RAR #252: The Making of Because Barbara

Read-Aloud Revival ®

A library should be a kind of paradise, don’t you agree? Author and illustrator Barbara Cooney certainly thought so.

Barbara Cooney was an extraordinary author and illustrator of over 100 children’s books with stories that span the world, from the shores of Greece to the mountains of Appalachia. The more I learned about Barbara, the more I wanted to tell the story of this beautiful artist who, in every aspect of her life–from raising four children to traveling to gardening to winning awards for her illustrations–was committed to capturing the beauty in (and for!) the world.

Because Barbara: Barbara Cooney Paints Her World has been nearly six years in the making. Today, I want to take you behind the scenes and introduce you to the team that made it happen, from the very first draft to the final, beautiful book you’ll hold in your hands.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The many drafts, revisions, critiques, and edits that brought me to the throughline of Barbara’s wonderfully full and creative life
• How the art team took on the daunting task of styling and illustrating the book to echo Barbara’s style without directly imitating it
• How sound design and animation bring the audio and video books to life

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

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• Waxwing Books
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Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/making-because-barbara

Order Dear Duck, Please Come! and Beyond Mulberry Glen from Waxwing Books.