  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 01/01/2014 *Starred Review* Ehlert offers a highly visual presentation of her roots as an artist and her process as a writer and illustrator of picture books. She describes growing up with “parents who made things with their hands.” They encouraged her to do the same, providing her with good tools and a place to work as well as leftover fabrics, buttons, and wood scraps. Later, she went to art school and began to create picture books. Simply written and inviting, the text leads readers to understand her approach to creating books as well as her hands-on involvement with art throughout her life. Ehlert guides readers through the making of picture books, including gathering ideas, writing, creating storyboards, and making collages. Admirers of her clean, precise pictures may be surprised to read, “I’m messy when I work.” Illustrated with photos from her childhood, vivid artwork from her books, and found objects that she has incorporated into her collages, the colorful pages of this “portrait of the artist” are visually riveting. Creative children will find inspiration and encouragement here. And, short of a personal visit from the writer herself, this is the best resource available for any classroom doing an author/artist study on Ehlert and her distinctive books. - Copyright 2014 Booklist. Bulletin for the Center... - 03/01/2014 Noted illustrator Ehlert offers a casually organized look at her artistic process, with very brief explanations of how she got started making art and books and how she gets ideas for her art and books, along with some quick looks at the materials and basic steps she goes through in constructing a picture or a book. Kids (or adults) looking for specific instructions for making similar art or straightforward biographical info will not find it here, but those who enjoy getting a glimpse into the creative lives of artists and writers will appreciate the insider’s perspective Ehlert provides. Illustrations from some of Ehlert’s previous books are interspersed with new collages, sketches of ideas and book layouts, and photographs of Ehlert as a child and adult, of her studio, of objects that have inspired her work, and of her various collections of artistic and natural items. The narration is somewhat meandering; the compositions, while eye-catching and vibrant, are crammed into a small trim size, and some of the pictures would have benefited from further explanation. The simple text, though, could easily either be read aloud to a group (although some of the smaller illustrative details may not translate well to a crowd) or read alone by upper primary or middle graders. This could also be a pleasant and accessible addition to a unit on artists or writers for the same age group. JH - Copyright 2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 03/01/2014 Gr 2–5—Ehlert continues to enchant children with her inventive picture books. In this charming autobiography, she gives readers a fascinating glimpse into her creative process and her considerable talents as both an author and an illustrator are on full display. When discussing the fact that a career doesn't happen immediately, she states, "Everyone needs time to develop their dreams. An egg in the nest doesn't become a bird overnight." Each and every page pops with her signature collages as she gives examples of her various techniques. "I use odd items to create texture. I splatter paint with a toothbrush or rub a crayon over my grater." This book will attract browsers, thrill children who already love her work, be the perfect complement to an author/illustrator study, and is a stellar introduction to graphic design at its finest. A small masterpiece that is a delight for the eye and ear.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
 |