These discussions of the relationship between artists’ lives and the stories they produce, preferences regarding medium or style, and the unique confluences of circumstance, market and passion are indubitably worthwhile.
—Kirkus Reviews
Eighty-eight plates round out the engaging portraits and take readers through the creative process from early sketch to finished piece. Artistically inclined teens will find much to inspire them here, but they are not the obvious audience. Rather, these compelling interviews—and foreword by David Weisner—will reinforce what teachers, librarians, and parents already know: picture books matter.
—Booklist
Along with the artists’ eloquent musings on their sources of inspiration, Marcus’s disarming queries elicit a fine array of revealing experiences, methods of working, and motivations for illustrating for children.
—The Horn Book
Marcus is the master of asking questions, most often dealing with childhood and the discovery of artistic talent, that invite deep and detailed responses. Thus, information and insights shared by the interviewed artists are revealing and sometimes unexpected.Who knew that in her youth Vera Williams was truly a free spirit, that Sir Quentin Blake is now a Knight of the Realm, or that Maurice Sendak is such a fragile and tortured soul?
—VOYA
This volume provides inspiration and insight into the creative process.
—School Library Journal
Could be considered like chatting with your favorite American children’s book authors while gathered around the kitchen table. And oh, the stories they’ll tell.
—ForeWord Reviews
Along with Sendak, 20 other artists discuss in these pages their work, their childhoods and their years of creative development. In the process, we get some endearing insights into the origins of certain much-beloved books.
—The Wall Street Journal
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