Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Nonfiction Picture Book Review-ARTIST TO ARTIST




1. Bibliography
Carle, Eric. 2007. Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children About Their Art. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399246002

2. Plot Summary
This beautifully made book consists of notes from distinguished illustrators to young aspiring artists. The impressive list of artists include Tomie de Paola, Chris Van Allsburg, Quentin Blake and many other dearly loved children's book illustrators. Heartfelt letters touch on individual artist's childhood beginnings, education, experiences, studio environments, daily schedules, and personal thoughts and feelings. Illustrators also give advice and encouragement to young people who have the desire to create art. All profits from this book go to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

3. Critical Analysis
Each one page note from the illustrator is accompanied by pictures and samples of the illustrator's work on the opposing folded page. A very diverse group of illustrators were chosen for this book while all sharing the honor of being distinguished in their field. Artistic styles run the gamut from whimsical and child-like to extremely realistic. The personality and emotions of the illustrators really shine through in their narratives.The work samples are very helpful in drawing connections for the reader between picture books and illustrators that they may or may not be familiar with. The sectional format of the book makes for an easy and aesthetically pleasing read.

The underlying theme throughout this book is one of encouragement from a mentor to a would-be artist. All of these artists came from different backgrounds. They were not all born with the innate ability to draw beautiful artwork. They were not all good in school- in fact, the opposite is more common. Not all of them knew from an early age that this was absolutely what they wanted to do with their lives. But they do all have a few things in common. They all had a desire to draw and create. And they all had people in their lives that encouraged them to follow their heart-which a is role they are seeking to fill in the minds and hearts of tomorrow's artists.

4. Review Excerpts
Kirkus Reviews-"Fun to read and view, this anthology is a treasure trove of creative insight and inspiration."
School Library Journal-"...the end result is a gorgeous, browsable gallery of international treasures, with a behind-the-scenes tour led by the generous and gifted creators themselves."
Publishers Weekly- "...offers kids and parents insight into the creative processes of renowned artists."

5. Connections
Other books that showcase picture book illustrators include:
Gr. 7 and up:
Evans, Dilys. Show and Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration. ISBN 9780811849715
Gr 4 and up:
Marcus, Leonard S. A Caldecott Celebration: Seven Artists and Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal. ISBN 9780802797032
Gr 3 and up:
Marcus, Leonard S. Side by Side: Five Favorite Picture Book Teams Go to Work. ISBN 9780802787781

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