Due to the sheer proliferation of book jackets featuring photographs rather than illustrations, I think the time is right to offer a little ode of praise to our brave illustrators who work so hard to give us great illustrated chapter book covers. In an age when it feels like all the teen covers are dedicated to giving us variations on the same theme, it’s refreshing to consider that some artists do more than just Photoshop a girl’s dress from pink to blue.
That said, sometimes it’s hard to tell who the cover artist is on an individual book. A lot of galleys and advanced readers copies may refuse to mention the jacket artist’s name, perhaps because they are reserving the right to choose a different cover at any time. As for the artists themselves, they’re not usually all that prompt with their online portfolios. With that in mind, these are the only artists I could think of off the top of my head that are doing more than one chapter book cover in the year 2010. If you can think of someone I’ve missed (or can identify another 2010 cover that is by an artist listed here) please let me know and I’ll add them as time permits.
Here’s a guy that sneaks up on you. You don’t notice him for a while and then BLAMMO! The dude seems to be everywhere. This year Altmann’s been impressing youngsters with …
The Smoky Corridor by Chris Grabenstein:
The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean:
The Shadow Hunt by Katherine Langrish:
The Ring of Five by Eoin McNamee:
On the other side of the pond Altmann gets his own fair share of work. I was pleased as punch, for example, to see that they had reissued Astrid Lindgren’s Ronia the Robber’s Daughter over there this year.
Not that I don’t still love the original Trina Schart Hyman illustrations from over here.
While fellow artist Brandon Dorman does the Fablehaven books in the States, Altmann is doing them in the UK. He’s also doing the Charlie Bone series over there as well. All the more interesting that he didn’t do the UK versi
Very cool. I have so much admiration for cover artists who still use traditional media. (In fact, it’s what I kind of thought I’d be doing with my life! Funny how that happens, or doesn’t.)
Beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Both my books are coming out in paperback next Spring – with photographic covers. I’m kind of “meh” about both of them – they’re nice, but they’re nothing like the illustrated versions. Hopefully someday I will rate some lovely work such as this!
So nice to see those lovely illustrated covers amongst so many photographic ones. I for one, really detest the new photographic covers of Shannon Hale’s Books of Bayern (Goose Girl, Enna Burning, etc). The older illustrated covers are so gorgeous (by Alison Jay) and in my opinion, they go much better with the books.
Wow, exciting, thanks for sharing, Betsy!
Hey, Betsy. Thanks for including me in the list (I like you too, by the way). Unfortunately, I have to correct you. The publisher decided to replace me for the paperback cover of Lucky Breaks. So that one isn’t mine. The girl on Spilling Ink however is definitely by me.
Brilliant gathering, as usual. Thanks so much for posting this.
Whaa! Tis not Matt Phelan on book #2? Well then it’s a pretty good copy, I must say. I shall correct!
I have been fortunate enough to have Scott Altmann’s art on the covers of my last two Haunted Mysteries. He’s fantastic. And, I know he reads the whole book before creating his covers because he works in tiny details from deep into the text!
I was so glad to read that the new cover art was Matt’s, after all, even if it does feel several steps away from his usual wonderful work. (Nothing against you or your work, new guy/gal, whoever you are.) Then Matt had to go and correct the record. I’m sure somebody somewhere thought they had their reasons, but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Otherwise — it’s great to see these covers. Thanks for the post, and hats off to the art directors who look beyond the stock catalogs!
Great twist on the theme–fabulous to celebrate the artists that don’t get as much recognition as the authors. Thank you!
Alas, I see no John Rocco for all the Rick Riordan book covers he has done. The Red Pyramid came out in May
I do love John’s work. Alas, he only had one book out this year. I probably should have included him anyway. And you, sir! I should have had your Lisa Yee book, your R.A. Spratt book, and your Attack of the Cute Fluffy Bunnies books! I’ll add ‘em when I get home tonight.
What a feast for the eyes! Gorgeous covers. Thanks for highlighting these talented artists!
Jennifer Cervantes