Artist to Artist

1. BIBILIOGRAPHY
Lee, P. (Editor); Brigg s, David (Editor); Palmer, Courtenay (Editor). 2008. ARTIST TO ARTIST 23 MAJOR ILLUSTRATORS TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR ART. New York, NY: Philomel Books. ISBN0 978-0-399-24600-5
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Artist to Artist 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children about Their Art is an anthology of personal stories by beloved illustrators that benefits the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. In this book, children’s most popular artists share how they became artist. Featured illustrators include pictures of themselves as young children and write excerpts that speak personally to children. The collection includes a diverse group of artists that use a variety of different art mediums.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Illustrators have spent an inordinate amount of the time in the background since authors all too often receive center stage. In this wonderful book, illustrators are the stars of the show. Furthermore, illustrators have a voice and use it to share about themselves, their childhood, and how they became illustrators. Many artists share about the process they go through in order to create art for picture books. All the illustrators present children with different examples of their own unique style. Some Artists speak very personally to children and are very honest, such as Nancy Ekholm Burkett who writes, “Because I felt very alone as a child, drawing became my companion, and my bridge to the World.” This is just one example of many that help children to understand the importance of art as a form of self-expression and as a means to connect with others.
In addition, artists utilize their own unique style in making their self portrait. Since photographs are included of the artists, it is very entertaining to discuss the difference between how the artist actually looks and how they illustrate themselves. In their self-portraits, the illustrators do an amazing job of teaching how much one can learn from drawings by paying attention to the details. In addition, children learn the power of art to communicate and do so without the need for words.
In Artist to Artist 23 Major Illustrators Talk to Children about Their Art , illustrators invite children into their profession and share with them their love of art. In fact, the book itself is an invitation to children to explore their own unique style. The artists do a masterful job of relating to children that there is no right or wrong way to “do” art. They simply encourage children to undertake the journey of creating in order to discover more about themselves and the world around them.
4. AWARDS WON AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: A gorgeous, browsable gallery of international treasures.
KIRKUS: *Starred Review* Fun to read and view, this anthology is a treasure trove of creative insight and inspiration.
5. CONNECTIONS
If children, young and old, enjoyed this book, they may also enjoy:
Carle, Eric. THE ART OF ERIC CARLE. ISBN 0399240020
Evans, Dilys. SHOW AND TELL: EXPLORING OF THE FINE ART OF CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATION. ISBN-13: 9780811849715

Salisbury, Martin. PLAY PEN: NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATION. ISBN: 9781856695244