WHAT DO ILLUSTRATORS DO?

As breezy and enlightening as its companion, What Do Authors Do? (1995), this volume takes readers behind the scenes to watch two (fictional) artists create picture-book editions of Jack and the Beanstalk. Between the first flash of inspiration and celebratory ice cream cones at the end, both illustrators sketch dummies; make decisions about character, perspective, point-of- view, and composition; experiment with different media; and entertain tactful suggestions from editors and designers. Meanwhile, each takes the story in a different direction, one sticking to tradition, the other switching to an all-female cast. Around and within the cartoon panels, pets and a child add explanatory comments to the captions. Although she only hints at the amazing diversity of today’s illustrators, Christelow captures the effort that goes into the making of picture books while also answering many of the questions children ask on the subject. (Picture book. 6-9)