Leonard S. Marcus

Children's Book Historian, Author, Critic

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Why Do Picture Books Matter? SHOW ME A STORY! WHY PICTURE BOOKS MATTER: CONVERSATIONS WITH 21 OF the WORLD'S MOST CELEBRATED ILLUSTRATORS (Candlewick Press) It's here! Check out Leonard's latest collection of not-to-be missed conversations about children's books and the people who make them! Max and Mickey; Miss Nelson; Pack, Quack, and Mrs. Mallard; Pigeon; Sylvester; John Henry; and a very hungry caterpillar - these are just a few of the beloved picture book characters discussed in Show Me a Story! Renowned children's literature authority Leonard S. Marcus speaks with their creators and others - twenty-one of the world's mostcelebrated authors and illustrators - and asks about their childhood, their inspiration, their determination, their mentors, their creative choices, and more. And yes, Mo Willems did the cover! “This fine resource [will] inspire, inform, and delight those of any age who are engaged in—or by—the arts” --Joanna Rudge LongThe Horn Book Best Holiday Book, 2011! THE ANNOTATED PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH by Norton Juster, Jules Feiffer. Annotations by Leonard S. Marcus (Random House) “A timeless tribute to learning as play, much enriched with background on even the (seemingly) throwaway lines and puns.” --Kirkus (starred review) Best Book, Fall 2011 --The Village Voice “Brilliantly edited.” --Maria Tatar Best Holiday Gift Book, 2011 --Entertainment Weekly Best Holiday Gift Book, 2011 --Minneapolis Star-Tribune Best Holiday Gift Book, 2011 --Los Angeles Times Best Holiday Book, 2011 --The Boston Globe Best Holiday Book, 2011 --Babble.com An SLJ Best Book of 2009! FUNNY BUSINESS (Candlewick Press) 13 well-loved comic writers tell how they found their funny bones, their voices, and themselves. In this companion to The Wand in the Word, Leonard talks with Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Sharon Creech, Christopher Paul Curtis, Anne Fine, Daniel Handler, Carl Hiaasen, Norton Juster, Dick King-Smith, Hilary McKay, Louis Sachar, and Jon Scieszka, and Daniel Pinkwater makes a special cameo appearance. --"Illuminating [and] intriguing. . . This title should find its way onto shelves for readers of all ages." --Maria B. Salvadore School Library Journal (starred review) --Booklist (starred review) and Booklist.com Review of the Day (October 23) --“A great way to see how authors do what they do.” --Indiana Post-Tribune --“Children . . . are certain to savor this collection.” --Jennifer M. Brown, Shelf Awareness.com Also New from Candlewick The paperback edition of THE WAND IN THE WORD: CONVERSATIONS WITH WRITERS OF FANTASY -- “An essential volume for fantasy fans of all ages.” — School Library Journal (starred review) -- "A rich resource." — Booklist (starred); -- “Wisdom, variety, and humor characterize these interviews full of incisive comments from thirteen fantasy writers. . . An unusual exposition of creativity and courage, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into the diverse ways imagination and fantasy work.” — The Horn Book (Horn Book Fanfare; starred review) Winner of the 2010 Children's Literature Association Book Award MINDERS OF MAKE BELIEVE: IDEALISTS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND THE SHAPING OF AMERICAN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE (Houghton Mifflin) Minders of Make-Believe is the first-ever history of American children's book publishing, from colonial times to Harry Potter. — New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice selection “Best Nonfiction Books of 2008” — Los Angeles Times Book Review “Best Summer Nonfiction Reading” — NPR's Fresh Air “A historian's wonderfully knowing account of the world of children's literat ure becomes something more: a brilliant rendering of a nation's values over the generations. Bravo!” — Robert Coles “In the busy barnyard of children's literature, Leonard Marcus is Charlotte—a calm, wise soul who weaves every strand into something meaningful and useful. (He does not, as far as I know, have eight legs.)” — Daniel Handler “A tour de force . . . Indispensible.” — Booklist (starred review) More The perfect gift for anyone who loves Golden Books—now in its 3rd printing! GOLDEN LEGACY: HOW GOLDEN BOOKS WON CHILDREN'S HEARTS, CHANGED PUBLISHING FOREVER, AND BECAME AN AMERICAN ICON ALONG THE WAY (Random House) This lavishly illustrated book tells the fascinating, never-before-told story of the creation, marketing, and world-wide impact of the most popular children's books of all time. [A] treasure of a history." — Kirkus (starred review) “What a grand story [this] is! A big book about the 'Little Books'!” — Eric Carle SEE THE LARGEST PUBLIC SHOWING EVER OF ORIGINAL ART FROM GOLDEN BOOKS, AS THE EXHIBITION "GOLDEN LEGACY" CONTINUES ON ITS NATIONAL TOUR: Children's Museum of Richmond (Richmond, VA): 1 February 2011 - 12 April 2011 Salt Lake City Public Library (Salt Lake City, UT): 30 April 2011 - 12 June 2011 Lexington Public Library (Lexington, KY): 25 June 2011 - 14 August 2011 Greenville County Public Library (Greenville, SC): 24 September 2011 - 1 January 2012 More Presentations Leonard with Norton Juster (left) and Jules Feiffer (right) on the steps of 153 State Street--the Brooklyn Heights row house where The Phantom Tollbooth was created. Leonard (moderator) with artists Rick Meyerowitz, Edward Sorel, Roz Chast, and Roxie Munro, following their public conversation “The New Yorker's New York,” at the Katonah Museum of Art on November 3rd Books of Wonder window display, November 2011 Leonard on stage with Jules Feiffer at the Eric Carle Museum, November 5, 2011 Leonard Marcus is one of the children's-book world's most engaging and versatile speakers. Contact him about coming to your library, school, convention, or group meeting to give any the programs listed below. Programs can also be planned to meet your group's specific needs. More Highlights May/June 2012 Leonard in now represented for all speaking engagements by the Random House Speakers Bureau. To arrange for him to speak at your conference or to visit your library, corporate offices, or school, please contact Kathleen Dunn: KDunn@randomhouse.com 05/01 — CORPUS CHRISTI, TX: The exhibition “Golden Legacy: 65 Years of Original Art from Golden Books,” remains on view at the Art Museum of the Southwest through 05/27. More 05/04 — NEW YORK, NY: New York launch event for Show Me a Story! Why Picture Books Matter. Leonard leads a discussion with illustrators Chris Raschka, Jerry Pinkney, and Yumi Heo about the current state and future of the picture book. At the Society of Illustrators (128 East 63rd Street), starting at 6:30 p.m. Book signing to follow. More 05/19 — TOKYO, JAPAN: Leonard speaks at the Japan Society for Children’s Literature. More 05/21 — TOKYO, JAPAN: Leonard speaks at the Japan Library Association. More 05/23 — TOKYO, JAPAN: Leonard speaks at Shirayuri Women's College. More 05/26-29 — SINGAPORE: Leonard gives the keynote address and three other programs at the Asia Festival for Children's Content. More 06/02 — BOERNE, TX: The exhibition “Golden Legacy: 65 Years of Original Art from Golden Books,” opens at the Patrick Heath Public Library, and remains on view there through 08/11. More Media Mix Hear Leonard discuss his work and the latest trends in chidren's and teen literature on “Cynsations”. Hear Leonard talk with Inquiry host Mark Lynch about "Golden Legacy" an exhibition at the Eric Carle Museum now though February 28. HOPES AND DREAMS Click here to watch Leonard's Video interview at Adolescent Literacy's website. "Marcus believes that every generation makes the books that contain the hopes and dreams it wants to pass onto the next generation." Click here for Leonard's recent talk about Funny Business at New York's Strand Bookstore. THE BAT OF MINERVA Click here to hear Leonard, during a recent visit to the University of Minnesota, discuss his career on Peter Shea's podcast "The Bat of Minerva". Hear Leonard talk with founder Deborah Harper about Funny Business Listen to LSM's interview about Minders of Make-Believe with Inquiry host Mark Lynch." Hear Leonard talk about Funny Business on WICN Public Radio with Inquiry host Mark Lynch." Hear LSM discuss the history of Golden Books with Leonard Lopate on the WNYC-AM's Leonard Lopate Show on July 1. Read what Achuka.co.uk has to say about Minders of Make-Believe. Read about the recent Carle Honors dinner, where Leonard helped present this year's awards, on the First Book blog Click on the image to watch the VIDEO. Click on the image to hear Leonard talk with First Book's Jennifer Wrenn in their May 12th PODCAST about Minders of Make-Believe. Click on the image to watch the VIDEO of Leonard's May 20 conversation about Minders of Make-Believe with PW's Elizabeth Devereaux, at the Strand Bookstore, New York, NY. Leonard discussed Minders of Make-Believe in an interview with Psychjourney founder and president Deborah Harper, recorded on August 23, 2008. Click on the logo to listen to the PODCAST. Maclean's reporter Brian Bethune calls on Leonard to comment on the return to print of maverick picture-book great Tomi Ungerer. Click on the logo to read the ARTICLE. Quote of the Month “It'll be a great place if they ever finish it.” --O. Henry, on New York City Unless otherwise indicated, all text copyright Leonard S. Marcus. LeonardSMa@aol.com This Webcounter was provided by DIGITS