I love children’s picture books. I love that words and art work together to create a setting for sharing and exploring a story. I love the challenge of the author to write something thoughtful in 500-1000 words – usually 32 pages. Even more inspiring is a book that has no words – that leaves the reader and companions to tell the story they see each time they open the book. 

I got to visit the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art twice in the fall. The museum sits adjacent to the campus where our youngest goes to college. Exhibitions I especially loved: Artful Collaboration: Eric Carle & Ann Beneduce; Free to Be. . . You and Me: 50 Years of Stories and Songs, and PICTURES AT PLAY: METAFICTION IN ART. 

There is a permanent exhibit featuring Carle’s work and life, and at my December visit I watched a thirty minute video featuring Eric Carle: Eric Carle: Picture Writer, The Art of the Picture Book 

Even as I’ve been writing this post I have discovered more to love on the museum website – including online and traveling exhibitions. I do not think my kids would have enjoyed it as much as I do when they were little so it is a good thing that I have discovered this happy space as a middle adult. I am free to dip my toe in as often as I can get there. 

A wonder of publishing for me is not just the work of the writer, but the team of collaborators in the publishing process. The books Marc has published have all included a community of people to help the book get ready, get set, and to go. (Most recently we worked with Page Two Books.) 

With children’s picture books, I imagine the team involved in moving the story from an idea to a  a treasure held in a child’s hands must be even more involved.

Story is born when someone has the idea. Someone (most often the idea holder) writes the words. An illustrator is found and the words get image mirrors. Layout and marketing – the labor and delivery room?  Books are printed and then find their way into our homes and hearts. So many pieces of this process, so many hands and eyes and minds and hearts. 

If you were to write a story, would you start with a moment or a character? What kind of illustrations would you want? What’s on the cover? And the Endpapers? Who gets to enjoy the story first? And most often? 

Me – a character, but with some strong moments. Illustrations – either watercolor or vivid ink. The cover would be a brilliant blue with only the title. The endpapers would be an involved map of what the main characters tends to outside of the story. My family gets to enjoy it first.