Dilys Evans, author of Show & Tell, states in her author’s note that this book is not a “best of” list. Instead, she has selected twelve different artists to showcase the variety of fine art in children’s book illustration. According to the blurb on the book jacket, Evans has advised Caldecott committees in the past. By writing this book, her hope is to “help all of us who value children’s books to find a universal language to use to talk about art on the page; a vocabulary that helps describe this unique form of artistic expression with greater clarity and common understanding. And that we will then take that vocabulary and use it to explore the many other wonderful books that are on our shelves.” (p. 7)
Evans does an excellent job discussing the selected illustrators and describing their works to offer interested readers ways to move beyond “I like it” to actually discussing how the illustrations work within a story, telling the story, enhancing the story. On page 92, she writes of David Shannon and includes questions that are important when considering illustration in children’s books:
As we look at the pictures in this book, we’re not just looking at them, we are looking into them, to find the story. How does color set the mood and emotion? Is the line bold, pointed, sharp-edged, and energetic for action? Or is it thin, curving, and subtle for quiet motion or stillness?
These choices affect our perception of the scene. As does the overall composition of the picture. There will be signs of direction, perhaps the moving left to right to keep the pages turning. Or at an important moment in the story, notice how the composition may be designed to stop the action right there and cause the reader to pause just a moment.
If you are curious about what kind of conversations might be taking place during an ALSC Caldecott committee meeting, read this book. If you know that illustration is a vital part of children’s literature but don’t feel you have the vocabulary to stress its importance, read this book.
Molly Bang’s Picture This: How Pictures Work is another resource to offer you a better understanding of artistic technique and visual art in general. Bang’s book has been used in mock Caldecott Election programs that I have attended. Are there any books you have found helpful in discussions of children’s book illustration?