Companion to American Children's Picture Books

by Connie Ann Kirk

Overview

With advances in printing technology, the American children's picture book has evolved into a distinct and special art form. This reference thoroughly overviews the rich and fascinating world of American children's picture books. Included are more than 400 alphabetically arranged entries on authors, illustrators, works, and such specialized topics as the Caldecott Medal, linoleum cuts, pastels, and printing technology. The entries for works provide publication information, plot summaries, interesting anecdotes, and other information. The volume closes with a bibliography and numerous appendices.

With advances in printing technology, the American children's picture book has evolved into a distinct and special art form. These books are treasured by children, collectors, and librarians and are also attracting growing amounts of scholarly interest. This reference thoroughly chronicles the rich and fascinating world of American children's picture books. It focuses on the shorter books for younger children as well as the more recent picture book formats geared toward older children and even young adults.

Included are more than 400 alphabetically arranged entries on authors, illustrators, works, and such special topics as the Caldecott Medal, linoleum cuts, pastels, and printing technology. The entries on works include basic publication information, plot summaries, characters, awards, and interesting facts. In addition, these entries conveniently list Library of Congress subject headings related to the book. The volume closes with a bibliography and numerous appendices.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313322877
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/30/2005
Pages:	440
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

CONNIE ANN KIRK is an author and independent scholar specializing in American and children's literature and the poet, Emily Dickinson. Her books from Greenwood Press include: J.K. Rowling: A Biography, Emily Dickinson: A Biography, Mark Twain: A Biography, Sylvia Plath: A Biography, and The Companion to American Children's Picture Books.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Picture Book Basics
What is a Picture Book?
A Brief History of American Picture Books for Children
Parts of a Picture Book
How Picture Books Work
Evaluating a Picture Book
About the Companion
Selection Criteria for the Companion
How to Use the Companion
General Topics in the Companion
400 A-Z Entries
Notes
Further Reading
Appendix A: Caldecott Medalists and Honor Books, by Year
Appendix B: Caldecott Medalists and Honor Books, by Illustrator
Appendix C: Caldecott Medalists and Honor Books, by Author
Appendix D: Caldecott Medalists and Honor Books, by Title
Appendix E: Charlotte Zolotow Book Awards for Best Picture Book Text
Appendix F: Coretta Scott King Book Awards and Honor Books
Appendix G: Pura Belpre Medalists and Honor Books
Appendix H: Reading Rainbow Books
Appendix I: Review Periodicals
Appendix J: Collections and/or Repositories of Materials on Picture Books and Their Creators
Appendix K: Birthdays of Picture Book Companion Authors/Artists, Alphabetically
Appendix L: Birthdays of Picture Book
Companion Authors/Artists, Chronologically
Appendix M: Subjects Listing of Picture Book Companion Titles
Appendix N: 2006-2010 Award-Winning Picture Books
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Some 400 alphabetical entries provide information on authors, artists, works, and general topics related to the creation, study, and use of American picture books for children. Selected titles were intended to give a good cross-section of critically acclaimed and popular books as well as works of historical and scholarly interest. They include fiction, poetry, biographies, and some concept works, such as alphabets. Author Kirk writes for an audience of readers, librarians, educators, scholars, editors, authors, and artists.” —Art Book News Annual

“This reference work contains approximately 400 entries on notable American picture books, important picture book authors and illustrators, artistic terms and techniques, and relevant awards.” —Children's Literature Association Quarterly

“Kirk begins with an infomative introduction that covers the definition, history, and specific parts, and methods of evaluating picture books. the main body of the work consists of over 400 alphabetically arranged entries providing information on authors, illustrators, various awards, and definitions of terms as they relate to the picture book….There is a lot of good information here.” —School Library Jourbanal

“[T]his Companion is a worthwhile addition to most school and public library collections.” —Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

“[A]n invaluable reference to any who would collect or learn about these shorter books for kids, as well as picture books intended for young adults and older kids.” —MBR Bookwatch

From the Publisher

Kirk begins with an informative introduction that covers the definition, history, specific parts, and methods of evaluating picture books. The main body of the work consists of over 400 alphabetically arranged entries providing information on authors, illustrators, various awards, and definitions of terms as they relate to the picture book. The author describes her selection criteria for the entries in her preface, having given priority to those works that garnered awards, followed by those that have made it onto recognized lists and publications such as the New York Public Library's "100 Books Every Child Should Know," Eden Ross Lipson's The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children (Three Rivers, 2000), etc. A conscious effort was also made to balance subject matter, diversity, popularity, and impact on the genre. The result is an eclectic mix, with some entries providing a decent scope, and some that are so brief as to render their inclusion questionable. Many of the summaries are flat descriptions of the plot and provide no real insight into the book. There is a lot of good information here, but most of it is already available in other sources.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal