The Art of Reading: Forty Illustrators Celebrate RIF's 40th Anniversary

Many creative takes on this volume's title emerge as an illustrious crew (including seven Caldecott Medalists and eight Caldecott Honor artists) share childhood memories of a book that left a lasting impression. For the most part, these articulate and candid commentaries play supporting roles to this handsome volume's shining stars: the full-page illustrations in which each artist creates a visual homage to his or her chosen book. Some renderings stay true to the spirit of the book's original artwork, including those created by Diana Cain Bluthenthal and Henry Cole, who both selected E.B. White's Charlotte's Web , illustrated by Garth Williams ("Mr. Williams breathed a life into the farm and its characters beyond words," Bluthenthal comments). Other artists add a unique touch: Steven Kellogg depicts himself as a smiling lad riding on the back of Black Beauty 's Ginger, restored to the spirited young horse at the novel's start; Eric Rohmann playfully honors Wanda Gág's Millions of Cats with a portrait of a paw-licking, exceedingly fat cat (the last remaining feline after the countless cats quarrel and allegedly eat "each other all up"). Each entry captures the contributors' personality and style, offering fans a behind-the-easel peak at these talented individuals. Of reading Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are as a child, William Joyce writes, "I got lost in that book and haven't come out since." Similarly, readers will effortlessly lose themselves in these intriguing pages. All ages. (Aug.)