In 2010, the New York Times declared the picture book more or less dead. Today, though, they seem more vibrant and alive than ever, with varied voices, innovative illustrations, and compelling stories that encourage parents to luxuriate in this form rather than too-quickly moving to chapter books. What occasioned this reinvigoration? What can the history of literature broadly tell us about this specific moment in picture bookery?
This week, we discuss the Picture Book Proclamation, a manifesto published by several very big names in kidlit shortly after that NYT article, and we compare it to the moment of modernism’s appearance on the literary scene. BJ Novak wasn’t a signatory to this document, but his text nevertheless proves a seminal moment in the new picture book era, and we juxtapose its experiment in style and form with the iconoclastic and epochal works of high modernism. I love all my children equally, of course, but this episode is my favorite yet—I hope you’ll join us for it!
Show Notes
The NYT article in question can be found here. The Picture Book Proclamation is available here.