Patti Ann Harris: Playing with Page Turns

Patti encourages both authors and illustrators to think of their picture books in terms of music and cinema, there should be flow and rhythm to the book, and you can play with easing the readers along with repetition and then surprising them with something wholly different.

Patti shares Me... Jane which has a very steady rhythm of illustration on one side of a page spread and text on the other, so when we get to a climactic moment in the book, we also see something different on the page—an actual photograph of Jane Goodall out in the wild.

When Patti works on a book, she understands the author/illustrator is focused on the tiny details of every page, but she tries very hard to see things globally and offer guidance there. She encourages the audience to take a step back and get allll of your pages on one page so you can see how everything is working together. She likes CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER Dan Santat's practice of storyboarding out something successfully cinematic like a Hitchcock movie to understand storyboarding better.

Patti Ann Harris: What Makes Your Work Publishable

Patti Ann Harris's session highlighted picture books from Little, Brown from the last two years, a real range in a variety of topics and artists that she works with. She wanted illustrators to see the catergories they publish into and hopes it inspires people to consider working in similar categories.

Patti Ann, first and foremost, says that it takes head and heart to drive a project to publication, and you need both.

NONFICTION BIOGRAPHIES: Schools need them, libraries love them, and kids love learning history through picture books and it turns them on to longer biographies.

STORY OF YOUNG BOB DYLAN
Bob Dylan turns 70, anniversary moments are great, Grandparents might know Woody Guthrie, parents Dylan, so two groups of book buyers will be intrigued by this book.

 

ME JANE
Story of Jane Goodall. The image on cover is lifted from photo of her as a young girl with her stuffed animal monkey! If you have a dream and want to achieve something you go for it. This book will inspire kids to do that, says Patti Ann.

DAVE THE POTTER (Caldecott Honor winner)
You can take well known characters like Dylan, or relative unknowns like Dave the Potter and bring them to light. How did this book happen? The author was at a conference and heard a bit about Dave and saw one of the pots on Antique Roadshow and had to know more. Illustrator also did amazing research for this book. Patti Ann says it has so many levels of interest and is a great example of nonfiction done beautifully for children.

FORMAT BUSTERS: What are you doing to the book? Patti Ann loves the idea of taking the book and enhancing your story or character by manipulating the actual, physical book.

GO AWAY, BIG GREEN MONSTER Is a total favorite. Sometimes a book idea comes from another book, seeds are planted--pop-up TRUCKS GO POP had a promotional poster that Patti Ann and her colleagues couldn't stop staring at. That poster turned into a seek and find format book called LOOK! A BOOK!

Conference Interview with Little, Brown AD Patti Ann Harris

Illustrators attending the conference today can spend each of their three breakout sessions with a real live art director. Let me know if you want me to pinch you all, because this is definitely a dream come true.

There're two pre-conference interviews for Lucy Ruth Cummins and Denise Cronin already, and here we have one for Patti Ann Harris! Give Patti Ann the thumb's up or a high five if you see her—she art directed recent Caldecott Honor winner DAVE, THE POTTER.

Also art directed by Patti Ann

Jaime: What's your average day like?

Patti Ann: I have to say that there really isn't an average day at the office. Each day is a mix of meetings with editors, phone calls with illustrators, updates with designers, it's a pretty full day. My challenge is always to carve out some quiet time to design and work on my books. There are a few titles each season that I work on from start to finish. Oftentimes, I get a book up and running, sometimes working through the sketch phase or finalizing the details on a new format. Book publishing is a collaborative art and that collaboration has always inspired me. I'm lucky to work with an amazingly talented and dedicated group of designers and editors, so the work day is anything but average.

Jaime: Are you currently acquiring illustrators?

Patti Ann: I can't say that there is a specific style of illustration that I'm interested in. I think I'm more drawn to a strong character or a unique point of view. That's what I respond to most in illustration. I also love to see different media explored like letterpress printing, collage or any blending of traditional medium with digital to invent something new and exciting.

Jaime: Would you like to give us a hint of what your conference session topic will be?

Patti Ann: I'll be giving an overview of the novelty and picture books that we publish at Little, Brown. Our list has a great variety of books that range from cloth and board books for babies, pop-ups, and other fun novelties to more traditional picture books. I'd like to share some themes and subjects that I think resonate. My goal is to help open up illustrators to the many possibilities in book publishing.

Jaime: What's your favorite children's book cover of 2010 (not done by your publishing house)?

Patti Ann: The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood illustrated by Renata Liwska

Jaime: I love THE QUIET BOOK! Kill, kiss, or marry: Helvetica, Baskerville, or Comic Sans?

Patti Ann:  Comic Sans, not a laughing matter, kill it. Helvetica, loved the film, kiss it. Baskerville, easy on the eyes, marry it.

Jaime: Favorite Pantone color?
         
Patti Ann: Pantone 2935, a peaceful and meditative blue.

Jaime: What is your favorite thing to do in late January in New York?

Also art directed by Patti Ann

Patti Ann: I love to browse in bookstores and New York City has some of the best. I recommend The Strand, Books of Wonder and The Bank Street Bookstore. There's also a great 2 for 1 promotion going on for off-broadway theater tickets. Go to nycgo.com for more info and other fun events in the city.

Jaime: Holy cow, I think Patti Ann might be moonlighting as PR for the city. These are great suggestions! Any not-to-be missed galleries for visiting illustrators?

Patti Ann: Go visit the Society of Illustrators at 128 East 63rd St. There will be a great exhibit of editorial and book illustration beginning Jan. 26th.

Jaime: Thanks so much, Patti Ann! Illustrators, you know you want to see all these great art directors talk today. SCBWI Team Blog promises to fill you in on all the sessions you're missing.