Children's Books and Their Creators [Hardcover]

Anita Silvey (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1995

Unique in its coverage of contemporary American children's literature, Children's Books and Their Creators is a timely single-volume reference covering the books our children are - or could be - reading now, from board books to young adult novels. Entries by nearly 200 experts inform and guide readers about every aspect of children's literature. What picture books best satisfy children's curiosity and capture their imaginations? When should children be introduced to science and poetry? Should parents worry if their teenagers read thrillers and comics? Children's Books and Their Creators includes overviews such as "Easy Readers," "Sports Stories," and "Holocaust Literature for Children," as well as entries on creators such as Judy Blume, Dr. Seuss, and Chris Van Allsburg. Reflecting the flourishing state of multicultural publishing, the book features contributions by and about Native American, African American, Latino, and Asian American writers, including Michael Dorris, Virginia Hamilton, Gary Soto, and Allen Say. This volume is enhanced by more than 175 illustrations in both black-and-white and color, featuring the work of Maurice Sendak, Edward Gorey, Robert McCloskey, David Macauley, and others.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An invaluable reference volume for anyone interested children's literature -- especially parents! More than 800 entries on the best-loved children's authors and illustrators, overviews of genres, and discussion of the history of and social issues pertaining to children's literature. Includes contributions by more than 200 writers, illustrators, and critics, as well as carefully selected reading lists arranged by category.

About the Author

Anita Silvey has spent more than thirty years in the children's book field, including several years as the Vice President and Publisher of Childrens Books for Houghton Mifflin Company, and eleven years as editor-in-chief at the Horn Book Magazine, during which time she launched the bi-annual publication of the Horn Book Guide. She is the editor of Children's Books and Their Creators.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 816 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1St Edition edition (September 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395653800
• ISBN-13: 978-0395653807
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,578,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN ESSENTIAL REFERENCE!, November 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Children's Books and Their Creators (Hardcover)

The entries were edited by Anita Silvey, distinguished editor at the Horn Book. The amount of information in this book is remarkable. In addition to the wealth of biographical information concerning authors and artists, there are sections of color plates of illustrations from notable children's books and a comprehensive index as well as autobiographical entries by notable figures in the field (such as Beverly Cleary) and topic-related lists of recommended titles. This book will be useful for parents, teachers, librarians, and anyone interested in the art of creating books for children. Take it home, flip to random pages, and start making a list of all the great books you're going to read! From classics to pop-up books, this reference covers them all.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative Works of Minds, May 28, 2000

By 

Adam Mandeville - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children's Books and Their Creators (Hardcover)

This book was helpful, delightful, and extremely wonderful. I found exactly what I wanted in this book except for some tiny things, which was okay because it helped me so much. I recomend it to people who want to know what's going on behind the books that bring kids joy.