Book Review - A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION...by Leonard Marcus

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Marcus, Leonard S. 1999. A CALDECOTT CELEBRATION: SIX ARTISTS AND THEIR PATHS TO THE CALDECOTT MEDAL. New York, NY: Walker and Company. ISBN 0802786561


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Readers are given a chance to go behind the illustrations of six different artists spanning six different decades. We are allowed to see preliminary sketches and read about the methods and "madness" behind the images.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

One would surmise that the illustrations are the whole story. However, the writing adds much to the enjoyment of this book, going behind the scenes and allowing the reader to, in effect, "walk" into the art studio. In many ways, reading about the illustrations and the process in getting there is much more interesting than the illustrations themselves.


In this book, the reader finds interesting facts about the illustrators; such as the information that McCloskey (MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS) gives a true story about a family of ducks in Beacon Hill and actually lived with sixteen ducks to find out more about them; or that Marcia Brown (CINDERELLA)actually cut out her illustrations and used them like dolls as she arranged them on a page.


It is interesting to see how much work actually goes into the drawing process. Anatomical studies and research and multiple attempts are par for the course, not simply sitting and sketching.

This book is not necessarily light reading, but it is interesting to see the scene behind the scenes.



4. REVIEW EXCERPTS


* Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "Filled with witty anecdotes and pithy observations, Marcus’s approach to examining the works of six Caldecott Medalists will be of as much interest to adults as to picture book readers."


* Starred review in BOOKLIST: "A lively, informative introduction to each book and its maker. A beautifully made book, this will serve as a fine resource for children interested in illustration and for teachers researching author/ illustrator studies."



5. CONNECTIONS


* An obvious connection would be to pull books by the six artists discussed here and look at the illustrations, comparing and contrasting the different styles.

* Most children are excited to draw. My school could have the "Cubacott" awards (my school is Cuba Elementary), handed out to the "best" artistic rendering of a story.