Bilderboksmakare

Picturebook Makers #1

by Sam McCullen, Maria Skymne (Translator), Jon Klassen

What exists in the space between the words and the pictures? How do the stories unfold? What happens from the first sketch to the finished picturebook?

In this book, world-class picturebook makers generously share their experiences, challenges, doubts, sketches, illustrations, and invaluable insights into their creation process. They reveal the complex and time-consuming work that happens behind the scenes, in service of their stories and their readers.

An inspiring collection of picturebook knowledge for anyone interested in this dynamic art form. The editor of the book is Sam McCullen, who runs the Picturebook Makers blog and dPICTUS.

Featuring Jon Klassen, Kitty Crowther, Beatrice Alemagna, Shaun Tan, Eva Lindström, Blexbolex, Chris Haughton, Suzy Lee, Bernardo P. Carvalho, Isol, Manuel Marsol, and Johanna Schaible.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Picture Books, Adult, Childrens, Books About Books

160 pages, Hardcover

First published December 10, 2021

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. No - I LOVED THIS BOOK! As someone who collects childrens books and loves illustrations I found the illustrators within this book were incredibly generous in sharing their working processes. I took notes, I looked things up and I was reassured that there is no RIGHT way to be an illustrator or to make a book. Everyone within the pages had their own thoughts and processes. I saw behind the scenes of a few of my favourite illustrators and have also noted down some books of new to me illustrators to add to my wishlist.

Lots of glorious double page full colour illustrations, lots of sketchbook rough images to see where the gem of an idea is forming. The illustrators talk through specific books and how they came about from start to finish. Loved it. Loved it.

This book is a little gem. My only gripe is that I wanted more. It's a big book and I was left dissapointed when it finished. I only hope that the number one on the spine means there will be a number two soon.

[Ileana (The Tiniest Book Club) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to get picturebooks into the hands of readers of all ages!
Great picturebooks are works of art and this beautiful collection provides a fantastic introduction to the process of picturebook making.

Since 2014, dPICTUS is blogging about the creative process behind picturebooks (go visit picturebookmakers.com and start by looking at their 2026 list of outstanding picturebooks, it's so worth it!).
"The picturebook is a unique and dynamic art form where words and pictures can contradict, subvert and expand upon each other, creating endless opportunities to convey message and meaning in ironic, humorous and altogether unexpected ways."

Twelve of the world's finest contemporary picturebook makers take us behind the scenes in this anthology (it is the first of two from dPICTUS), edited by Sam McCullen.

We get to know the work of Blexbolex (France/ Berlin), who does a lot of complicated calculations, Eva Lindström (Sweden), who paints over her mistakes, Beatrice Alemagna (Bologna/ Paris), who is always trying to convey lightness, Chris Haughton (Ireland), who wants his books to be told in a way that someone without language could understand, Kitty Crowther (Belgium), who juggles with ancient symbols and mythical references, Jon Klassen (Canada/ Los Angeles), whose characters are sometimes as baffled about being in a book as he himself is making one <3, Bernardo P. Carvalho (Portugal), who lets two different stories share the same stage,
and more.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love picturebooks. And I find as I am getting older, I am reading more and more of them. And as they say in the introduction, the quality is improving and the increased availability of wordless picture books is on the rise as well (I love those). So it's great to read a book about different author/illustrator's process. I only know 2 authors in here, Shaun Tan and Jon Klassen, and I found it very interesting to find out about their processes. As an adult, I would love to see Jon's darker books. But the authors I didn't know were just as interesting and I have found new books to read as well!

[Anna Klaar]

Väldigt fin bok och trevlig att läsa. Några framgångsrika bilderboksskapare får berätta sin historia om ett av sina verk. Ger inblick i skapandets alla delar (idéen, tekniken, processen etc).

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. It's definitely not bad. And I learned about a lot of picture book illustrators' mediums. But when only Jon Klassan is the most recognizable (with Chris Haughton taking up the rear)....because everyone else is international and I don't have access to their works....it just didn't resonate.

[Deniz Gorencan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Büyüleyici bulduğum kitaplardan. Yazar-çizer takımının hele de resimli kitapları yaratanlar olunca dünyalarına girmek, zihinlerinde dolanmak, dünyayı gördükleri pencerelerden süzülmek çok keyifliydi. Keşke daha fazla ilüstratörü kapsasaydı demekten alamadım kendimi.
Hem çok sevdiklerimi hem de yeni çizerleri tanıdığım çok renkli bir kitaptı.

[Mimmi]

Helhetsintrycket dras tyvärr ner av stolpig översättning med såväl grammatiska fel som faktafel.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many of you, I am a true bibliophile! One of my favorite kind of books to read is books about books, reading, and libraries. So, in this section of my reading, I like to feature these types of books. Picturebook Makers by Sam McCullen is a real treat for those who are lovers of the picture book and its beautiful art. As a result of Picturebook Makers, a blog by dPICTUS, the book was created. It features some of the world's most well known picture book creators. The artists weren't interviewed. They were asked to tell the story behind the story of their picture book creation. Some of the picture book creator's featured in the book are; Jon Klassen, Shaun Tan, and Eva Lindstrom, and others. Grab a coffee, tea, or other beverage and take a behind the scenes look at the creation of some favorite picture book creators. Sam McCullen writes in the book's introduction, "this book is intended for publishing professionals, illustration students, and anyone else with a passion for picturebooks and a curiosity about the different approaches taken to make them" (5). Highly Recommended.

[Annaleise Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful, gift-worthy hardcover book stars twelve picture book creators from around the world as they take the reader behind the scenes of one of their books, explaining how the idea, text and illustrations came about. It's a fascinating exploration of the time, effort and care that goes into crafting picture books, which are often assumed to be quick and easy to create. I particularly enjoyed Jon Klassen's chapter since I'm a big fan of I Want My Hat Back. Now I'm eager to seek out the other featured books!

[Paul Hallam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of interviews with children’s book illustrators from around the world. Each illustrator shares the process behind one of their picture books. There are many large images of final art and process sketches I found it very interesting how many of the books came together in a to and fro way between the art and the writing.

[Hedwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gathered are the behind-the-scenes stories of many illustrators creating picture books. What touched me the most is their meticulous consideration for each picture book, with some preparations spanning several years. You can see the formation of each author's unique style and their thought processes. It's a very interesting reading journey.

[Popi Xourdaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've purchased for illustration! It's full with beautiful illustrations and each illustrator talks about the project and their work. You will find different styles, interesting texts and inspiration!!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, my picture book request list has grown.
I love 'meeting' new makers of my favourite sort of books.
It reiterates that picture books are not simple; are not just for little ones.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The behind the scenes stories are fun as are the development illustrations.

[Grace Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very grateful quality collections like this exist.

[Brigitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much. I’ll dip back into this frequently for inspiration.

[Lizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having no understanding on the process of picture book creation I immensely enjoyed this book. It gave me a real appreciation for this art form.

[Elina Purmonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Den är intressant, känns lite personlig (då illustratörerna själva berättar om ett av sina bilderboksprojekt), och jag fascineras särskilt av hur olika processerna är även om det verkar som en gemensam nämnare att försöka hitta tekniken och/eller illustrationerna som gör själva idén eller berättelsen rättvisa.