A lavishly illustrated, large-format reference book highlighting the
work of 101 top children's illustrators
The illustrated children's book came of age in the 18th century
alongside the rising middle-class demand for economic and social
advancement. Inspired by philosopher John Locke's prescient insights
into child development, London publisher John Newbery established the
first commercial market for illustrated "juveniles" in the West, and the
impact of the model he set for books tailored to the interests and
capabilities of young readers has spanned the globe, spurring higher
literacy rates, cultural enfranchisement, and a better life for
generations of children.
In Pictured Worlds, renowned historian Leonard S. Marcus shares his
incomparable knowledge of this global cultural phenomenon in the
definitive reference work on children's book illustration. The author of
more than 25 award-winning books, Marcus here highlights an
international roster of 101 artists of the last 250 years whose
touchstone achievements collectively chart the major trends and turning
points in the history of children's book illustration. While some
illustrators explored in this lively volume (John Tenniel, Maurice
Sendak) have become household names, Marcus's wide-ranging survey also
shines a light on several lesser-known figures whose unique
contributions merit a closer look. The result is a sweeping chronicle of
a vibrant art form and cultural driver that has touched the lives of
literate peoples everywhere. Over 400 illustrations showcase landmark
books from Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Austria,
Italy, Sweden, Czech Republic, Russia, Japan, China, Korea, Bulgaria,
Argentina, Cameroon, and more.
Each illustrated entry is comprised of an artist's biography and career
overview and a deep-dive look at a pivotal book and its legacy. Featured
books include Ivan Bilibin's The Golden Cockerel, Leo Lionni's Inch
by Inch, Richard Doyle's In Fairyland, Kveta Pacovská's One,
Five, Many, Helen Oxenbury's We're Going On a Bear Hunt, Mitsumasa
Anno's Anno's Journey, and Zhu Cheng-Liang's A New Year's Reunion,
as well as the books that introduced such iconic characters as Alice,
Max, Struwwelpeter, the Little Prince, and Winnie-the-Pooh. At once a
celebration of illustrated children's books and an essential reference
work, Pictured Worlds encapsulates, in the author's words, "the
special nature of the illustrated children's book as a cultural
enterprise that is at once a rewarding art form, a bridge across
cultures, and a ladder between generations."
