In interviews by the acclaimed Leonard S. Marcus, twenty-one top authors and illustrators reveal their inside stories on the art of creating picture books.

"The tale of a modern Peruvian mountain boy who belongs to an ancient people, the Incas. Cusi helps an old herder with his flock of llama and learns of the ways of his forefathers."

Randolph Caldecott is best known as the namesake of the award that honours picture book illustrations. In this inventive biography, a leading children's literature scholar examines the man behind the medal. Including drawing from Caldecott's very last sketchbook, it shows why Caldecott was indeed the father of the modern picture book.

"A retired bestselling author hosts a one-of-a-kind competition, with high risks and high rewards--giving the winner a chance to change lives. Lucy Hart has come a long way since feeling the cold neglect of her parents, whose attention always centered around her chronically ill sister's needs. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher's aide, Lucy is able to share her love of books with bright, young students, and one in particular, a seven-year-old orphan...

One reluctant heir...If anyone else had asked for his help publishing a naughty novel, Ash would have had the sense to say no. But he's never been able to deny Verity Plum. Now he has his hands full illustrating a book and trying his damnedest not to fall in love with his best friend. The last thing he needs is to discover he's a duke's lost heir. Without a family or a proper education, he's had to fight for his place in the world, and the idea of...

This is the definitive look at how Tasha Tudor's life has created her art, how her art has shaped her life, and why it is essential to view them together to best appreciate her gracious legacy. Davis provides detailed biographical information, everything from the origin of Tasha' name to how she raised four children on her own, in order to illustrate the amazing connection between her life and work. A longtime confidant of Tasha Tudor, Davis details...

Before he can begin the story he wants to write, an author hears an insistent call for more bears and soon the pages are crawling with them.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

A tale told from the parallel perspectives of two possible timelines considers the life of American expatriate Irena McGovern, who in one reality stays faithful to her disciplined American intellectual partner, and in the other runs off with an exuberant British friend.

A young girl is determined to be the first astronaut with hearing aids in space! Astrid can't wait for the school year to start so she can put her Astronomically Grand Plan into action! She and her best friend, Hallie, are going to be in their first year of Shooting Stars, a club dedicated to all things space. Astrid's big sister has told her all about it, and this year, there is a big, wonderful prize: a trip to a real-life space camp! But Astrid's...