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Pass It Down: Five Picture Book Families Make Their Mark
Our families help shape who we are—what we look like, what we like to eat, even what our strengths and abilities are. So when a parent is a renowned children's book author or illustrator, creative ability may be part of an amazing legacy.
Leonard S. Marcus introduces readers to five best-selling and award-winning families with talent that spans the generations. By opening up these family albums—sharing personal memories, scrapbooks, book dummies, model shots, and final art, Marcus chronicles the way books come into being, the way artists are nurtured and grown, and the way where we come from influences who and what we become.
Includes in depth interviews and extensive histories of five famous multi-generational families of children's book creators:
Jerry Pinkney and his son Brian Pinkney, Anne and Harlow Rockwell and their daughter Lizzy, Donald Crews and Ann Jonas, and their daughter Nina Crews, Walter Dean Myers and his son Christopher Myers, Edith and Clement Hurd and their son Thacher Hurd.
Leonard S. Marcus introduces readers to five best-selling and award-winning families with talent that spans the generations. By opening up these family albums—sharing personal memories, scrapbooks, book dummies, model shots, and final art, Marcus chronicles the way books come into being, the way artists are nurtured and grown, and the way where we come from influences who and what we become.
Includes in depth interviews and extensive histories of five famous multi-generational families of children's book creators:
Jerry Pinkney and his son Brian Pinkney, Anne and Harlow Rockwell and their daughter Lizzy, Donald Crews and Ann Jonas, and their daughter Nina Crews, Walter Dean Myers and his son Christopher Myers, Edith and Clement Hurd and their son Thacher Hurd.
56 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2006
1 person is currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Leonard S. Marcus
72 books69 followersLeonard S. Marcus is one of the world's leading writers about children's books and their illustrations. His many books include The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy; Funny Business: Conversations with Writers of Comedy; Dear Genius; and others. His essays, interviews, and reviews appear in the New York Times Book Review, among other publications. Leonard S. Marcus lives in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 6, 2012
Swamped? Don't have time to read? Try this 48 page gem. It is the second Leonard Marcus book I have read and it is an excellent glimpse into the lives of five families of people who make children's picture books. The way that the artists and writers find themselves in the land of books adds human interest along with facts. The Crew family is introduced with the artwork specifically described such as Donald Crew using an airbrush and gouache for his book, Freight Train,, or his daughter Nina combining collage and photos in her first book.
Marcus is a terrific writer who gives a feel for the picture-book makers he's characterizing. For instance, Thacher Hurd describes his family's life in an old yellow farmhouse with little money. Thacher loved stepping into his parents art-filled studio that was an "'all-senses-at-once experience,'" a wizard's brew of paint smells, paper textures, tools and brushes, and at the center of it all his tall, rail-thin, slow-moving father silently working." Isn't that a great image? Reminds me my Minnesotan family and father's architecture/art studio. I can hear Grandma yakking in my ear in her Norwegian accent, "Yah (said inhaling... sounds like a gasp), check out dah Hurds Barbie, dey goot artists... with published kid books too, don't cha know." Then in an interesting twist, Marcus reveals that the Hurds who live a simple life with not much money, both grew up in wealthy, high society families. Clement Hurd illustrated, Goodnight Moon, and he and his wife were dear friends with Margaret Wise Brown and Don Freeman of Corduroy. Then in another twist Thacher explains how hard it was to rebel against his parents because they were so open to anything he did. The only thing he felt he could rebel against was becoming an artist. He entered the business at a later age because of this attitude.
Walter Dean Myers wrote 10 pages a day and read out loud to his son and wife every day. He grew up in foster homes and much of his writing is from this past. The Myer's son, Christopher, was nurtured and encouraged by both parents to pursue his dream of being an artist. I really liked the well-written letter from his agent, Regina Griffin. What great insight into how a good publisher critiques a manuscript. In a constructive, funny, and positive manner she makes suggestions for improving the draft. I admit, I felt somewhat convicted knowing that I've written some harsh reviews. I need to be careful with phrasing and work harder to be constructive versus destructive. This mentality is the same when working with students and teaching. Nothing is gained from anger, harshness, or criticism and it flushes motivation down the drain. What's worse, it is a trusting child who expects you to be kind and fair all the time. I have to be a carafe full of positiveness and "catch them being good" (as my husband always says). A good reminder.
The next two chapters are about Pinkneys and Rockwells. Brian Pinkney using scratchboard to find his art style that was different from his fathers was fascinating. It also sidetracked me into researching scratchboard and having a discussion with an artist on the technique. Love it. There is a glossary in the back that defines scratchboard. The art form reminds me of woodblock printing but more detailed. Next up, "The Rockwells." They had three girls and Anne describes Lizzy as a "babbler." She also talks about how her parents divorced and her mother abandoned her siblings to pursue her dream of being a writer. The family was split up into different foster homes. There is another letter from the author's editor, but this one gives more insight into the design of the book.
So much for my so-called quick read. I thought I'd buzz through this 48 page book but found myself researching some unknown art techniques, slowing down to enjoy the accompanying photos, letters from editors, and illustrations... basically taking 3 days to mull over the information. Then I thought it is such a quick read I'd buzz through it again. Goes to show you never know what path you'll meander when reading. I am going to hunt down all the Leonard Marcus books I can find to read. My new favorite author. More to come.
Reading Level 6.1
Marcus is a terrific writer who gives a feel for the picture-book makers he's characterizing. For instance, Thacher Hurd describes his family's life in an old yellow farmhouse with little money. Thacher loved stepping into his parents art-filled studio that was an "'all-senses-at-once experience,'" a wizard's brew of paint smells, paper textures, tools and brushes, and at the center of it all his tall, rail-thin, slow-moving father silently working." Isn't that a great image? Reminds me my Minnesotan family and father's architecture/art studio. I can hear Grandma yakking in my ear in her Norwegian accent, "Yah (said inhaling... sounds like a gasp), check out dah Hurds Barbie, dey goot artists... with published kid books too, don't cha know." Then in an interesting twist, Marcus reveals that the Hurds who live a simple life with not much money, both grew up in wealthy, high society families. Clement Hurd illustrated, Goodnight Moon, and he and his wife were dear friends with Margaret Wise Brown and Don Freeman of Corduroy. Then in another twist Thacher explains how hard it was to rebel against his parents because they were so open to anything he did. The only thing he felt he could rebel against was becoming an artist. He entered the business at a later age because of this attitude.
Walter Dean Myers wrote 10 pages a day and read out loud to his son and wife every day. He grew up in foster homes and much of his writing is from this past. The Myer's son, Christopher, was nurtured and encouraged by both parents to pursue his dream of being an artist. I really liked the well-written letter from his agent, Regina Griffin. What great insight into how a good publisher critiques a manuscript. In a constructive, funny, and positive manner she makes suggestions for improving the draft. I admit, I felt somewhat convicted knowing that I've written some harsh reviews. I need to be careful with phrasing and work harder to be constructive versus destructive. This mentality is the same when working with students and teaching. Nothing is gained from anger, harshness, or criticism and it flushes motivation down the drain. What's worse, it is a trusting child who expects you to be kind and fair all the time. I have to be a carafe full of positiveness and "catch them being good" (as my husband always says). A good reminder.
The next two chapters are about Pinkneys and Rockwells. Brian Pinkney using scratchboard to find his art style that was different from his fathers was fascinating. It also sidetracked me into researching scratchboard and having a discussion with an artist on the technique. Love it. There is a glossary in the back that defines scratchboard. The art form reminds me of woodblock printing but more detailed. Next up, "The Rockwells." They had three girls and Anne describes Lizzy as a "babbler." She also talks about how her parents divorced and her mother abandoned her siblings to pursue her dream of being a writer. The family was split up into different foster homes. There is another letter from the author's editor, but this one gives more insight into the design of the book.
So much for my so-called quick read. I thought I'd buzz through this 48 page book but found myself researching some unknown art techniques, slowing down to enjoy the accompanying photos, letters from editors, and illustrations... basically taking 3 days to mull over the information. Then I thought it is such a quick read I'd buzz through it again. Goes to show you never know what path you'll meander when reading. I am going to hunt down all the Leonard Marcus books I can find to read. My new favorite author. More to come.
Reading Level 6.1
October 27, 2010
This book reminds me of another book by this author: Side by Side: Five Favorite Picture-Book Teams Go to Work, that one about author-illustrator teams. This book is about intergenerational family members who’ve created picture books, writing and/or illustrating them. I think I liked the Side by Side book slightly better, but they’re both terrific books and I hope there will be similar new books in the future.
These are very lucky family members, both to have the inherited talent and to have the family support and closeness. I did find it so funny about the kid (in this case (John) Thatcher Hurd) who couldn’t rebel except by (temporarily) not being an artist. I think this book shows how the important thing is to support and encourage children’s interests, whether they’re the same or different than parents/others’ interests. And it is fun reading about a family business that happens to be art.
I wanted a bit more though. A bit more about other family members (there is some) and more families/artists too. I did like how history and family history are incorporated into the stories of these specific artists and writers. I liked how some editors' letters were included.
The whole book's layout is very appealing.
This book features
The Crews and Jonas Family: Donald Crews, Ann Jonas, and Nina Crews
The Hurd Family: Clement Hurd, Edith Thatcher Hurd, and Thatcher Hurd
The Myers Family: Walter Dean Myers, Christopher Myers
The Pinkney Family: Jerry Pinkney, Brian Pinkney
The Rockwell Family: Harlow Rockwell, Anne Rockwell, Lizzy Rockwell
There's a Books in the Family section in the back of the book that lists all the books written and illustrated by the above (as of publication date in 2007). There is also a glossary and it's mostly for art and publishing definitions.
These are very lucky family members, both to have the inherited talent and to have the family support and closeness. I did find it so funny about the kid (in this case (John) Thatcher Hurd) who couldn’t rebel except by (temporarily) not being an artist. I think this book shows how the important thing is to support and encourage children’s interests, whether they’re the same or different than parents/others’ interests. And it is fun reading about a family business that happens to be art.
I wanted a bit more though. A bit more about other family members (there is some) and more families/artists too. I did like how history and family history are incorporated into the stories of these specific artists and writers. I liked how some editors' letters were included.
The whole book's layout is very appealing.
This book features
The Crews and Jonas Family: Donald Crews, Ann Jonas, and Nina Crews
The Hurd Family: Clement Hurd, Edith Thatcher Hurd, and Thatcher Hurd
The Myers Family: Walter Dean Myers, Christopher Myers
The Pinkney Family: Jerry Pinkney, Brian Pinkney
The Rockwell Family: Harlow Rockwell, Anne Rockwell, Lizzy Rockwell
There's a Books in the Family section in the back of the book that lists all the books written and illustrated by the above (as of publication date in 2007). There is also a glossary and it's mostly for art and publishing definitions.
October 26, 2010
I spend more time in the children's wing of my library than I do anywhere else. It's right by the entrance. There's a shelf of new books, themed books and other goodies there to tempt me. I know I could use the excuse that I'm only looking for books for my children but that would be flat out lie.
Take for example: Pass It Down: Five Picture Book Families Make Their Mark by Leonard S. Marcus. I saw that book on the nonfiction shelf and had to check it out. Not for my children but for myself.
The book highlights five families of picture book authors and illustrators: Crews, Hurd, Myers, Pinkney and Rockwell. There is a short biography for each author or illustrator, along with photographs and samples of their artwork.
The book is a little longer than a typical picture book. The intended audience is probably the children who are currently reading their books but I wanted more.
Take for example: Pass It Down: Five Picture Book Families Make Their Mark by Leonard S. Marcus. I saw that book on the nonfiction shelf and had to check it out. Not for my children but for myself.
The book highlights five families of picture book authors and illustrators: Crews, Hurd, Myers, Pinkney and Rockwell. There is a short biography for each author or illustrator, along with photographs and samples of their artwork.
The book is a little longer than a typical picture book. The intended audience is probably the children who are currently reading their books but I wanted more.
April 28, 2013
I enjoyed this book but I am not sure who the audience is. I have trouble seeing many kids reading it. A less detailed book might have been better - basic stories are great and I loved the photos and illustrations.
April 20, 2015
This was a timely choice after just having read both Jerry Pinkney's The Grasshopper and the Ants and Christopher Myers' My Pen with students this week. This book has fascinating tidbits about authors and illustrators that will help make them more "real" to students.
Read
October 18, 2010Saw this at the Mill Valley Library Sale but am trying to get it from the library. Looks really good!
June 22, 2012
There are so many cool people in kid lit. This one highlights some of them that are families.
July 21, 2014
So interesting to read about famous families in children book writing and illustrating. Two of my favorites the Crews and Myers families.
July 29, 2014
Could be ok as an overview; wanted more depth. What did the author want to get across to the reader? Thought the selected titles by author at the end was lacking.
January 25, 2016
very interesting
Read
February 4, 2016Interviews with picture-book artists and the offspring who followed in their footsteps, including Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney and the Clement Hurds and Thacher Hurd.
January 1, 2009
If you like picture book art, you will enjoy meeting the artists in this book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews