How a Book Is Made (Reading Rainbow Book) [Paperback]

Aliki (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Reading Rainbow Book

Who made this book?

(We all did!)

Author-Artist (Illustrator)

Editor

Publisher

Designer

Copyeditor-Proofreader

Production Director

Color Separator

Printer

Publicity and Promotion Director

Salesperson

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5 In response to the question, "Who made this book?," the eight cats pictured on the back jacket answer in unison, "We all did!" In only 32 pages, Aliki explains their participation in this venture, from the author's inspiration through the presentation of a copy of the completed book to a grateful child. Aliki's publishing company is in a world populated by cats, cats in fancy dress whose individual looks and personalities are representative of a wide spectrum of people. Her lucid explanation of the bookmaking process is clearer than but every bit as accurate as many explanations written for adults. Younger children will be satisfied with the charming pictures and the basic picture book text, which identifies the various stages in the business of publishing books. Older or better readers, and those doing research, will find the more detailed explanations, set in smaller type within the frames of the illustrations, to be particularly worthwhile. All ages will be captivated by the dialogue balloons within the softly colored mixed media illustrations (colored pencil and watercolor), which add some humor and give the book personality. A calendar, unobtrusively placed in many of the illustrations, supplies a time frame for each step. No other author has explained the complicated process of creating a book to such a young audience. Even those readers for whom the technical aspects of book production are too difficult to grasp will appreciate the love and hard work that go into the creation of a book. Bound to please, this book marks a high spot in informational writing for children. David Gale, "School Library Journal"
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Aliki has written and illustrated many books, both fiction and nonfiction, loved by readers throughout the world. The books were inspired by a word, an experience, or the desire to find out. Aliki says, "I'm not so great at pushing buttons, but I know things happen when you do." Aliki lives in London, England.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (June 15, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064460851
• ISBN-13: 978-0064460859
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #562,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( A ) > Aliki

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for people entering the publishing industry!, May 6, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Champaign, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How a Book Is Made (Reading Rainbow Book) (Paperback)

THis book is intended for "imature audiences only",but is a great orientation to the publishing/printing industry. Many of us in the industry are inclined to give newcomers the micro details without the bigger picture. This book, in a very effective and simplistic way, takes a new employee through the overview of how a book is made. Often, reading this book prior to training allows for greater retention of more detailed facts learned during training. While the overview is excellent, the technology represented is very outdated. Many of the processes happen on computer now. I would love the publisher to do an updated version!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, August 7, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How a Book Is Made (Reading Rainbow Book) (Paperback)

Informative and accurate even with changing technology. If you want to teach your children the step by step process of how a book is made, Aliki clearly demonstrates this with her illustrations and text. Great author!! I recommend all her books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I really want to know..., June 26, 2009

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How a Book Is Made (Reading Rainbow Book) (Paperback)

Do you have any idea how a book is made? Or, how many people are involved? Or, how long it takes from the first idea to holding a finished product in hand? Aliki, that wonderful writer and illustrator, shows us in thirty-one 8 x 10 pages with the 32nd page showing young cat in bed with his new book beside him (that's young cat on the cover). "How A Book Is Made" is an impressive insider's view of the book-making process.

On the title page is a young cat holding a book with all its parts labeled. As he reads a book in the library, he says things near and dear to a librarian's heart: "I like the way a book feels. I like the way a book smells" and wants to know who is responsible for this wonderful creation.

There they are--the lines of people: author, illustrator, editor, publisher, designer, copy editor/proofreader, production director, color separator, printer, publicity and promotion director, and salesperson. Then Aliki starts with the author's idea, research, writing, editing, revising, and finally the manuscript is sent to her editor. (This is an established writer.) Then waiting and more waiting for decisions.

Each person is introduced who has book-making responsibility, who shows us what he/she does. In between is more work for the writer. Finally the printing is done. I have a feeling that color separation is now handled by computers and not the tedious steps shown in the book, which, after all, is dated at 1988. No matter, "How a Book Is Made" still shows the grueling process of making a book.

However, it is all worthwhile when that final product is put in hand. As the author and her child (young cat) celebrate the publication, the next phase of work begins: promotion and publicity. Meetings with book sales staff, television appearances, book signings, book reviews, placements in libraries and bookstores--it's all germaine to the publication of a book.

And that's how a book is made. Who needs this book? Libraries, of course, creative writing classes, children who show a propensity to write, and visual learners. There is nothing like a picture book in clarifying things that could seem complicated in print. Highly recommended!