Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books [Paperback]

Uri Shulevitz (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 1, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0823059359 | ISBN-13: 978-0823059355 | Edition: Reprint

Contents:

- Telling the Story
- Picture Book or Story Book?
- Picture Sequence
- The Story: A Complete Action
- Story Content
- Picture Book Characteristics
- Planning the Book
- Storyboard and Book Dummy
- Size, Scale, and Shape
- The Structure of a Printed Book
- Creating the Pictures
- The Purpose of Illustration
- Drawing Figures and Objects
- Visual References
- Picture Space and Composition
- Principles of Technique
- Style
- Preparing for Reproduction
- Printing Basics
- Color Preseparation
- Techniques for Reproduction

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Shulevitz, a well-established children's author and illustrator, uses discussion and more than 600 illustrations to convey principles he follows in his work. He covers story writing briefly, but gives most of his attention to the drawing of illustrations. Shulevitz makes his points slowly and completely and starts at a very basic level. He covers technical questions of how actually to proceed in developing ideas into books, as well as aesthetic and ethical issues. While Shulevitz's frequent use of his own work as a model of excellence and his unabashed presentation of his own point of view limit the range of styles and approaches presented, the book will still be useful as a starting point for aspiring children's authors. Kathryn W. Finkelstein, formerly with Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib., Atlanta
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Uri Shulevitz has written and illustrated more than 30 children's books. In 1969 he received the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in Arthur Ransome's retelling of The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship. In 1980 The Treasure, which he wrote and illustrated, was selected as a Caldecott Honor Book. Other children's books by Uri Shulevitz include One Monday Morning, The Magician, Rain Rain Rivers (winner of a bronze medal at the 1970 Leipzig International Book Exhibition), and Dawn (given the 1975 Christopher Awards and chosen as a 1976 Honor Book by the International Board on books for Young People). Uri Shulevitz has taught the writing and illustrating of children's books at the New School for Social Research in New York City. He has also directed a summer workshop at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; Reprint edition (May 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823059359
• ISBN-13: 978-0823059355
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 10.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Education & Reference > Writing, Research & Publishing Guides > Publishing & Books > Authorship

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

189 of 193 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for any children's book writer or illustator April 6, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

As a children's book author and editor, I know that no one understands picture books better than Uri Shulevitz, and no one is more articulate about how they work. Most books about writing for children focus on young novels or on straightforward picture book stories. This book inspires you to think beyond those predictable formats and instead embrace the poetry of a good picture book, the magic of a good collaboration between text and art which is necessary whether you are working on a story book or a concept book or a nonfiction book. An intelligent and inspiring guide to the art of good bookmaking.

132 of 137 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Foundation for Creating Children's Books January 27, 2000

By Timothy J. Chambers, Fine Artist

Format:Paperback

I found this very readable book to be very well thought out in its explanation of what makes for a successful children's book. It has the most examples of illustrations of any book on writing children's books I have seen, with many illustrations showing why some methods work and others fail. Uri is vary clear and benevolent in his sharing the princeiples for successfully creating a book for children. It was like being in workshop. With this book I feel prepared to pursue creating a kids' book!

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book every children's book illustrator should have--and useful for writers and others too November 22, 2005

By Harold Underdown

Format:Paperback

This review is condensed from a longer review on my web site, The Purple Crayon.

The author of Writing with Pictures is a Caldecott medalist, and he gives the reader a master's class in the theory and the practicalities of picture book illustration in particular and of illustration more generally.

CONTENTS: This is a substantial book, large format, 272 pages, with over 600 illustrations (mostly black and white, many of them small). Shulevitz breaks it down into four sections: Telling the Story, Planning the Book, Creating the Pictures, and Preparing for Reproduction. There is also an appendix with advice on finding a publisher, a short bibliography, and a useful index.

Telling the Story: In this section, Shulevitz opens with the difference between a picture book and a story book. He then goes on to explain his theory of "visual storytelling," using many visual examples. He also demonstrates how text and illustration work together in a picture book, and closes with a discussion of the characteristics of a picture book, such as "linear continuity" and rhythm and repetition.

Planning the Book: In this section, Shulevitz shows the steps an illustrator goes through to create a book: starting with a story board; moving on to a dummy; working with text in a layout; playing with many possibilities of size, scale, shape; and dealing with the structure of a printed book. Step-by-step visual illustrations make this easy to follow.

Creating the Pictures: This section starts with theory: the purpose of illustration is to clarify or even illuminate the text, and thus the illustrator must at least make the pictures "readable." He then focuses on creating illustrations themselves. It covers such topics as drawing figures and objects, using visual references, composition, technique, and style, with copious examples.

Preparing for Reproduction: The book was originally published in 1985, and this is the only section that has become badly dated, as it focuses on the way to create pre-separated art, which used to be the predominant method used in children's books. Today, of course, almost all picture books are made by scanning original full-color art.

COMMENTS: It's not over-praising this book to say that there's no other book like it, and that it's an unmatched resource for anyone involved with children's book illustration. I've had a copy for several years, and I learn something every time I open it. Of course, I'm an editor, but the illustrators I know tell me the same.

If you want to understand the nitty-gritty of creating a picture book, from text to final illustrations and layout, there is no other book out there.