Ed Emberley

Anyone who spent time with children’s books from the 1960s onward is probably familiar with the extraordinary work of Ed Emberley, even if they don’t know the name. This is especially true for those who had a love of drawing as they grew up. In addition to the regular picture books he illustrated, and some he also wrote, he had a series of very popular how-to-draw books. These employed simple shapes, such as a fingerprints, letters, or numbers as the basis for drawings, and Emberley paired these with step-by-step instructions for little artists. He also did quite a bit with Op Art.

Todd Oldham and Caleb Neelon, obviously big fans of Emberley’s work, have created this beautiful homage to the man and his work. This large, coffee-table-type of book is filled with wonderful examples of Emberley’s charming illustrations, from many of his over one hundred published books. In addition to the astonishing number of art examples, there is a well-written biography, accompanied by a good collection of photographs from throughout his life. This book is a real treat for anyone who loves picture book art.