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Before They Were Artists: Famous Illustrators As Kids: True Stories of Childhood Triumphs and Creative Inspiration for Children
This graphic novel anthology brings to life the childhood experiences of artists and illustrators such as Wanda Gág, Maurice Sendak, and Jerry Pinkney.
What makes an artist? What sparks their imagination? Where do their creativity and unique style come from? Illustrations and a graphic novel format bring to life this anthology of artists and their childhoods. Featuring artists such as Wanda Gág, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayao Miyazaki, these stories capture the childhood triumphs, failures, and inspirations that predated their careers.
What makes an artist? What sparks their imagination? Where do their creativity and unique style come from? Illustrations and a graphic novel format bring to life this anthology of artists and their childhoods. Featuring artists such as Wanda Gág, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayao Miyazaki, these stories capture the childhood triumphs, failures, and inspirations that predated their careers.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
3 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Haidle
36 books11 followersI am an illustrator of non-fiction—biographical, historical, political & sometimes poetical-philosophical.
I am also the art + editorial director at Illustoria magazine, published by McSweeney’s. Inside its colorful, curiosity-inducing pages, we celebrate comics, stories & DIY.
I live in Portland, Oregon, even though I left my heart in Taos, New Mexico.
(I go back there often to retrieve bits of it)
I am also the art + editorial director at Illustoria magazine, published by McSweeney’s. Inside its colorful, curiosity-inducing pages, we celebrate comics, stories & DIY.
I live in Portland, Oregon, even though I left my heart in Taos, New Mexico.
(I go back there often to retrieve bits of it)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 4, 2021
A delightful children's graphic novel detailing some of the most celebrated artists in children's literature.
Each artist gets their own biography, told through beautiful illustrations, really focusing in on the hardships they had to overcome, but also celebrating how they are their own thinkers and how brave it is to follow your dream to become an artist.
The artists covered are Wanda Gág, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales and Hayao Miyazaki.
Recommended.
(Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
Each artist gets their own biography, told through beautiful illustrations, really focusing in on the hardships they had to overcome, but also celebrating how they are their own thinkers and how brave it is to follow your dream to become an artist.
The artists covered are Wanda Gág, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales and Hayao Miyazaki.
Recommended.
(Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)
February 21, 2025
كتاب لطيف تاني للناشئين
عن رسامين كتب الأطفال illustrators
الرسومات حلوة .. وف فنانين مكنتش اعرف عنهم حاجه قبل كده
كالعادة هصور الكتاب من جوا ع انستجرام mai.designer92@
عن رسامين كتب الأطفال illustrators
الرسومات حلوة .. وف فنانين مكنتش اعرف عنهم حاجه قبل كده
كالعادة هصور الكتاب من جوا ع انستجرام mai.designer92@
June 11, 2021
An intriguing look at several famous artists/illustrators/animators and their lives in comic form - my only complaint is that some boxes and writing do not follow a traditional comic pattern, making it difficult to understand sometimes.
August 20, 2021
I found this not only delightful, but absolutely fascinating. :)
June 8, 2021
Do you have a child in your life who loves to draw? Or maybe you are the one that likes to draw and doodle all over the page. If so - read this book! I learned a lot about some of my favorite illustrators and was introduced to a new one! The illustrators featured in this book are Wanda Gag, Tove Janesson, Maurice Sendak, Yuyi Morales, Jerry Pinkney, and - my favorite - Hayao Miyazaki.
A few things I learned -- draw. And then draw. And then draw some more. If you feel unskilled at drawing something - copy the work of an illustrator you like! This is what Miyazaki did because he did not think he was good at drawing people. He eventually gained confidence and developed his own style. I also learned that Miyazaki was not a big fan of the early Disney animated films. He said, "I wanted to overturn this stupid idea in films that if you just grow up and fall in love, everything will be all right." Also - "I'm not creating something just to be consumed. I'm creating and watching films that will make me a slightly better person than I was before."
Needless to say, I found this book very inspiring. It is written in panels with lots of illustrations but it incorporates a lot of traditional, information text also. There is a LOT of information in this short book which also includes source notes and a bibliography. If there is one thing that I would add - it would have been how to pronounce the different names of the illustrators. As someone whose name has been mispronounced my entire life, I always appreciate learning how to correctly pronounce someone's name. I can look it up separately but it would have been great to have that information included with each artist.
A few things I learned -- draw. And then draw. And then draw some more. If you feel unskilled at drawing something - copy the work of an illustrator you like! This is what Miyazaki did because he did not think he was good at drawing people. He eventually gained confidence and developed his own style. I also learned that Miyazaki was not a big fan of the early Disney animated films. He said, "I wanted to overturn this stupid idea in films that if you just grow up and fall in love, everything will be all right." Also - "I'm not creating something just to be consumed. I'm creating and watching films that will make me a slightly better person than I was before."
Needless to say, I found this book very inspiring. It is written in panels with lots of illustrations but it incorporates a lot of traditional, information text also. There is a LOT of information in this short book which also includes source notes and a bibliography. If there is one thing that I would add - it would have been how to pronounce the different names of the illustrators. As someone whose name has been mispronounced my entire life, I always appreciate learning how to correctly pronounce someone's name. I can look it up separately but it would have been great to have that information included with each artist.
October 25, 2021
A wonderful non-fiction graphic novel about some of the greatest children's book illustrators of all-time. This was a delightful read and I would recommend it to anyone!
April 23, 2025
a very enjoyable read.
June 13, 2021
Love this series. Highly recommend the first one as well that talks about famous authors as children. Love love love.
May 12, 2023
The perfect Graphic NF. It felt like it was created just for me. The author/illustrator explores seven of the world’s most beloved Children’s illustrator/artists. Great details of each artist’s life. Wonderfully diverse. Really a lovely book.
July 26, 2021
First sentence: What sparks an artist's beginning? Did young artists realize they were destined for art? Were they summer art campers, comics clubgoers, or members at all the museums? Did their pets sit still for portraits, waiting to be sketched? Did their parents hang Picassos and read art history books aloud? A lucky few were born into artistic households. Art making was expected, a family tradition. Yet many didn't realize they could publish their creations until after they grew up. Still, the experiences they gathered in childhood made them expert storytellers later.
Premise/plot: Before They Were Artists is a celebration of six illustrators. It is a nonfiction graphic novel. Each artist--Wanda Gag, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayo Miyazaki--has a biographical sketch and as the title implies focuses on how they came to become artists.
My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one! I loved that they started with Wanda Gag! I love, love, love, love Millions of Cats. It was fascinating to read more about her and to see her creative process. The other stories were also interesting and informative. It is only natural that each reader will have a favorite of his or her own. But really all the stories offer value and insight.
As I mentioned before the book is packed with information and details. Readers may know some details--but there is plenty to learn.
One of my favorite I didn't-know-that-facts I discovered was that Wanda's brother was paid to hand-letter the story Millions of Cats because Wanda did not like mechanical looking print!
I would like to see this turned into a series. So many illustrators. So many authors. I'd love to see more behind-the-scenes work showing the process of book making.
Premise/plot: Before They Were Artists is a celebration of six illustrators. It is a nonfiction graphic novel. Each artist--Wanda Gag, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayo Miyazaki--has a biographical sketch and as the title implies focuses on how they came to become artists.
My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one! I loved that they started with Wanda Gag! I love, love, love, love Millions of Cats. It was fascinating to read more about her and to see her creative process. The other stories were also interesting and informative. It is only natural that each reader will have a favorite of his or her own. But really all the stories offer value and insight.
As I mentioned before the book is packed with information and details. Readers may know some details--but there is plenty to learn.
One of my favorite I didn't-know-that-facts I discovered was that Wanda's brother was paid to hand-letter the story Millions of Cats because Wanda did not like mechanical looking print!
I would like to see this turned into a series. So many illustrators. So many authors. I'd love to see more behind-the-scenes work showing the process of book making.
July 1, 2022
This is great for middle readers and even middle schoolers. It includes lots of facts and questions. It's organized with each chapter highlighting a different illustrator.
The 1st 2 pages has a running timeline of publishing and significant events.
There is a common theme -- the passion and need these artists had even when young to keep drawing.
Some of the things I appreciated:
I liked how Maurie Sendak's chapter included (somewhat incidentally) the fact that he had a psychiatrist and that he was gay.
Another running theme seemed to be the struggle to keep doing art while thinking they should be doing something "productive."
Sexism is demonstrated in Tove Jansson's chapter, and Jerry Pinkney struggled with reading but illustrated his ideas. Many kids would relate to that. Bonus is that he is African American and wrote on social justice issues.
Yuyi Morales is also inspirational. A Mexican who had no children's books as a child and achieved incredible success against the odds.
Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese American was born during WWII. He was self-taught and had a supportive teacher in middle school.
Besides all this, there are terrific source notes and a bibliography.
The 1st 2 pages has a running timeline of publishing and significant events.
There is a common theme -- the passion and need these artists had even when young to keep drawing.
Some of the things I appreciated:
I liked how Maurie Sendak's chapter included (somewhat incidentally) the fact that he had a psychiatrist and that he was gay.
Another running theme seemed to be the struggle to keep doing art while thinking they should be doing something "productive."
Sexism is demonstrated in Tove Jansson's chapter, and Jerry Pinkney struggled with reading but illustrated his ideas. Many kids would relate to that. Bonus is that he is African American and wrote on social justice issues.
Yuyi Morales is also inspirational. A Mexican who had no children's books as a child and achieved incredible success against the odds.
Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese American was born during WWII. He was self-taught and had a supportive teacher in middle school.
Besides all this, there are terrific source notes and a bibliography.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2021
First of all, the content of this book: fascinating! Such a diverse and international group of artists (several of whom I'd never heard of and now I want to know more - perfect!). The illustrations: evocative! They really brought the content to life in a meaningful way. Thank goodness.
The actual experience of reading the book: aggravating. I've had my excellent vision confirmed at a recent eye exam so when I say I was frustrated by the tiny squished together font the whole time it's not because I need glasses. At first I didn't realize that's what was driving me crazy (that and getting a handle on the pane to pane flow) and I wasn't paying quite enough attention to the information. It will be interesting to see what the kids think of this book, whether or not they'll have the endurance to see it through. Still, a helpful resource for a school library.
The actual experience of reading the book: aggravating. I've had my excellent vision confirmed at a recent eye exam so when I say I was frustrated by the tiny squished together font the whole time it's not because I need glasses. At first I didn't realize that's what was driving me crazy (that and getting a handle on the pane to pane flow) and I wasn't paying quite enough attention to the information. It will be interesting to see what the kids think of this book, whether or not they'll have the endurance to see it through. Still, a helpful resource for a school library.
January 19, 2022
This is a collection of short biographies about six children's illustrators told in a graphic format. Each biography begins with the artist's family life with the focus on artistic opportunities, inspirations, and experience. Featured are Wanda Gag, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayao Miyazaki, a group of accomplished artists from varied backgrounds with different artistic styles. But what they do have in common is a commitment to their craft and a determination to follow their artistic dreams. A well researched and accessible resource for readers interested in the craft of creating illustrations.
June 5, 2023
I learned so much from this graphic novel anthology Featuring artists Wanda Gág, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayao Miyazaki. I love when a book encourages you to do additional research and learn more about the topic. I knew some of these illustrators, and was introduced to some new ones, and spent some time researching each of their works and their art styles.
This is really inspirational, and I loved learning about the background of each artist, and what they had to overcome.
This is really inspirational, and I loved learning about the background of each artist, and what they had to overcome.
November 29, 2024
A graphic novel for kids about illustrators when they were children? Genius. I loved reading this, especially the part about one of my favorite children's authors/illustrators, Maurice Sendak. I will note that I read the digital version on my Kindle, which was extremely difficult because of how it was formatted. I could not zoom in to see the images or read the text. I had to screenshot each page and zoom in from my camera roll. Not convenient but I'm not docking my rating because of it. I just wanted to mention it because I think a physical copy of the book would be much easier to read.
April 22, 2025
I found this little delight at the library. It was the perfect length, and I love my biographies in graphic novel form. This has spurred me to check out many of these listed books to read with Charles! I love how diverse and international a lineup of illustrators she chose. The only fault I found was in figuring out the order in which to read the panels that had text on the tops and bottoms when there were two or three illustrations in a row.
I’d love to read her “Before They Were Authors: Famous Writers as Kids”, but my library doesn’t have it.
I’d love to read her “Before They Were Authors: Famous Writers as Kids”, but my library doesn’t have it.
May 7, 2021
Before They Were Artists: Famous Illustrators as Kids by Elizabeth Haidle is a graphic novel-style collection of short biographies that profile six famous illustrators from childhood and throughout the rest of the lives. The book features Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are), Tove Jansson (creator of the Moomins), Hayao Miyazaki (founder of Studio Ghibli), and several others including Jerry Pinkney and Yuyi Morales.
Each of the illustrators gets a fully illustrated 8-10 page biography that shows the challenges they faced and the achievements they accomplished as young people before diving into their careers as illustrators. Every section begins with a two-page spread that includes a timeline of the illustrator’s life and an image of their most famous book. The illustrations throughout have a simplistic, muted style that allows the story to shine and encourages the reader to seek out the works of the people they are reading about, and the chronological presentation makes this an ideal reference book for school art class projects.
While the stories of many popular authors and fine artists are well-known, illustrators are more often overlooked, so all of these biographies were new stories to Sophie, who found them all thoroughly enjoyable. She was also pleased to note that the book didn’t gloss over difficult periods or hide the fact that several of the featured illustrators were LGBTQ. This is an inspirational book filled with interesting stories that will leave you wanting to pick up a pencil and start drawing too.
Each of the illustrators gets a fully illustrated 8-10 page biography that shows the challenges they faced and the achievements they accomplished as young people before diving into their careers as illustrators. Every section begins with a two-page spread that includes a timeline of the illustrator’s life and an image of their most famous book. The illustrations throughout have a simplistic, muted style that allows the story to shine and encourages the reader to seek out the works of the people they are reading about, and the chronological presentation makes this an ideal reference book for school art class projects.
While the stories of many popular authors and fine artists are well-known, illustrators are more often overlooked, so all of these biographies were new stories to Sophie, who found them all thoroughly enjoyable. She was also pleased to note that the book didn’t gloss over difficult periods or hide the fact that several of the featured illustrators were LGBTQ. This is an inspirational book filled with interesting stories that will leave you wanting to pick up a pencil and start drawing too.
May 11, 2021
Short chapters in graphic novel format on six artists and authors: Wanda Gag, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayao Miyazaki. The subtitle is ‘Famous Illustrators as Kids’ but each segment goes beyond that timeframe so it is a bit misleading. The overarching message is that all six drew as children and by perseverance, desperation, or chance, each was able to make a living from their artistic endeavors.
April 29, 2021
Awesome introductions in graphic novel format to a few of the coolest illustrators. Haidle focused on six diverse artists: Wanda Gag, Maurice Sendak, Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayao Miyazaki. The story of these artists are really brought to life by her expressive illustrations, a fascinating collective biography!
January 26, 2022
A graphic novel with bite-sized biographies of six famous book illustrators. I really liked the format of this one. A timeline with a nice overview of the artist's life and career highlights is separated out--which allows more information into the panels of the stories. The subjects are a really nice mix of the well-known, and maybe not-so-well-known.
June 21, 2021
Loved this middle grade non-fiction which highlights a few famous illustrators (including one of my favorites, Tove Jansson). My only complaint is that sometimes following the text was a bit confusing and I wonder if it would confuse students, too.
November 16, 2021
This book is so cool! It shows you what the illustrators were like as kids, and how they create their art. It also gives kids ideas for how to create art themselves. I enjoyed learning about these illustrators.
September 18, 2022
“Draw many pictures, as many as you can. Eventually a world is created. To create one world means to discard other inconsistent or clashing ones…. what rushes forth from inside you is the world you have already drawn inside yourself, the thoughts and feelings that seek expression.”
-Hayao Miyazaki
-Hayao Miyazaki
May 14, 2023
It is a wonderful book with fun bit of knowledge about each author/illustrator. I have sought out some of the titles by those featured in the book. It is a useful to have these highlight but I am not sure how accessible it is for the young readers it seems geared towards.
August 3, 2021
Charming. And features some of my all time favs- Tove Jansson, Wanda Gag, Jerry Pinkney...
September 13, 2021
4. 5 stars
November 3, 2021
Ideal for older children
November 4, 2021
Bios of the authors whose names I'm familiar with were interesting but the bios of authors that are new to me didn't grab my interest.
December 16, 2021
Children's nonfiction in a graphic novel format about 5 illustrators from several countries. Briefly describes their inspirations and influences.
December 20, 2021
Interesting and inspiring life stories beautifully illustrated.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews