– Dr. Seuss
The Impact of Reading or Being Read to as a Child Cannot be Understated
The most tender memories I have with my children is the hours we would spend before bed and even during the day gobbling up new information, new ways of seeing others, life lessons, and being transported to new and exciting worlds of adventure. As my children have become adults, I've held on to all of those memories. They are each thoughtfully filed away on their many curated shelves, waiting patiently to be unfurled once again.
Millie Fleur's Poison Garden, by Christie Mandin was the most recent book I picked up this summer in Montana while visiting my son. One of my favorite things to do is shop for children's books and check out the most recent illustrators and see what they're up to. This one really stood out to me and the message of the story is just as sweet and compelling. The illustrations are modern, whimsical, interesting, and speak to the current crop of kiddos and to their parents, which is just as important.
History of Children's Book Illustration
The art of storytelling goes back to some of the first humans on earth. Man began creating pictures on cave walls to tell a story not
long after that. From then until now, the history of storytelling and creating images for those tales has unfolded in really fascinating ways. Learning about the the history of
children's book illustration really made me think about how much and how little this art form has changed.
Different Styles of Illustration
When I think Eric Carle's books with his Hungry Caterpillar and Brown Bear, might be some of the first memories of illustration most children, at least American children, have. His unique medium choices, his use of color and whitespace distinguished Carle as a prolific illustrator and children's book author.
Iconc Illustrators
Arnold Lobel's Frod and Toad adventures, which were adapted from the classic English stories of The Wind In the Willows (Illustrated by E.H. Shepard, written by Kenneth Grahame’s. Also illustrated the Kenneth Grahame's Winnie-the-Pooh books). Another prolific illustrator to be celebrated and whose nostalgic characters who will live on in us forever. Lobel's seemingly simple drawings have few colors but a huge impact.
The Caldecott Medal and It's Unique History
David Shannon is considered one of the most iconic authors and illustrators today. His unique style and illustrations have
earned him more than one Caldecott medal. The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Graphic Designers and Children's Book Illustration
It might surprise you to know many famous graphic designers were also children's books illustrators. A few notable designers were Leo Leonni, Abnor Graboff, Saul Bass, Milton Glaser, Paula Scher, and even Paul Rand. Other designer's styles have been honored in children's books and their illustrations like Mathew Burgess's book, Make Meatballs Sing about Coretia Kent-the 1970's radical nun, artist, teacher, social justice activist, and long-undersung pop art pioneer.
