Creating Picturebooks

How are children's picture book proposals chosen for publication? What characteristics of picture books promise success? How much input do the artist-authors have once their proposals have been accepted by a publisher? The dynamic process of producing picture books is charmingly revealed through interviews with those directly involved from start to finish (including two galleries devoted to displaying the art). In the United States, picture books have accounted for GBP2 billion in sales in a recent year. Compiled from interviews with editors, art directors, and production managers from both British (e.g., Anderson Press, Victor Gollancz, and Walker Books) and American publishers (e.g., Farrar, Straus, and Giroux; Houghton Mifflin, Candlewick Press, and Random House), this book reveals how the creative process works within the business of publishing. The interviews with reviewers and booksellers help provide a well-rounded perspective.