By Barbara Elleman

This highly readable account explores the scope of dePaola's work-autobiographical picture books, folktales, Christmas themes, religious stories, collections, and more. Elleman gives a glimpse at his fine art and his "non-book" designs as well as a step-by-step account of the development of a picture book, Big Anthony, His Story.

By Barbara Elleman and Russell Freedman

"The year was 1935," one of the founders recalls, "and the Great Depression was at full throttle. Anyone who would start a publishing house then, especially without experience or enough working capital, was stupid and crazy." Nonetheless, three pioneers with "standards and aspirations higher than their skills and resources" set up shop in the corner of a printing plant and prepared to publish their first list. Material from extensive interviews, old and recent correspondence files, and other unpublished as well as published sources provide the basis for this story about the problems, pleasures, and achievements of an independent publisher of children's books only.