Pass It Down

January 1, 2007
Gr 4 Up-Marcus presents the events and circumstances that have resulted in five picture-book dynasties. Each chapter includes biographical information about the subjects that zeroes in on the salient pieces that nurtured artistic growth and includes numerous quotes from the authors/illustrators themselves. The featured families are Donald Crews, Ann Jonas, and Nina Crews; Clement and Edith Hurd and Thacher Hurd; Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers; Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney; and Harlow and Anne Rockwell and Lizzy Rockwell. Marcus carefully makes the point that, although perhaps blessed with some inherited talent and encouraged by their parents, all of the children pursued their art with diligence and have emerged with their own unique styles. Marcus's writing is, as usual, tight but lively, and each chapter is liberally laced with photographs, preliminary sketches, and final art. The book will be of interest to those readers who enjoy getting behind the scenes of the books they love."Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2006
Similar in format to Marcus' previous books on picture-book creators, including" Side by Side: Five Favorite Picture-Book" " Teams Go to Work" (2001), this handsome book looks at five picture-book dynasties. Each chapter spotlights creators in a multigenerational family: Donald Crews, Ann Jonas, and Nina Crews; Clement Hurd, Edith Thacher Hurd, and Thacher Hurd; Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers; Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney; Harlow Rockwell, Anne Rockwell, and Lizzy Rockwell. Marcus quotes extensively from interviews with each living subject and weaves the personal statements into a coherent presentation to show how each person developed creatively. Illustrations include family photos and artwork, beautifully reproduced in color on heavy, glossy pages. This may be of greatest interest to librarians, but young fans will find this a very readable and perceptive book that throws an intriguing light on growing up within a successful family and choosing a career path.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)