Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com
Summary:
Anyone wishing to create children's books will learn how to tell a story visually; build a storyboard to plot the flow of a book; prepare pages for a printer; and go about finding a publisher. Step-by-step sketches provide insights into drawing characters and developing settings. The works of such renowned illustrators as Beatrix Potter, William Steig, and Maurice Sendak are used to demonstrate a visual approach to storytelling. 10 color and 600 b&w illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
writing with pictures
Customer Rating:
This is a great book and really explains how to layout a picture book. Since my college education never taught me how to do this, this is a wonderful book to have.
STOP! GO NO FURTHER! YOU FOUND IT!
Customer Rating:
This is the book you have been looking for. I've purchased a number of other books about children's publishing, but this one has more wisdom and more real technique than any of them.
The title might make you think this book is about illustrating children's books. Yes, an illustrator can get a graduate degree from the material here. But the title doesn't really do the book justice, because Shulevitz covers both writing and illustration. He covers both topics together, showing how the text and the pictures move a story forward to a satisfactory conclusion. Quoting from the book (p.29):
"When the actor-stage relationship is clear, when the picture code is consistent, when the progression is appropriate to the action, the picture sequence will 'speak' to the reader. The more clearly the picture sequence speaks, the more enjoyment the reader will be able to get from it. And giving a feeling of satisfaction is essential in children's books."
This book has literally hundreds of example illustrations and text excerpts. Most are pencil and ink sketches, but don't be fooled: the author created most of them specifically to illustrate this book. They do a great job.
I'm done gushing. If you are interested in this topic, buy the book. You won't be disappointed.
Thank you Mr. S
Customer Rating:
As a 'gallery' artist moving more into illustration, I needed a text that really told me how to illustrate- what makes books different to gallery works, the psychology of composition, how to plan a book and incorporate words and pictures etc and this book has really done that for me. I found the section on composition and picture space particularly helpful.
This is the book for you if you want a book that tells you how and why. The author hasn't held back information but explains everything with lots of drawn examples. I bought another book on illustration at the same time - Exploring Illustration by Michael Fleishman- which like so many modern textbooks goes on about theory instead of telling you real technical information. It has served to show me just how good Writing With Pictures is and how generous the author is in giving information.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
I have read criticism that it doesn't have enough computer-related information but that isn't something all illustrators need. This deals with the real skills of the craft and to me, with so many programs out there you are better getting guides on every program you want to use to really master them than have the broad, undetailed cross-section inevitable in books about this size.
Creating Children's Books 101
Customer Rating:
Uri Shulevitz's book Writing With Pictures is a treasure trove of valuable information concerning writing/illustrating children's books. For those with no interest whatsoever in illustration, the book explains how illustrations enhance and fulfill the promise of the text. For those only interested in illustration, the book describes how to correctly construct illustrations so that they illuminate, rather than repeat, the prose.
The book is divided in four parts. Part one defines/contrasts picture books and story books; two, describes how to plan the book; three, explains the construction and purpose of illustrations; and four, provides instruction on how to prepare illustrations for reproduction for publishing.
Although the book could be used for college courses in both art and literature, it is easily readable, enjoyable and informative. For individuals serious about writing and/or illustrating books for children, this book is a must-have resource. It's a keeper!
Beautiful and Instructive
Customer Rating:
This book is a pleasure to read, and very inspiring to get drawing! His detailed instructions are as helpful as sitting in a drawing class.
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