New Directions in Picturebook Research

International scholars analyze picture books from artistic, educational, cultural, sociological, or psychological points of view, often integrating concepts of visual literacy, interpretive codes, artistic allusions, modernism, and narrative technique. Perry Nodelman defines the conventions of the literature with an analysis of Nan Gregory's Amber Waiting (Red Deer, 2003). Evelyn Arizpe examines Oliver Jeffers's The Incredible Book Eating Boy (Philomel, 2007) and Mini Grey's Traction Man Is Here (Knopf, 2005), which are particularly useful for noting cultural responses. Istvan Banyai's Zoom (Viking, 1995) and Anthony Browne's Voices in the Park (DK Ink, 1998), among other works, are analyzed by Fernando Zaparaín in terms of blank pages and off-screen cinematic techniques. Sandra Beckett's essay considers artistic allusions, which will be of particular interest to art teachers who use picture books with older children. Sophisticated autobiographical selections by Michael Foreman, Tina Schart Hyman, and Peter Sís are explored in terms of memory and the aesthetic and cognitive demands they require. Although many of the works presented are known to American educators, others are not available or have not been translated into English. The black-and-white illustrations are clear and well reproduced but are too few to be helpful to readers unfamiliar with the books under discussion. This is to be expected considering the international scope of this work and should not a deterrent to pondering the ideas presented and perhaps seeking out the unfamiliar picture books.—Jackie Gropman, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library System, Fairfax, VA