Module 1 Picture Books -Book 3

1. Bibliography
Marcus,Leonard S.2001.
Side by Side:Five Favorite Picture-Book Teams go to Work.
New York,NY:Walker and Company. ISBN:0802787797

2.Plot Summary
A look at the collaborations that produced some of our most beloved picture books.

The author and illustrator interviews,photographs,drawings and handwritten notes help readers gain an understanding of all the labor that goes into creating a good children's book. The handwritten lists, as well as the thumbnail sketches which serve as very early rough drafts give the reader an insight into the creative process.Information about each collaboration is supplemented with examples of the illustrators' artwork in other publications such as Lane Smith's travel magazine illustrations. A helpful time line and biographical information are provided for each team.

3. Critical Analysis
The examination of the entire process is fascinating,but the "dummies" or page mock-ups of what will eventually become the final layout are especially interesting. All the chapters are worthwhile. However,the most memorable chapter of the book takes a look at writer Julius Lester's and illustrator Jerry Pinkney's artistic choices as they improve upon and update the negative portrayals of African Americans in Helen Bannerman's Little Black Sambo. Leonard Marcus portrays the history of this troubling book without resorting to inflammatory language,yet deals honestly with the underlying issues of stereotypes in a way that respects the intelligence of his readers. Side by Side is written in an easy-to-follow and engaging style aimed at the intermediate reader.

4.Review Excerpts
Publisher's Weekly Review
"Readers snared by their interest in the teams behind favorites such as the Magic School Bus series and The Stinky Cheese Man will appreciate the insights into the inner workings of bookmaking, and may well end up appreciating the books more for the energy and ingenuity it takes to create them."

The Horn Book
With his broad knowledge of the field and the imagination to communicate that knowledge to others, Leonard Marcus here provides unusual insight into the topic of artistic partnerships.

5.Connections
Encourage teams of older children to collaborate on their own story-telling project with original text and artwork.
Gather the books mentioned in Side-by-Side and talk about the specific illustrations reproduced in the book and what makes them special.

Other books about the artistry of children's literature:
Evans,Dilys.Show and Tell: Explore the Fine Art of Children's Book.ISBN:9780811849715

Graham,Paula W. (ed.)Speaking of Journals:Children's Book Writers Talk About their Diaries,Notebooks, and Sketchbooks.
ISBN:1563977419