We're delighted to welcome Hannah Shaw as July's guest illustrator. She discusses how it is to be both an author and an illustrator.
Dianne Hofmeyr has no need to worry about picture book authors who don't illustrate being left in the cold. From the perspective of an illustrator who illustrates for others but does write too, there is room for all of us!
My most recent picture book collaboration with Gareth Edwards (The Disgusting Sandwich) is probably my favourite picture book so far. I had far more art direction and involvement from the wonderful team at Alison Green than on any of my previous books. I think the end result shows that. I also feel that Gareth's writing brought out something exciting and new in my drawings that I might not have done in my own work. |
A spread from the Disgusting Sandwich |
Another author / illustrator collaboration that caught my eye recently was 'Oi Frog!' by Kes Gray and Jim Field. That is my picture book of the year, what an hilarious book! What a fabulous pairing. And where would we be without Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, or Julia Donaldson and David Roberts for that matter? |
Oi Frog images by Jim Field and Kes Gray |
Saying that I do think prizes like the Greenaway are very much focused on the artistic merit of a book rather than the story. I also think they often choose books that appeal to adults rather than necessarily to children - but I think that is another debate.
As an illustrator I do admit that overall, I find illustrating my own books an easier process, I have far more artistic control and generally I feel happier illustrating my own stories, it doesn't necessarily mean that the end result is better but I feel this is the case for my Stan
Could Pic-fic be the future of young fiction for reluctant readers? Children are used to the bombardment of images from TV and online media. A heavily illustrated fiction book does pique their interest. I  |
Tom Gates by Liz Pichon another example of Pic-Fic |
am a very visual person and as I write, I know exactly what kind of illustration I am going to add. Often I leave gaping holes in my text as I know that I can get my message across as a series of images instead.
I guess my argument is that books are always evolving and collaboration can be a wonderful thing but having a book which has a strong author-illustrator means no compromises. The best books will always be by authors or author/illustrators who keep pace with changes and push the boundaries, bringing new ideas to life, whatever their skills.
By Nina Schuyler, The Children’s Book Review
Published: April 5, 2012
Photo credit: Jasmic
In his essay, “Hypocritical Theory,” in Manhood for Amateurs, Michael Chabon opens with the provocative, “I hate Captain Underpants.” Yes, Chabon agrees the popular series written by Dav Pilkey is “lively, well crafted and snappily designed,” and if he was a kid, he’d probably love the books, too. Really, how could he not enjoy the two potty-minded fourth grade boys who invent Super Diaper Baby? What he hates is that the series has co-opted the gross humor that kids use, typically out of earshot of adults. “The original spirit of mockery has been completely inverted; it is now the adult world that mocks children, implicitly and profitably, speaking its old language, invoking its bygone secret pleasures,” writes Chabon.
If Chabon has trouble with Captain Underpants, he’s probably having a big hissy fit over the scores of books that have followed suit. Writers and publishers have taken note that humor is the way to a kid’s (especially a boy’s) reading heart. Just this morning, as I drove the carpool of third-grade boys to school, one boy was holding court by reading from The Encyclopedia of Immaturity (full of silly tricks and pranks—how to make noises with different body parts; how to really annoy your older sibling; and the all-important, how to hang a spoon off your nose).
Since the genie has been let out of the bottle, and since April is National Humor Month, I’ve put together a list of some recently published books that will keep your kid laughing (and reading).
By Erik Craddock
Erik Craddock is out with #7 in his Stone Rabbit graphic novel series, with its central character a zany, quick-witted rabbit. In #7 Dragon Boogie, when the electricity goes out, Stone Rabbit and his buddies have to play a boring board game, Dragon & Stuff. They unknowingly roll a pair of magical die, and poof! they are transported to the world of the game itself, with wizards and knights, and a dragon with a “bad case of stink breath” who takes offense at being called fat. Eventually they confront the Lord of Darkness, and the fight is on, with one of their weapons being, of course, a “mighty fart.” (Ages 7-10. Publisher: Random House Children’s Books)
By Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Jarrett J. Krosoczka is back with
Here’s the next batch of free activity sheets from children’s book authors and illustrators! Happy creating, colouring and doodling!
Hannah Shaw has written 14 books, both picture books and chapter books, including the brilliant Great Hamster Massacre and School for Bandits (which I reviewed here). You can find out more about her and her work in my interview with her here.
Hannah’s website has plenty of excuses for getting the pens, pencils and scissors out including…
Designing a sheep!
Making a sandwich fit for a hungry squirrel
David Melling has illustrated over 60 books including Good Knight Sleep Tight and The Kiss that Missed.
David Melling has created a really handy activity pack full of fun things to do including creating your own goblin family, designing and making your own shield and plenty of colouring in opportunities! He’s also got a useful Teaching Guide to his books which contains even more ideas for getting up to crafty fun.
Shel Silverstein was an American poet, cartoonist, singer-songwriter (he wrote A Boy named Sue, made famous by Johnny Cash) and more. He’s well known in the US, although his famous children’ book The Giving Tree is widely loathed as much as it is loved.
On Shel Silverstein’s website there’s…
A 20 page booklet of activities to go with Cuttin’ Kate and an 8 page poetry kit packed fun including word searches and rhyming games.
a number of online games and downloads
Once again, these activity sheets are great if you’ve read the books in question, but many also work well if you’ve not seen the book so don’t be put off from clicking on through if you’re not familiar with the author/illustrator in question. It’s a great chance to discover someone new to enjoy ![](http://www.playingbythebook.net/wp-i
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by Hannah ShawKnopf 2010You expect me to believe that if a kid found a live rodent in his snack food that he'd befriend it until his mother told him to get rid of it? Seriously?Sometimes I think I take picture books a little too seriously, a little too literally. Sometimes I forget that I have put on my picture book kid hat, a hat that sometimes sits casually on my head at a goofy angle and
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I can’t make the David Melling link work?
Thank you again for a lovely round up – we have the Giving Tree and we can’t work out whether we like it or not! But we do read it… a reasonable amount.. so maybe we do?
Maggy
Hi Maggy, the first david melling link is a zip file and the second is a pdf. I’ve just opened them both fine from this page… You could also try via his homepage http://www.davidmelling.co.uk/