“I eventually understood that my initial fear that I could not write was based on a preconception that writing was strictly related to words and to spoken language. I had assumed that using many words skillfully was central to writing. I was overlooking what was of primary importance–what I had to say. And I was overwhelmed by what was of secondary importance–how to say it.
Once I understood that what I had to say was of primary importance, I began to concentrate on what would happen in my story. First I visualized the action, and then I thought of how to say it in words. I realized that all I had to do was communicate the action as simply as possible. The few words necessary to communicate the story fell into place on their own. It was all so simple and natural.” — Uri Shulevitz from an article in St. James Guide to Children’s Writers.
Cover for HOW I LEARNED GEOGRAPHY [Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008] (c) 2008 by Uri Shulevitz. Caldecott Honor, 2009
Illustration from HOW I LEARNED GEOGRAPHY [Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008] (c) 2008 by Uri Shulevitz
Illustration from SNOW [Macmillan, 1998] (c) 1998 by Uri Shulevitz. Charlotte Solotow Award, 1998, Golden Kite Award, 1998 and Caldecott Honor, 1999
Illustration from HOSNI THE DREAMER [Farrar, Straus and Giroux] (c) 1997 by Uri Shulevitz
Illustration from THE BROTHERS GRIMM [Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1995] (c) 1995 by Uri Shulevitz
Illustration from THE DIAMOND TREE: JEWISH TALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD [Harper Collins Publishers, 1991] (c) 1991 by Uri Shulevitz
Illustration from WRITING WITH PICTURES [Watson- Guptill Publications, 1985] (c) 1985 by Uri Shulevitz
Illustration from THE LOST KINGDOM OF KARNICA [Sierra Club Books/Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1979] (c) 1979 by Uri Shulevitz
Illustration from THE TREASURE [Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1978] (c) 1978 by Uri Shulevitz. Caldecott Honor, 1979
Illustration from DAWN [Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974] (c) 1974 by Uri Shulevitz
Illustration from THE FOOLS OF CHELM AND THEIR HISTORY [Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1973] (c) 1973 by Uri Shulevitz
Illustration from THE FOOL OF THE WORLD AND THE FLYING SHIP [Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1968] (c) 1968 by Uri Shulevitz. Caldecott Medal, 1969
Untitled (c) 1964 by Uri Shulevitz
La Guerre des Boutons (War of the Buttons) (c) 1948 by Uri Shulevitz
Images courtesy The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
You must be logged in to post a comment.