Wingfield. He worked with Ladybird for three decades (1950s-70s). He was active in the Key Words Reading Scheme meaning many British children learned to read with these books and illustrations. It was Berry that drew the first Esso Tiger. Berry also did portraits of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Princess Dianna, President George Bush Sr, and other prominent figures. He did a range of contract work.

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Created: 4:33 PM 6/8/2026
Last updated: 4:34 PM 6/8/2026