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American Reference Books Annual 2006
Booklist, July, 2005
Christian Library Journal, June 2005
Review from:
American Reference Books Annual 2006
The growth of children's book publishing in recent
decades has required an equally proliferate stream of authoritative,
evaluative tools. Fewer offer insight into the souls of the creators. This
9th edition of the junior author book series begun in 1934 serves such a
purpose. Expanded and revised several editions ago, it is now among the
only concise biographical dictionaries to offer personal views into the
best of both authors and illustrators of English-language children's
nonfiction and fiction-poetry, picture books, and novels alike.
Clear in its scope and closely following the layout of
its predecessor, this edition comprises 173 entries gathered from awards
lists and confirmed by a voting process. Each entry consists of an
autobiographical essay (complete with photograph and autograph), followed
by a biography, a representative list of works, and in some cases, further
suggested reading. Expanding a practice begun in the 8th edition, Rockman
now includes a representative jacket illustration for every entry.
Although the focus is on new contributors, she continues her practice of
updating previously profiled distinguished creators (now neatly asterisked
in the table of contents, and totaling no more than 10% of the entries) to
include new awards of biographical updates. So long-standing award-winners
such as Marcia Brown and Robert McCloskey share pages with relative
newcomers Ian Falconer and “Lemony Snicket.” A descriptive appendix lists
the 45 awards and honors cited (up from 26 referenced in 2000). Unlike
earlier editions, this volume features a cover designed by one of the
illustrators represented (a practice also begun by Rockman). The handy
index adds value to the entire series by referencing previously profiled
authors and illustrators to their respective editions….
Although there are numerous reference resources with
similar aims, such as Something About the Author, Autobiography
Series and most notably Lee Bennett Hopkins' 1995 compilation,
Pauses: Autobiographical Reflections of 101 Creators of Children 's Books,
few can rival this book for both its comprehensive coverage and its
compact, attractively designed format.
This series should continue to prove practical for
teachers, parents, and children's librarians; but more importantly, since
it offers a view into the creators themselves it also promises to be
illuminating for young people and aspiring writers. It is now also
available in a cumulative electronic edition.
Review from:
Christian Library Journal, June 2005
This is the most recent edition in a series of reference
books first published in 1934. There are 173 authors and/or illustrators
of books for children and young adults in this volume. Each profile
includes a one or two page autobiographical account. An additional
editorial biography includes information about the author and/or
illustrator’s life and work not already mentioned in the autobiographical
account. Each entry begins with a black and white photograph of the author
(with autograph underneath) and ends with a list of selected works by the
author and a list of suggested reading about the author. Each entry
includes cover art from one of the author’s books. 17 entries are updated
profiles from earlier volumes.
The 17 updated profiles include well-known authors such
as Barbara Cooney, Arnold Lobel, Sid Fleischman, Madeleine L’Engle, Ursula
K. Le Guin, Robert McCloskey, William Steig, and more. The new profiles
include people like Meg Cabot, Doreen Cronin, Kate DiCamillo, Tim Egan,
Ian Falconer, Jules Feiffer, Gerald Morris, Jim LaMarche, and many more.
Most of the photographs are of good quality. The price may seem high, but
this book has superb content, a pleasing layout, and a sewn binding.
Overall, this is a fabulous reference work. I highly recommended it for
all libraries.
Reviewed by: David Rainey, Senior Bibliographer, State
Library of Louisiana, Baton Rouge
Review from: Booklist, July, 2005
This latest addition to the
Book of Junior Authors and
Illustrators, first published in 1934 and last revised in 2000, offers
solid and appealing information for students, librarians, and educators.
Close to 200 authors and illustrators are profiled in this update. While
the focus of the text is on new contributors, eighteen profiles from
previous editions have been brought up to date, including those for
Barbara Cooney, Virginia Hamilton, and William Steig.
Each entry begins with a statement in the author’s or
artist’s own words. This is followed by an editorial piece which presents
information about the individual’s life and work that was not mentioned in
the autobiography. Each entry concludes with a bibliography of selected
works of the individual. Also, new to this edition, Web site addresses for
some authors have been included.
The book offers an attractive format that features
portraits and autographs of each person, as well as cover art
illustrations. The collection concludes with a listing of awards and
honors cited within the volume and a comprehensive index to all of the
volumes of the series. School and public libraries would be well-served by
this informative and easy-to-read text. —Maren Ostergard |
