BEFORE THEY WERE ARTISTS: Famous Illustrators as Kids by Elizabeth Haidle.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021.  64p.  ISBN: 978-132880154-8 hc. $17.99     Gr. 3-6     J 704

Learn about six notable illustrators who found fame by adding their artistic talents to children's books.  This graphic novel presents short biographies of  Wanda Gag, Maurice Sendak, and Tove Jansson, Jerry Pinkney, Yuyi Morales, and Hayao Miyazaki, all 20th century illustrators,  The graphic format of the book makes each story easy to follow for younger readers, but includes plenty of informational text to make the biographies quite comprehensive.  Of course, the bios are focused on what made the artists great, but gives extra information to give readers an impression of the people they were.  Look for a complete Bibliography and page of Source Notes on the final pages.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI