Talking with Artists compiled and edited by Pat Cummings

Bibliography
Cummings, Pat. 1992. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. New York, NY: Bradbury Press. ISBN 0027242455

Plot Summary
Illustrator Pat Cummings compiled interviews with 14 well-known chidren's book illustrators along with examples of their artwork in TALKING WITH ARTISTS. Each of the 14 artists in the book, including Cummings, wrote a quick autobiography of themselves centering around their love for art. Each illustrator answered the same most popular questions asked by children who read their books. While samples of their current artwork are shown in the book, examples of the artwork they produced as children are also shared.

Critical Analysis
The reader gets a glimpse of each artist as a child through a photograph, a sample of artwork, and an autobiographical story of their childhood and connection to art, which can be intriging to young children who want to compare themselves to artists whom they may look up to. The reader also gets to see a recent photograph of each artist, a recent sample of their artwork, and information on why and how they became chidren's book artists. Each artist anwers 8 questions frequently asked by the children who read their books. It can be fun to compare the answers given by the different artists. Each artist tells where they get their inspiration, the types of materials they use, and how they got to illustrate their first book.

This can be an interesting book to share with children who are struggling or enjoying their own stories.

Review Excerpts
Winner, Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Nonfiction, 1992
Starred review HORN BOOK: "An inspired concept"
Starred review SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Well designed and well conceived"

Connections
*Children could write to one of the artists showcased in this book.
*Children could write to a different favortie artist and ask the same 8 questions or ask for a copy of some of the artwork they did as a child
*Other books about Artists:
Carle, Eric. 2007. ARTIST TO ARTIST: 23 MAJOR ILLUSTRATORS TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR ART. Philomel Books. ISBN 0399246002
CELEBRATION: SEVEN ARTISTS AND THEIR PATHS TO THE CALDECOTT MEDAL. Walker & Co. ISBN 0802797032