Beckoning You Towards the Becker Man

Psst!

How talented an Art Director is Chad Beckerman anyway?

Check out some of the covers he's worked on. Puh-retty amazing.

More Cover Loving

A Julia Rothman, Brooklyn-based illustrator, pattern-designer, and co-founder of the company Also (which has one of the more enjoyable websites out there) has found time in her busy schedule to create a blog called Book by its Cover. The site features cool designer-worthy children's titles, examining both their interior and exterior charms. I'm rather taken with her feature on The Lollypop Factory.

Quiz Question of the Day: At what point in our nation's history did the spelling of this word change from "lollypop" to "lollipop"?

Thanks to Children's Illustration for the link.

Mmmm. That's the Stuff.

A whole website dedicated to book covers? Brother, that's a sweet little old idea just ripe for the picking.

I like the format of this. You just click on the cover of your choice and read the comments. Part of me wonders if this could be done with children's books. I don't see why not. You'd just need a website and a way to post scans of the covers. I don't have either at my disposal, but surely there is someone out there willing to put in the time and energy.

Example of How a Cover SHOULD Be Done

Here is the new paperback cover for Jenny Han's first middle grade novel, Shug.


Ahem.

What This Cover Is Doing Correctly:

1. No dismembered females. You can see her face and, remarkably enough, HIS face too.
2. Both a girl and a boy on the same cover and they're under the age of 14 AND they're not fighting aliens side-by-side? A true rarity.
3. Love how they worked in the popsicle from both the book and the original cover.
4. They don't look like models. Just regular kids.
5. I like the expression on the girl's face.
6. I love how they look exactly the right age. Twelve going on thirteen. I don't know the last time I saw a twelve-year-old actually looking like a twelve-year-old on a photographic cover.
7. She looks happy. He looks oblivious. And that, ladies and gentlemen, could well be the theme of the book..

I was a little hesitant to see the MIX label on Jenny's book, but it's on a cool eraser and, honestly, doesn't distract. Well done, all around.