The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40thAnniversary: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary [Hardcover]

Please confess! If you are connected in any way with children's books, then you must have a favorite illustrator! Not one, but several? Yes, me too! In that case, you will love "The Art of Reading" because it holds the imaginative works of forty illustrators. Let me explain...

Reading Is Fundamental, the nation's largest nonprofit literacy organization, invited forty children's illustrator's to re-imagine the art of their favorite children's book. In other words, what book inspired them as children and how would they create one scene from that book? What a clever idea! What wonderful results!

Robert Lawson writes: "No one can possibly tell what tiny detail of a drawing or what seemingly trivial phrase in a story will be the spark that sets off a great flash in the mind of some child, a flash that will leave a glow there until the day he dies." Lawson created "Make Way for Ducklings" and "Blueberries for Sal."

David Wiesner, creator of three Caldecott Medal books, re-imagines one scene from "2001: Space Odyssey" --the obelisk. Instead of appearing in the open as a catalyst for early man's thinking, it becomes a big, black book in one boy's bedroom, a catalyst for Wiesner's connection with books and art. In fact, his explanation of how one movie, one book, then a book explaining the making of the movie from the book is a wonderful piece of writing and inspiration to a new generation of illustrators!

William Joyce, an artist who happens to live in my city of Shreveport, re-imagines a scene from "Where the Wild Things Are," by Maurice Sendak. "I got lost in that book and haven't come out since." His depiction shows a wild-haired little boy standing at the edge of a giant book (or perhaps he is a teeny boy), reading a sentence that says: "That very night in Max's room a forest grew."

Richard Egielski was influenced by the Classic Comics of Moby Dick. His explanation of the complexities and symbolism of Moby Dick and how he missed them with each version of the story is most amusing.

Eric Rohmann loved "Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gag. Jerry Pinkney re-creates a scene from "Little Black Sambo." Mary Azarian's recreation of a scene from "A Girl of Limberlost" is quite beautiful. Mark Teague, who read and reread "The Silver Chair" from the Narnia Chronicles, re-imagines a scene in his fantastic artwork.

"The Art of Reading" is a treasure chest of how artists were influenced by one specific book. For lovers of children's literature, it is a joy to own, to refer to from time to time, perhaps work into a classroom lesson or after reading the original classic to your child, show how the artist would re-imagine that scene.

Perhaps this artwork will become a springboard for a future artist sitting right there in your lap!

This delightful book is an intriguing -- and inspiring -- tribute to the power of creativity and the joys of discovering both books and art. Forty of the top children's book illustrators in the country were asked by Reading Is Fundamental to "re-imagine" a favorite book from their childhood as a way of celebrating the birth of their personal interest in reading and art. Short statements from the artists accompany the full-page illustrations (almost all of which are original to this book) and demonstrate that there are many ways young people can come to the reading experience.

The essays are a charming window into the childhoods of these artists, but the heart of the book is the illustrations themselves. Every artist brings his or her own sensibility to the task, which makes this a rare side-by-side compendium of children's book illustration styles and creative philosophies. It's a thrill to move from David Wiesner to Raul Colon to Bryan Collier to Jerry Pinkney to Peter Sis to Nina Laden to William Joyce, and on and on. RIF has put together an illustrator all-star team, packed with Caldecott and Coretta Scott King winners and a diverse mixture of established stars and up-and-comers.

This book would be a great addition to any family library and should be placed in every elementary school reading and art classroom and used as a tool to inspire kids, parents, and even teachers. In fact, it would also make a great gift for reading and art teachers, librarians, and anyone who cares about how readers, writers, and artists are born - or anyone who remembers fondly their own early reading experiences.

Among the delights in this book, "The Art of Reading", are artists respectfully mimicking other artists, sharing memories of favorite books, of authors & illustrators; each one encouraging their audience to read and ENJOY. The cover illustration, by the late influential Fred Marcellino, was chosen for its appropriate subject of cat and mouse cozily reading together!

First, I raced through, looking for my favorite illustrators. Then I would pause often to laugh at someone's adaptation, as for example Paul Zelinsky's wonderfully amusing interpretation of "The Color Kittens" and his delightful essay. 'All bases are covered' in this handsome book: it salutes childhood favorites and teachers who were mentors while exploring a variety of mediums & styles. How different and imaginative are the creations of Lois Ehlert, Raul Colon, David McPhail. Bryan Collier with his layers of art and photo collages inspires the detective in us, trying to figure out the source of materials.

All the artists stir some regret that we do not share their talents, yet we love the trips back to happy lap-times and those exciting years of discovering the meaning of words. RIF (*Reading is Fundamental*), an important non-profit literacy organization, has compiled for their 40th anniversary celebration this elegant gift for all who love to read. Reviewer mcHAIKU 'toasts' all the happy memories forever attached to magical artists such as Wanda Gag, Maurice Sendak and Garth Williams.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 11 reviews  4.4 out of 5 stars