Fantastical dragons, adorable woodland creatures and whimsical unicorns.

Children’s fantasy book illustrator and longtime Colorado Springs resident Michael Hague died March 10. He was 77.

Hague is survived by his wife and frequent artistic collaborator, Kathleen Hague, and three children, one of whom, Devon Hague, he also collaborated with on a graphic novel.

After studying at the ArtCenter College of Design in Los Angeles, the artist went on to a prolific career and became well-known for illustrating classics like “The Hobbit,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Reluctant Dragon,” “The Wind in the Willows,” “Aesop’s Fables” and “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

“Michael was a gentle, powerful, deeply loved and admired force. His imagination, artistry, generosity and kindness shaped our world and expanded our own imaginations,” said Imagination Celebration Executive Director Deborah Thornton. “His personal world was very creative with Kathleen, very loving with his family and friends. But as much loved as he was, he never felt pretentious or inflated. He was always delightful to be with you, and his humor would sneak up on you.”

For decades, beginning in 1989, Hague volunteered to design an annual dragon poster for the local nonprofit arts organization Imagination Celebration, the last of which was a steampunk dragon for the What if… Festival of Innovation and Imagination.

“Through time, the dragons had different personalities reflecting what was going on with the Imagination Celebration and the community and sometimes even Michael’s own life,” Thornton said. “When his last child went off to college, Michael’s poster was a little sad that year. The dragon was sad.”

Hooked on Books co-owner Mary Ciletti first learned of Hague as a kindergarten teacher in Australia, when her mother sent her calendars and cards designed by Hague from Current, a local greeting card, paper products and gift company where he once worked. Before moving to the Springs, he also worked at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Mo.

Hague held at least 10 book signings at Hooked on Books through the years.

“Every time I sold one, I felt a little pang of can I get one for my children? He had such a range,” Ciletti said. “There was a show called ‘Thirtysomething,’ and one of the characters was an illustrator. They used Michael’s work in the series as her work.”