Picture Book-Review 2

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Marcus, Leonard S. 1998. A Caldecott Celebration: Six Artists and Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal. New York. Walker Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 0802786561

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Through this nonfiction text readers undergo an exploration of the paths followed by children’s book illustrators to create works that have led them to win the honored Caldecott Medal Award. Author Leonard Marcus presents the memorable challenges and events that led to the final publication of 6 award winning children’s books from illustrators Robert McCloskey, Marcia Brown, Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner. For every author’s course of work, readers are provided with pictures, thumbnails, or sketches that depict the customary ever changing ideas which will eventually lead to a final product.


3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This is definitely a book for those who are interested in the process of illustrating children’s books or simply wanting to gain information about valued illustrators. Leonard Marcus enables the reader to form part in the lives of illustrators through actual interview excerpts from the illustrators, publishers, editors, and friends of the illustrators. For readers who are not familiar with the honor of receiving a Caldecott Medal or Caldecott Honor, the introduction serves to provide awareness about the definitions and significance of these. The Glossary provided at closing assists the novice art and illustrating techniques reader with a tool to clarify meanings. Most enticingly, however, is the inclusion of the authentic sketches and dummies that preceded an award winning work. They serve to show the seeking of perfection as the illustrator works to select the best shape, texture, lines, etc. to help make a text come alive.

4.REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST starred review: “A lively, informative introduction to each book and its maker. A beautifully made book, this will serve as a fine resource for children interested in illustration and for teachers researching author/ illustrator studies.”

THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS starred review: "Eminently satisfying."

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review: “Filled with witty anecdotes and pithy observations, Marcus’s approach to examining the works of six Caldecott Medalists will be of as much interest to adults as to picture book readers.”

5.CONNECTIONS
-Read some of the listed Caldecott Medal Award Books. Provide pages with sample text from stories and ask students to become illustrators for that day.
-Use as part of a unit on author or illustrator studies.
-Choose one Caldecott Medal Award Book and write a letter to the illustrator.
-Other similar books:
Cummings, Pat. Talking With Artists: Volume 1 (Talking with Artists) ISBN 0027242455
Marcus, Leonard S. Side by Side: Five Favorite Picture-Book Teams Go to Work ISBN 0802796168