Before They Were Artists

February 15, 2021
In graphic format, profiles of six illustrators that focus on their words, groundbreaking works, and early influences. Following up on her Before They Were Authors (2019), Haidle pays tribute to another worthy and diverse set of creative talents: Wanda G�g, Tove Jansson, Hiyao Miyazaki, Yuyi Morales, Maurice Sendak, and Jerry Pinkney. As children's-book illustrators go, animator Miyazaki is really an outlier here, but the author wedges him into the general scheme by analyzing his character types and his views on visual art in general. Sticking to her own low-key, chromatically restrained figures and visual style (to the point that even the iconic covers of favorites like Where the Wild Things Are and Millions of Cats are unrecognizably altered), she takes each of her subjects from childhood to well-launched career, pointing to the effects of family situations and tracing the development of artistic aspirations. Their later years are rushed, but she includes nods to significant personal as well as professional contacts, such as Jansson's same-sex partner, Tuulikki Pietil�, and Sendak's relationships with both his life companion, Eugene Glynn, and his editor Ursula Nordstrom. Direct quotes, printed in red, make up major portions of the narrative, placed in and around the neatly arranged geometric panels, so even though young audiences may struggle to find any visual evocation of these illustrators' distinctive spirits and styles, some impression at least of their voices and approaches to art do, in the end, come through. Quirky choices, but readers will be left knowing these iconic figures better. (timelines, endnotes, further reading) (Graphic collective biography. 8-12)

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March 22, 2021
Illustrated capsule biographies of Wanda Gág, Tove Jansson, Hayao Miyazaki, Yuyi Morales, Jerry Pinkney, and Maurice Sendak offer overlapping, illuminating answers to Haidle’s framing question: “What makes an illustrator?” A love of creating, curiosity, attentiveness, and persistence recur as themes. In standalone chapters dedicated to each artist, each beginning with biographical timelines, Haidle works in direct quotes and telling details, tracing her subjects’ youthful experiences (from young Sendak biting a book to Jansson drawing the prototype of Moomintroll on an outhouse wall) and their varied adult triumphs. Haidle’s watercolor, ink, and digital illustrations use an abundance of stylized details and a trendy muted palette to adroitly capture relatable, interesting moments that complement the informative text, such as Pinkney trying out expressions in a mirror or Morales wide-eyed with fear at her childhood imaginings. An engaging and informative look at artists who have shaped millions of children’s visual worlds. Ages 8–12.

March 26, 2021

Gr 5-8-Haidle follows up Before They Were Authors with this volume that highlights the childhoods, career highlights, and personal lives of illustrators who played a role in the world of children's art. As a teen, Wanda G�g supported her family with her art after her father's passing and, with Millions of Cats, created the double-page spread. Where the Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak endured frequent illness as a child and experienced the loss of those close to him as an adult. "Moomin" series creator Tove Jansson started her own art collective after being frustrated by the attitudes toward women in the art world. Jerry Pinkney struggled with dyslexia as a child; as an adult, he created fables and stories of social justice and brought his family into the picture book fold. Caldecott Honor illustrator Yuyi Morales drew inspiration from her experiences as an immigrant. The devastation of World War II and the knowledge that his family, who owned an airplane manufacturing company, had benefited from warfare influenced animator and Studio Ghibli cofounder Hayao Miyazaki, who was spurred to create work that drives young audiences to become more aware of the world around them. Haidle's minimalist watercolor illustrations deftly blend elements from each artist in their section, and the work effectively conveys the essence of each subject. VERDICT A testament to the "ineffable joy of creation," as expressed by Wanda G�g, this is a strong addition to shelves and will inspire budding artists.-Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TX

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January 1, 2021
Companion to Haidle's Before They Were Authors, this illustrated collective biography features six successful children's book artists with varied life circumstances: Wanda Gag, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayao Miyazaki. A double-page spread introduces each subject, showing the artist as a child next to one of their well-known books with a speech bubble highlighting a personal quote. A brief timeline with a few important dates and events appears at the bottom. From there, a comic-panel narrative provides an effective overview of the illustrator's life, including challenges and motivations, and details how they become established in their careers. Haidle's illustrations ably reflect each illustrator's work. In an introduction, Haidle explains what the six illustrators have in common: "In all cases, inspiration from someone else helped pave the way: another artist, animator, cartoonist, or painter whose books, films, or paintings moved hearts and imprinted themselves on minds." Source notes and a bibliography are appended. An accessible entry point for aspiring artists.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)