TALKING WITH ARTISTS
Note: This book review was created for a class at TWU
Book Review: TALKING WITH ARTISTS, VOL. 3

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cummings, Pat (ed.). 1999. TALKING WITH ARTISTS, VOL. 3. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395891329

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In the third volume of the series, Talking with Artists, Pat Cummings compiles the first-person stories of 13 children's book illustrators, along with snapshots of them as children and adults, works they created as children, and illustrations they've published as adults. Each artist also answers five to ten questions focusing on what it's like to be an artist, the daily work of an artist, techniques, and inspirations. At the end of the book, the artists give "secret techniques" they use in illustrations, and list four or five of the favorite books they've illustrated.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Cummings has compiled another volume of inspiring and thought-provoking portraits of well-known children's book illustrators, centered on five basic themes: where their inspirations come from, whether they were always good artists, what their days are like, why they became artists, and their advice for becoming an artist. The theme of growth and change is highlighted by the way the text and illustrations work together, and is one of the most valuable aspects of the work. The reader not only gains insight into the artists as people, but begins to recognize that even if one is a "born" artist, becoming and artist, much like becoming an adult, is the result of experience, practice, and growth. The book both demystifies and personalizes art, while encouraging artists of all ages.

The volume is well-organized and easy to navigate with each artist's section following the same pattern. First, there is a picture of the artist as a child, along with the artist's signature (sometimes a work of art in itself) and birthday. Next, the artist tells his or her own story, followed by a current photograph of the artist. One is immediately struck by how much the person has changed and yet stayed the same. For instance, Betsy Lewin remarks that, "The things I liked to draw best as a child were horses, elephants, fish, and people peeking out from behind trees...Even today, when I'm drawing for my own pleasure, or developing characters for a new story, I find that my old childhood favorites keep popping up on paper and sometimes find their way into my books." The artist's stories are fresh and unpretentious, sounding as though they came right from the heart. Third, a picture of the artist's early work as a child, including size, media, and age at which the work was created is accompanied with a quote by the artist, and followed by interview questions and answers. Sometimes the answers are surprising. Responding to the question of what he likes to draw the most, Peter Sis said, "Water, because I'm from a landlocked country. We had no oceans where I grew up, no sea." A third photo of the artist and/or children and pets is included, and on the final pages of the artist's section, there is a large color example from one of the books that artist has illustrated. Again, the reader is invited to compare the early childhood work with the mature art.

The book is beautiful, with glossy color pictures and illustrations, and very accessible, with readable, engaging prose that reveals the artists as individuals.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Review in BOOKLIST: "Beautifully designed to draw readers, this book will inspire many children to make art and possibly even to choose it as a career some day."

Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "While many readers will find the artists' tips that conclude the volume useful, all will appreciate these insightful conversations."

5. CONNECTIONS
*At the secondary level, this book could be used to inspire students to write and illustrate their own memoirs or children's books in writing class, or in the art classroom as a springboard for discussing what it means to be an artist.
*Collect all three volumes of Pat Cummings's books entitled Talking with Artists
*Partner these books with other texts where writers and illustrators talk about their work and core beliefs.
TIKVAH: CHILDREN'S BOOK CREATORS REFLECT ON HUMAN RIGHTS. ISBN 0587170981 (Serious and definitely thought-provoking - suitable for grades 9-12)
SPEAK! CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATORS BRAG ABOUT THEIR DOGS. ISBN 0152778489 and PURR: CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATORS BRAG ABOUT THEIR CATS. ISBN 01572008373 (Fun and for a good cause - proceeds go to a non-profit that offers grants to animal welfare agencies)