David Macaulay
Last year, I had the great pleasure of meeting and listening to David Macaulay give two lectures and later to have dinner with him and several other wonderful authors and illustrators. I learned that he spent his early years in the United Kingdom before moving to the U.S. Like many other well-known children’s illustrators, he enrolled at the Rhode Island School of Design and also spent time studying in Rome and Pompeii. He received a degree in architecture, but his real interest was creating books.
To show the heights to which he has risen, Time noted “What David Macaulay draws—churches, cities, pyramids—he draws better than any other pen-and-ink illustrator in the world” In 2006 he was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship that recognized his work and gave him the freedom to pursue his own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations. You might think that all might have gone to his head, but he is quite charming, funny and easy to talk to. He says that he really doesn’t like the Time quote and doesn’t believe it. Just to give a little more perspective, David has published 23 books, been involved with 5 PBS specials and his books sold more than 3 million copies. So that quote probably is not too far off the mark.
In 2008, David created a book about the human body, but he wanted to approach it as an architect. How would you build the body? What may first appear as whimsical and irreverent is actually lots of facts put into an amusing form. Human Body was not his first book, that honor goes to Cathedral, (1973) which was a great success and was soon followed by a series of others which all had an architectural focus—City, Castle, Pyramid, Mill, Underground, Unbuilding, and Mosque.
David’s time in Rome as a student was one of the highlights of his life. He refers to Rome as the city of patterns—“just look at the cobblestones.” He had several ideas for a book; one was to kick a soccer ball and see what would happen; another was to use a dirigible with specific dimensions so he would always have the scale correct. His plan was to start at the Spanish Steps and then each spread would open to another part of the magnificent city. David told us that he doesn’t present all the details in his drawings. He wants the reader to bring something to the illustrations. His books have humor and his protagonist must think and act quickly as things move and change from scene to scene. “One of the things you notice about Rome is stucco—buildings have been adapted and if you could pull back the stucco you would see the changes that have occurred over time.” This type of approach leads to a gatefold where you can get a sense of how the street would have been. Unfortunately, gatefolds are expensive to produce in a book and so David drew the images flat so that by turning you get some of the same effect, but he dropped the idea. His published book, Rome Antics is a lighthearted approach and David said that perhaps someday he will do another book--the one that he envisioned which is a little different take on the Eternal City.
David’s publisher wanted to look at ways of increasing revenue and one of the ideas was to add color to his books using a computer. In David’s opinion it would end up being mud—a disaster. His solution was to redraw and color the images. When we spoke, that was his current project with a deadline of last fall. Along the way, David decided that he wanted to change the ending of the story in Castle and also change perspectives, points of view and of course add color. A lot of the changes result from what he has learned over the last 35 plus years since his first book was published. Since these books are going to be essentially new--because he has changed drawings and eliminated unnecessary detail--it will be interesting to see if the publisher will like the end result. We who attended the seminar were privileged to see his “new book” and it is incredible. One change that intrigued me was the explanation of the glass making process and installation of the finished windows in Cathedral. He also shows how water is collected and spit out from the gargoyles. It isn’t many artists/writers or illustrators who get to do it all again. One plus is that the text has held up pretty well so his focus is mainly on redoing the art and just editing down the text.
On a more personal level, David is addicted to M&M candies, especially the almonds. He says he needs it as an energy choice. He also spent a good part of his career working with one editor, the well known Walter Lorraine who was also a publisher. It was he one who said “OK, lets do Cathedral.” After that David would usually just call up and say, I would like to do this. Walter believed that over time a book would pay for itself—he had a long term view—something that unfortunately no longer seems to be the way in children’s publishing. David remarked that “Dust jackets are shown to committees or sales reps and publishers just can’t take chances. You only have 6 months to a year to recoup your investment. It is a gloomy picture and sometimes the really creative material will not be recognized—mediocrity is easily understood and seems to be the rule.”
David never really chose to illustrate for children. He illustrates for himself and he draws quickly. Figuring out what he wants to “say” is what takes time, so he often looks at the whole book by pasting pages up on the wall and thus makes sure the sequence is correct and that the type of drawing doesn’t change. David said that a cover can take him two days from the first sketch and one and a half days for the final pen and ink. For Mosque it took two or three days to finish a page.
He said that he doesn’t think about the audience, but rather, “will it work for me.” Books bring you more into a place. He writes from the heart and advises his students and others that you need to trust your innate humanness—learn what makes your sense of humor work. At the start of his career he saw what Sendak and others were doing so he went to a children’s publisher to see if they might be interested in his work, and the result was Cathedral. Not to be trite but the rest is history—he is still producing books after 35 years. Black and White received the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1991. His many awards include Caldecott Honors, the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Christopher Award, and the Washington Post–Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award. He was a two-time nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award and received the Bradford Washburn Award, presented by the Museum of Science in Boston to an outstanding contributor to science. To learn even more about David visit his web site www.davidmacaulay.com.
Below are reviews of a selection of some of his wonderful books.
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
Reviews
Angelo
David Macaulay
The old master plasterer and building restorer finds a sick pigeon as he is cleaning and readying a church in Rome for restoration. He brings her home, nurses her and despite himself, becomes very attached to her as she accompanies him to work. She soon flies off to a nearby piazza, but watches as he lovingly works on the church. When he seems to be slowing down, she joins him, encouraging and helping him through two years of work. When he has finished, he is concerned about her, but leaves something special for her after he is gone. Macaulay integrates some insights about building restoration with views of the old city's architecture into this appealing story. There are bits of humor--Angelo hangs by his toes to reach a difficult spot; a tour bus causes mayhem. The deft, colored drawings consistently tell their humanistic tale of this odd friendship with a warmth that is evident from the jacket/cover portrait of Angelo on through the book. 2002, Houghton Mifflin, $16.00. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780618168262
ISBN: 0618168265
Building Big
David Macaulay
If you watched the PBS series of the same name, then this book will bring all of those glorious structures back to enjoy again. If you didn't, then this book will probably encourage readers to watch it the next time around. The book and the films feature bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers, domes and dams--some of the biggest structures created by humans. Macaulay is fascinated by basic engineering and design questions and why certain materials are chosen over others. Readers will come away with a real appreciation of the engineering and architectural challenges, as well as a basic knowledge of why certain shapes and materials work in bridges, tunnels or skyscrapers. Pen and ink and watercolor sketches show the way certain structures were built and how they function, for example, the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Marvelous descriptions are included of the construction of the piers, how the cables were put in place and the difficulty of designing to control the movement of the roadway in various weather conditions. A surprising fact for many is that this famous bridge is no longer the longest in the world--that honor goes to the Akashi Kaikyo bridge in Japan. Macaulay's book will appeal to kids and adults and is one that can be read in segments, which can be savored and then revisited. If you know anyone with an interest in architecture or structural engineering, this book would make a wonderful gift. 2000, Houghton, $30.00. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Parents' Choice Award, 2001 Silver Non-Fiction United States
ISBN: 9780395963319
ISBN: 0395963311
Mosque
David Macaulay
In the elegant tradition of Cathedral and Pyramid, David Macaulay has now dissected a 16th century Ottoman mosque and rebuilt it, brick by brick, page by page. We learn that mosques were often built by wealthy members of the community as part of a foundation that provided religious, education, and social services. There is a fictional story line of a highly successful admiral whose last campaign would be the creation of such a charitable foundation. The compound included the mosque itself as well as a school, public baths and various courtyards. Macaulay provides intricate details of the stonework, heating and cooling systems, tower construction and tile painting. There are detailed pen-and-ink drawings of the blueprints and plans, men at work, and the final grand construction. The process will be fascinating to older students with an interest in architecture or engineering, but the text will be too complex for many younger students. Teachers will be able to glean substantial information to share with students, however, about social mores in general as well as mosques and Islam in particular. Macaulay's preface is worthy of note, as he talks about religious architecture in the realm of humankind's proudest accomplishments: "The greatest achievement of these buildings, however...lies in their ability to impress and move even those whose personal beliefs they do not necessarily serve." 2003, Houghton Mifflin, $18.00. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780618240340
ISBN: 0618240349
The New Way Things Work
David Macaulay with Neil Ardley
Society is bombarded by the advancements of the digital age--the Internet, e-mail, virtual reality, and even shopping for groceries have taken us into the digital era. How do these things work? Find out here. The woolly mammoth returns to help readers understand gadgets from cameras to compact discs, from the dishwasher to zippers, from fire extinguishers to bookbinding, and everything in between. Twelve new machines and over seventy new pages have been added to this new edition. The New Way Things Works contains the four original sections and one entirely new section, "The Digital Domain," which uses pumpkins to describe the binary system and other basics of digital technology. The woolly mammoth meets Bill, his guide through the digital domain, and is invited through Bill's gates to experience digital technology. Macaulay clearly gives commentary on the pervasiveness of Bill's empire in the introduction to each chapter of the Digital Domain section, and in the epilogue. Commentary aside, the woolly mammoth brings himself as well as the readers up to date on the latest technology since 1988. Fascinating and fun to read, this book takes the most complicated device and breaks it down to the bare basics. Colorful, detailed, and carefully labeled illustrations enhance the written explanations. Cutaway illustrations provide a unique perspective on the machines and devices. This superb book can be appreciated by readers of all ages; anyone who has every wondered about any gadget, or who just wants to understand how something works, will love it. Many mysteries can be unraveled. A section called "Eureka!" gives short synopses and illustrations of key inventions and contains a comprehensive index. Follow the adventures of the woolly mammoth to discover the way things work! Glossary. Index. Illus. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult-marketed book recommended for Young Adults). 1998, Houghton Mifflin, 400p., $35.00. Ages 11 to Adult. Reviewer: Joyce Yen (VOYA, June 1999 (Vol. 22, No. 2)).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award, 1999 Winner Non-Fiction United States
Parents' Choice Award, 2003 Gold Best 25 Books in 25 Years United States
ISBN: 9780395938478
ISBN: 0395938473
The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body
David Macaulay with Richard Walker
The wonder that is David Macaulay is at it again. The author, a genius at cutaway views of everyday architectural structures in books such as Mosque (Walter Lorraine Books/Houghton Mifflin, 2003/VOYA February 2004) and the perennial favorite, The Way Things Work (1988/VOYA April 1999), takes on his biggest construction challenge yet in the human body. Using clever chapter headings, such as "Air Traffic Control" (respiratory system) and "Who's in Charge Here?" (the brain), Macaulay's accessible and amusing descriptions of the body's inner workings result in a fascinating journey. His color illustrations break down body systems from the most elemental level, the single cell, and work their way through to increasingly complex organs and systems. Eventually he ties them together for a complete overview of the way we work. His text is irreverent. "Slice and Crush" is all about teeth and chewing. His drawing of a hand pulling the left eye out of its socket is just gross enough to engage young readers into a description of seeing. This play of whimsical albeit accurate illustrations versus technical text should work well as the reading level is a tad mature for the low end of the book's intended audience. The work of this Caldecott medal winner and recipient of the McArthur grant is always a must-have in any library. The index was not seen in the advance review copy. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult-marketed book recommended f 2008, Houghton Mifflin, 336p.; Glossary. Index. Illus., $35. Ages 11 to Adult. Reviewer: Beth E. Andersen (VOYA, October 2008 (Vol. 31, No. 4)).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 2009 Honor Book Nonfiction United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2008 Winner Best Nonfiction Treatment of a Subject United States
Cybils, 2008 Nominee Non-Fiction Middle Grade/Young Adult Book United States
ISBN: 9780618233786
ISBN: 0618233784
Updated 05/26/10
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