 | |
| Author | Kyo Maclear |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Julie Morstad |
| Country | Canada/United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | |
| Publisher | Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins |
Publication date | October 8, 2019 |
| Pages | 48 |
| ISBN | 978-0-06-244762-3 |
It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way is a children's picture book about the life and works of American illustrator and writer Gyo Fujikawa. The book was written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Julie Morstad.
It Began with a Page received a starred review from Publishers Weekly , Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal . [1] [2] [3] Kathy Piehl, who reviewed for the School Library Journal, noted how some of Julie Morstad's illustrations evoked Gyo Fujikawa's style of "elegance and simplicity". [3] Kirkus Reviews praised Morstad's art, saying she "precisely balances white space with vignettes, black-and-white illustrations with eye-catching color." The reviewer also commented how the illustrations "resonance onto [ Kyo Maclear ]'s spare, poetic text." It concluded by calling it a "splendid" book. [2]
Publishers Weekly's review praised the art and the writing of It Began with a Page, as well as how the "biography conveys with quiet power how recently segregation reached into every aspect of American life, and how one woman did her part to defeat it." [1] Writing for The Horn Book , Katrina Hedeen commented on the different styles of art employed by Morstad, such as "in liquid watercolor, gouache, and pencil crayons", used to demark different points of Fujikawa's life. Hedeen also praised Maclear's writing, saying it "lucidly outlines a remarkable life of art and creativity, of struggle and perseverance." [4]
The book was a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor in the nonfiction category. One of the judges, during the presentation of the award, said: "In powerful poetic text and spare delicate color and black and white artwork, Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad chronicle the many challeges faced by Fujikawa". [5]
Gyo Fujikawa was an American illustrator and children's book writer. A prolific creator of more than 50 books for children, her work is regularly in reprint and has been translated into 17 languages and published in 22 countries. Her most popular books, Babies and Baby Animals, have sold over 1.7 million copies in the U.S. Fujikawa is recognized for being the earliest mainstream illustrator of picture books to include children of many races in her work, before it became common to do so.
The Calder Game is a children's novel written by Blue Balliett and illustrated by Brett Helquist, published in 2008. It is the sequel to The Wright 3, which in turn is the sequel to Chasing Vermeer. Some underlying themes include the art of Alexander Calder, pentominoes, and the freedom of public art.
The Lion & the Mouse is a 2009 nearly wordless picture book illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. This book, published by Little, Brown and Company, tells Aesop's fable of The Lion and the Mouse. In the story, a mouse's life is a spared by a lion. Later, after the lion is trapped, the mouse is able to set the lion free. Adapting the fable, with the moral that the weak can help the strong, as a wordless picture book was seen as a successful way of overcoming the brief plot generally found in the source stories. While it was Pinkney's first wordless picture book, it was not the first time he had told the story, having previously included it in his Aesop's Fables, published in 2000. Pinkney, who had received five Caldecott Honors, became the first African American to win the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations in this book. His illustrations were generally praised for their realism and sense of place. The cover illustrations, featuring the title characters but no text, drew particular praise.
Kyo Maclear is a Canadian novelist and children's author.
Locomotive is a 2013 children's book written and illustrated by Brian Floca. A non-fiction book written primarily in free verse, the book follows a family as they ride a transcontinental steam engine train in summer of 1869. The book details the workers, passengers, landscape, and effects of building and operating the first transcontinental railroad. The book also contains prose about the earlier and later history of locomotives. The book took Floca four years to create, which included a change in perspective from following the crew of the train to following a family. Floca conducted extensive research including his own train ride and consultation with experts to ensure he had the details all correct.
Lauren Barnholdt is an American author of over 30 books including novels for children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as guides for authors.
We Were Liars is a 2014 psychological horror young-adult novel by E. Lockhart. The novel has received critical acclaim and won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fiction. It was also listed as an ALA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults for 2015.
Big Cat, Little Cat is a 2017 children's picture book written by Elisha Cooper. It was published by Roaring Brook Press, a subsidiary of Macmillan Books. In the story, a large, white cat welcomes a new black cat into a family. The white cat then dies, and the cycle begins anew when the family adopts a new kitten. Cooper was inspired to write the story after his family experienced a similar situation. Critics praised his illustrations, for their ability to help further the story's messages and themes. These monochromatic illustrations were different than the style Cooper normally employed when illustrating a book. The book was well-reviewed, and received a 2018 Caldecott Honor.
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a 2017 picture book by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James. The book, Barnes' first picture book, is a poem describing a boy's feelings and experience while getting a haircut. James, who was not the first choice to be the illustrator, wanted the oil color illustrations to have the feel of fine art.
A Different Pond is a 2017 children's picture book by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui. The book tells the story of a boy and his father going fishing. Phi created the book because of his desire to have books about people like himself to read to his daughter. Bui's detailed illustrations allowed Phi to remove elements of the prose. Bui, who had never illustrated a traditional picture book before, won praise for her use of colors and was recognized with a 2018 Caldecott Honor. The book received positive reviews and appeared on best of 2017 book lists.
Grand Canyon by Jason Chin is a 2017 children's picture book. The book tells about the plants, animals and habitats of the Grand Canyon, both now and in the past, using the premise of a hiking trip there. The inspiration for the book was a trip in high school; Chin had originally conceived of a Grand Canyon origin story. The book marked the first time Chin used die cuts, in addition to his normal use of pen and ink, watercolors, and gouache. The book was awarded a 2018 Caldecott Honor for its illustrations and a 2018 Sibert Honor for its informative text. Grand Canyon is one of only a few non-fiction books that are not biographies to be recognized by the Caldecott.
Bear Came Along is a 2019 picture book by Richard T. Morris and illustrated by LeUyen Pham. It tells the story of a group of animals on a river adventure. Published on June 1, 2019, Bear Came Along was based on memories Morris had of going to overnight camp for the first time. The watercolors, ink, and gouache illustrations Pham created were special for her. Critics wrote about her ability to juggle several different tones through the pictures. These illustrations were also generally seen as complementing the book's theme of being connected to others. The book was generally well reviewed and received a 2020 Caldecott Honor.
Birdsong is a 2019 children's picture book written and illustrated by Julie Flett. The book follows the story of a young indigenous girl named Katherena, who moves to a countryside home with her mother. Lonely in her new home at first, Katherena develops a friendship with her elderly neighbor, Agnes. The book explores the intergenerational relationship between them. The pages were illustrated with pastel and pencil colours.
How to Be a Cat is a 2013 children's picture book by Nikki McClure. It is about a kitten learning kitty skills from a cat.
Where the Giant Sleeps is a 2007 children's picture book by Mem Fox and illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky. A bedtime book, it was published by Harcourt, Inc., and it is about a giant and the creatures that inhabit it sleeping and preparing for sleep as seen through a telescope by a child who, as it turns out, is dreaming.
What Is Love? is a 2021 picture book written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Carson Ellis. It tells the story of a boy who wants to know the meaning of love, and so is advised by his grandmother to ask to people around him.
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre is a picture book written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Published on February 2, 2021, by Carolrhoda, it tells the history behind the Tulsa race massacre in verse.
Mel Fell is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor, published on February 2, 2021, by Balzer + Bray, a HarperCollins imprint. It focuses on Mel, a kingfisher, as she attempts her first flight. The book was received positively, and was the recipient of a Caldecott Honor in 2022.
Wonder Walkers is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Micha Archer. Through poetic text, it shows two kids of color as they walk through nature and ponder about its mysteries. Wonder Walkers was published on March 30, 2021, by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.
Julie Morstad is a Canadian writer and illustrator of children's books.