Here Is a Book - by Elisha Cooper (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The life of a picture book begins in the artist's studio, journeys through the world of publishing, finds itself on a bookshelf, and lands in the home of a young reader"--

Book Synopsis

A love letter to books, showing how many elements and people contribute to making something beautiful, from Caldecott honoree Elisha Cooper

Multiple starred reviews: "An immediate classic."* / "Special...bringing the parts of the book together into one unified message."** / "A step-by-step representation of how a book comes into being."***

In this poetic and beautifully illustrated ode to creativity and the process of making books, Caldecott honoree Elisha Cooper takes readers on a journey showing how words and art move from one person to another.

From writer to reader, and everyone who contributes in between: Here is a book, made with love.

An artist's studio overflows with sketches, drafts, a wastebasket, and wonder.
A publisher's office hums with computers, layouts, coffee, and teamwork.
A printer makes a layout into a book using presses, ink, paper, and time.
And that book travels to a school, to a library, to a student, to a home.

* Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; **Booklist; ***Publishers Weekly

Review Quotes

***STARRED REVIEW***
"[A] winningly granular work...It's a step-by-step representation of how a book comes into being, focused on how much depends on "teamwork, time, beauty, adventure, grit, inspiration, curiosity, action, structure, humor, wonder, and love."--Publishers Weekly

***STARRED REVIEW***
"Each word of the brief text is chosen with care...The descriptive phrases often end with an emphasis word--something to make the reader stop and ponder. Those special words are gathered up at the end, bringing the parts of the book's journey together into one unified message."--Booklist

***STARRED REVIEW***
"This small treasure is both an artistic accomplishment and informative text, all packaged neatly into a picture book, making it an immediate classic."--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Focused on capturing the creative process and its power to, in turn, inspire further creation, this title is broad in scope; the wide landscapes and tight vignettes will encourage young people to find the stories around themselves in ­places large and small."--School Library Journal

"This beauty is echoed in the text's poetic lyricism...A behind-the-scenes glimpse into the origins of our most beloved titles."--Kirkus Reviews

"This reverie made manifest will be welcome in classrooms, libraries, and homes that value reading and art."--Horn Book Magazine

About the Author

Elisha Cooper is an author/illustrator who received a Caldecott Honor for Big Cat, Little Cat, and his following book River won the 2020 Robin Smith Picture Book Prize. Dance!, one of his earlier books, was a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year, and Beach won the Society of Illustrators Gold Medal. In 2016, he was awarded a Sendak Fellowship. His essays and sketchbooks have appeared in the sports section of the New York Times. Cooper lives with his wife, daughters, and cats in New York City.