A Book and Its Cover
My fascination with art in books dates back to childhood, when we inherited my mom and dad's extensive collection of books, and many of them included illustrations from some of the very best of their era. Though I didn't know the names at the time, they were mostly from "the Golden Age of Illustration," and included such mighty talents as Walter Crane, Howard Pyle, Arthur Rackham, and Maxfield Parrish. While the above-named date from the late 1800s, names like Norman Rockwell, Richard Scarry, and Beatrix Potter were added in the first half of the 20th century and did not tarnish the reputation of the earlier artists. And it's also true that with the heyday of illustrated novels, modern kids have added a whole list of favorites, many in the Manga and Anime styles so popular in Japan. And just like I did as a child, kids today emulate their favorites in drawings of their own. I've noted to many writers that for me, a good map and some illustrations can be an ab...
