Roxie Munro
Author/Illustrator Roxie Munro gave a lively presentation at the December 9th 2004 Children's Book Guild luncheon on her experience as a writer and illustrator of non-fiction children's picture books.
She began her talk by reflecting on how her background as a television courtroom artist in D.C. trained her in life drawing and prepared her to work under tight deadlines. She began visiting New York City in the mid 70's, staying in cheap hotels ($23/night!) and shopping her illustration portfolio around. After being rejected by The New York Times but getting spot work at The New Yorker, she landed her first The New Yorker cover in 1981. As she departed from that New York visit she picked up a Village Voice before boarding Amtrak, and by the time she returned to her apartment on Connecticut Avenue she'd selected a sublet apartment in New York. Within a few weeks, she'd packed her bags and moved there.
Roxie continued creating The New Yorker covers and doing freelance work for the next few years, but still had difficulty making ends meet. After dropping off her portfolio at a publishing house in the hopes of getting work illustrating adult book jackets, an art director referred her to children's book editor Donna Brooks at Dodd Mead. (Roxie later learned that Donna discovered Paul Zelinsky and edited most of his Caldecott-winning books.) Donna encouraged her to come up with an idea for a children's book, though Roxie maintained that she didn't "do bunnies and bears."
A week later, Roxie woke up with a book title in mind: The Inside-Outside Book of New York City. She had no idea what form the book would take, but she sure liked the title! After learning the nuts and bolts of children's book illustration --she didn't know what a "gutter" was and had never heard of the Caldecott award -- Roxie developed the idea further and the book was published in 1985. It was an auspicious career launching: the Inside-Outside book went on to win "Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year" awards from both The New York Times and Time Magazine.
Roxie has created many other Inside-Outside books since that time. While developing one on Texas, she traveled 5000 miles by car "in a state larger than France" to research sites for possible inclusion in the book. Her landmark stops included a hat and boot manufacturing company, an oil refinery, a shrimping outfit and a sewing machine museum. For her book, Gargoyles, Girders and Glass Houses, written by her husband, Swedish writer/photographer Bo Zaunders, she visited spectacular buildings including Brunelleschi's dome in Florence and Gaudi's buildings in Barcelona.
After reflecting on how many details kids noticed in her books and how much they enjoyed the Where's Waldo? series, Roxie created Mazescapes. In researching the book, she spent two solid days looking up nouns in the dictionary to come up with ideas of things for kids to look for. A sequel, Amazement Park, will be published by Chronicle in spring, 2005.
Roxie noted that a book doesn't develop out of whole cloth but in a logical progression from previous work. Each book builds on the work that has gone before it. She also mentioned that every single book she has had published has had a mistake in it, be it a misspelling or a factual error.
Recalling that she has had her share of rejection, Roxie said that Mazescapes was initially rejected by her long-time publisher, Dutton at Penguin. Since publication in 2001 it has experienced brisk sales and will be out in paperback this spring. Her flap book, Doors, was rejected for five years before being published by Chronicle. It is now one of her best and fastest selling books. She stressed that perseverance and persistence is key in the world of children's book publishing.
Roxie commented that current demographics reflect a ballooning of the age group from 12-15, signaling that it's not a great time for picture books. Authors and illustrators need to continue networking and staying informed about industry trends. She suggested consulting the website, which provides a free newsletter that is mainly for adult books but is helpful for general publishing industry information. The website also offers a publishers' marketplace subscription service for $15/month. Amazon and Barnes and Noble provide good tracking systems for book sales, as does The Purple Crayon for children's books.
For more info, visit Roxie at her website.
Contributor: Susan Stockdale. Susan Stockdale is the author/illustrator of Some Sleep Standing Up, Nature's Paintbrush, and the forthcoming Carry Me! Animal Babies on the Move.
Reviews
The Great Bridge-Building ContestBo Zaunders
Illustrated by Roxie Munro
This is the story of furniture-maker Lemuel Chenoweth of Virginia (now West Virginia) who in 1850 demonstrated that he could build a covered bridge across the Tygart River. After traveling on horseback for days, he entered the competition along with many experienced engineers from as far away as Boston. In front of the 4-member Richmond Board of Public Works, he assembled a simple bridge made from oak sticks spanning two ladder-backed chairs and then stood atop his demonstration model. Because this bridge has some historical significance during the Civil War, this story will be a useful picture book for older readers as well. Watercolor artwork spans each double-page spread with a book design that is horizontally pleasing. Roxie Munro, as illustrator, takes great care in her depiction of covered bridges as she is a descendant of Chenoweth and had heard this story throughout her childhood. 2004, Abrams, Ages 7 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Blair Christolon
ISBN: 0-8109-4929-6
Crocodiles, Camels & Dugout Canoes: Eight Adventurous Episodes
Bo Zaunders
Illustrated by Roxie Munro
A nineteenth-century Swedish engineer who attempts to travel to the North Pole in a gas-filled balloon, a British young man who disguises himself as a Muslim to visit Medina and Mecca, a Victorian woman who rejects her restricted life in England by pursuing a mission to West Africa. The stories of these three adventurers along with five others are presented in this interesting nonfiction collection. Each profiled individual confronted many obstacles in fulfilling his or her dreams--dreams which took them to fascinating, yet dangerous sites all over the world. Accompanied by lovely watercolor drawings, this book presents eight biographies of unusual and courageous individuals. 1998, Dutton, $16.99. Ages 6 up. Reviewer: Rebecca Joseph (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 1999; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
ISBN: 0-5254-5858-1
Feathers, Flaps & Flops: Fabulous Early Fliers
Bo Zaunders
Illustrated by Roxie Munro
Short, punchy, partial biographies of eight dynamic personalities illuminate the early days of flying. Zaunders presents the Montgolfier brothers, who invented the hot air balloon; Bessie Coleman, the first African-American female pilot in an age when female pilots were rare; Beryl Markham, who made the first east to west crossing of the Atlantic after a career of short-haul flights in Africa; and "Wrong Way" Corrigan, who wanted so badly to make the transatlantic flight but was prohibited by flight regulations (and a claptrap airplane), and therefore ostensibly flew from New York to Los Angeles, but instead went the wrong way, as he put it--to Ireland. These personalities contributed much to the early days of flying and only two of the eight died behind the throttle of a plane, the rest living into old age. Nonetheless, the vignettes are rife with horrible crashes, airborne fires, malfunctioning engines, and enough mishaps and hardships to thrill even the most jaded reader. The opening four-page spread encapsulates the history of flying from a 1507 Icarus-like attempt to the Moon Walk. Munro's pleasant watercolors feature an interesting variety of shape and detail, giving the book a light and approachable look, which will appeal to young readers as well as less able older readers. A short list of source books for each flier represent adult reading, so that teachers may wish to do a little research to turn up notable children's books, such as Russell Freedman's biography of the Wright Brothers, Julie Cummins' story about the daredevil pilot Blanche Stuart Scott told in Tomboy of the Air, Don Brown's Ruth Law Thrills a Nation, or Louise Borden's biography of Bessie Coleman. 2001, Dutton, $17.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
This is a really enjoyable and unusual look at the early history of human flight. While everyone has heard of the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart, this book introduces us to some other early fliers. For example: the Montgolfier Brothers with their balloons; Cal Rodgers,first to fly across America; Bessie Coleman, first black female pilot; Beryl Markham, first to cross the Atlantic east to west; and "Wrong Way" Corrigan, "prankster aviator." The full-color illustrations are both amusing and informative, and the book includes a Table of Contents, Introduction, and Bibliography. Nonfiction. Grades 4-6. 2001, Dutton, 48p, $17.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Ginny Hoskins (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 14, No. 1)).
Best Books:
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, July 2001; Cahners;
School Library Journal: Best Books, 2001; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-5254-6466-2
The Inside-Outside Book of Libraries
Julie Cummins
Roxie Munro
Libraries, big institutions like the Library of congress or small local libraries with children's rooms or a single room open a few hours each week, all serve patrons by making books and other materials available. Special libraries for the blind and physically handicapped, special libraries that house unique collections and libraries in special places, are highlighted as is new technology and the future role of libraries. It is an enjoyable look at library services with wonderful illustrations by Munro. They are filled with detail, but have a warm and informal quality. One quibble, from a Librarian who worked there, the Library of Congress does not keep one copy of every book copyrighted. 1996, Dutton, $15.99. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
American Booksellers Pick of the Lists, Fall, 1996; American Booksellers Association; United States
Best Children's Books of the Year, 1996; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Lasting Connections, 1996; American Library Association; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, August 1996; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 1996; Cahners; United States
Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 1996; Smithsonian; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Children's Crown Award, 1998-1999; Nominee; Grades 3-6; United States
Nevada Young Readers' Award, 1999; Nominee; Young Reader; Nevada
ISBN: 0-5254-5608-2
The Inside-Outside Book of New York City
Roxie Munro
You may have seen pictures of the ten New York City landmarks presented in this book, or even walked by them, but have you seen what is inside? Featured are: The Flatiron Building, The American Museum of Natural History, The Statue of Liberty, The New York Stock Exchange, The Subway at Times Square, Madison Square Garden, Avenue of the Americas at 19th Street, New York Zoological Park (the Bronx Zoo), New York State Theater at Lincoln Center, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Charming and informative illustrations make this a great preparation for a visit to New York City. 2001, SeaStar Books, $15.95. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: M. Henebry (Parent Council, April 2002 (Vol. 9, No. 2)).
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year Winner 1985 United States
ISBN: 1-5871-7081-7
ISBN: 1-5871-7082-5
The Inside-Outside Book of Texas
Roxie Munro
Open this book to the vast glittering expanse of the Dallas skyline and the towering weather-beaten rock formations at Palo Duro Canyon. Then let Munro take you inside to Cowboy Stadium and Pioneer Amphitheater. Children see that each area has an outside and an inside and that both have interesting and distinct features. That is particularly true when you visit the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and Mission Control at Houston's Johnson Space Center, the cowboy hat factory at San Angelo, and a cookshack and corral at a typical ranch. This large-format book with over forty pages of bright illustrations might fool you into thinking it is only for very young readers. But the meaty text is located in its last four pages. In addition to such everyday information as the state insect (Monarch butterfly) and state gem (Texas blue topaz), Munro supplies fascinating facts about coyotes, bats, roadrunners, trap-door spiders, Texas longhorns, the Devil's Rope Museum, Big Thicket National Preserve and much more. A Texas map is also included. An accomplished artist, Munro also wrote and illustrated inside-outside books about New York City, Washington D.C. and libraries. 2001, SeaStar Books, $16.95 and $16.88. Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Chris Gill (Children's Literature).
Hold on to your hats! Roxie Munro traveled through the state of Texas to do research for The Inside-Outside Book of Texas. The result is a state tour in watercolor drawings, including the Top of Texas Rodeo in Pampa, the dazzling skyscrapers of Dallas, magnificent expanses of flat land and desert, Mission Control Center in Houston, boot-making by J.C. Mercer in San Angelo, and much, much more. The bright watercolor and ink drawings reflect the bigness of Texas--covering all full-page spreads with vivid pictures of places and people throughout the state. In her illustrations, Munro captures the heart of the land, its diversity of people as well as its industry and wildlife. Remarkable details in the two-page spreads promise many hours of sharing for all generations--whether they are Texans or not. A Texas map in the last section of the book marks the places mentioned. An excellent two-page glossary explains terms used and short, concise histories of places pictured. Carefully selected facts presented are likely to create a curiosity in the reader for more research and most likely a Texas trip in the future. Nonfiction, Highly Recommended. Grades Preschool-3. 2001, SeaStar, Unpaged, $16.95. Ages 3 to 9. Reviewer: Sally Meyers (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 14, No. 2)).
ISBN: 1-5871-7050-7
ISBN: 1-5871-7051-5
The Inside-Outside Book of Washington, D.C.
Roxie Munro
For children, this book presents a colorful rendition of the nation's capital. The book explores the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, with a view of the money-making process, takes readers into the Supreme Court, Wanders into the Washington Post, and even looks at RFK stadium. 1993, Puffin, $13.95 and $4.99. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0525442987
Mazescapes
Roxie Munro
When the hours seem to drag on while driving in the car or you're trapped inside on a rainy day with nothing to do, one quick solution is Mazescapes. Navigating your way through thirteen aerial landscapes with looping roadways, twisting side streets and winding tunnels poses a challenge for all ages. Your observation skills will be tested as you search for hidden letters along the way. Don't let the one way streets lure you down the wrong path. Keep track of bicycles and schools buses you can find along your journey and challenge your family to do the same. Each book comes complete with six punch-out cars and an answer key for those having more trouble. 2001, SeaStar Books, $16.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Sharon Tolle (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, August 2001; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 1-5871-7060-4
Ranch
Roxie Munro
Roxie Munro brings to the subject of ranches the same precise pen and watercolor illustrations she has used so successfully in the "Inside-Outside" books about cities such as Washington and New York. She chooses settings, such as the range, creek, pen, barn and tack room, shed, cookhouse, bunkhouse and chuck wagon, as well as events such as branding and training to show readers what goes on there and what one might find in the way of equipment and gear, animals, people doing their jobs, and so forth. In addition, she has added a kind of "I Spy" aspect to the illustrations by listing things that children can count and find or point to, for instance, in the barn and tack room page: a first-aid kit, a mare, a foal, seven saddles, rain boots, a pitchfork, a pair of chaps, and some ten other things. For young readers, it is a great way to expand vocabulary in the presence of someone who can explain what a boot tree is, or what two longhorns look like. The introductory paragraphs heading each double page spread does not cater to the young reader but instead, informs somewhat older readers in more complex prose, what one finds there: "A major aspect of ranching is bringing up horses properly. In the circular training corral, much time is spent making young horses feel comfortable and building up trust between the horses and the riders." One unfortunate visual decision was to pair two different settings, the bunkhouse and the office on opposite pages, violating readers' double-page expectations; no white space in the gutter separates the illustrations. It's a jarring exception to the generous double page spreads that invite the eye to roam in wider expanses across the two pages. That aside, the appealing book is an obvious labor of love to the Texas-born Munro whose artwork has appeared on New Yorker covers and elsewhere. An answer key shows in black outline and color-coded dots where the items are located that readers were asked to find, a satisfying conclusion to those who want to play the game. It is an informative, artistic, and highly "talkable" book that does a good job of introducing a typical American ranch to a wide range of young readers. 2004, Bright Sky Press, $16.95. Ages 5 to 11. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-9317-2137-8
Added 02/01/05
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