Children's Picturebooks

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Children's picturebooks are the very first books we encounter, and they form an important, constantly evolving, and dynamic sector of the publishing world. But what does it take to create a successful picture book for children? In this publication, Martin Salisbury and Morag Styles introduce us to the world of children's picturebooks, providing a solid background to the industry while exploring the key concepts and practices that have gone into the creation of successful picturebooks.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Salisbury (illustration, Anglia Ruskin Univ., UK) and Styles (children's literature, Univ. of Cambridge, UK) discuss all aspects of both the theory and the practice of the hybrid art form of picture books-e.g., the history of picture books, visual literacy, and the children's publishing industry. Professional case studies highlight individual works and explain particular techniques in detail. Essential for a book about picture books, this guide contains a wealth of picture book covers, page spreads, and initial sketches covering a very wide range of styles. -VERDICT This book will serve as a thorough introduction to picture books for art students, education students, graphic designers, and parents. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CHOICE Review

Salisbury (Anglia Ruskin Univ., UK) and Styles (Univ. of Cambridge, UK) have created a volume that is both informative and inspiring. The information on illustrators and their respective works offered here will be a valuable acquisitions resource for librarians who are serious about collecting children's books. The scope of the featured works is international. Chapters range from "A Brief History of the Picturebook" to "The Children's Publishing Industry." Arranged chronologically, the narrative moves from the application of traditional art form as illustration to the modern use of digital art. Excellent examples of books and illustrators are provided, with the bulk covering the period from the 1930s to the present day. On another level, this work is useful as art appreciation in and of itself, providing readers with an understanding of the illustrators' perspectives. This knowledge moves readers beyond the usual relationship to the text and its accompanying imagery. Perhaps illustrator Kow Fong Lee's perspective, so aptly stated here, expresses the essence of this work: "I believe the appreciation of visual art is universal." This work makes it even more so. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. A. Salter Oglethorpe University