This picture book is an adorable and amusing way to introduce the roles of author and illustrator to young children. The banter is witty and targeted at the correct age range. My kids loved this and I would definitely use it in my early elementary classroom.

This was a quick, cute read about if you work together then your story is better then ever. It was really good.

I received an electronic ARC from Capstone through NetGalley.
Lemke and Lentz capture the balance needed between an author and an illustrator to develop books. Readers see them challenge each other and also work together to create a story where superheroes save a town from a beast. We see how they make changes and argue and then create to bring this story to life. The artwork is vividly colored and pulls readers in to the story being told and the story between the two creators. Looking forward to sharing this one and opening dialogue about the creative process with an emphasis on working together.

Author vs. Illustrator by Donald Lemke, 40 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Capstone Editions, 2024. $19.
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
The author and illustrator start out on the same page, but they soon turn their book into a battleground of opposing ideas. If they’re going to finish their book, they’ll have to see where words and pictures can help each other—and the story!
While the focus is on complementing words and pictures for a story, Lemke also provides an example of working together with different ideas and strengths. The humor of the characters’ argument balances out the real life skills being illustrated.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

"Author Vs Illustrator," written by Donald Lemke and illustrated by Bob Lentz, is an engaging and hilarious children's book that explores the dynamic and sometimes contentious relationship between an author and an illustrator. Aimed at readers aged 8-12, this book cleverly presents the creative process through a comic format, making it both accessible and entertaining.

The story begins at the far reaches of Earth, atop a mountaintop, where a bustling city finds itself under attack by an unexpected menace—a cute little furball. This whimsical twist is far from the "ferocious beast" the author originally envisioned, leading to a comical clash between the author and illustrator. The narrative unfolds as a playful battle of wits and creativity, with each collaborator trying to impose their vision on the story. The author insists on a text-driven tale about a terrifying creature, while the illustrator whimsically transforms the beast into an adorable critter, emphasizing the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.

As the pages turn, readers are treated to a full-on creator combat, a bookmaking battle royale that is both amusing and enlightening. The humorous exchanges and exaggerated scenarios highlight the challenges and joys of collaborative creation. The author and illustrator's journey towards mutual understanding and cooperation is not only entertaining but also educational, subtly teaching readers about teamwork, conflict resolution, and respect.

Lemke and Lentz, known for their quirky collaborations in "Call of Doodie" and "Book-O-Beards," have crafted another gem with "Author Vs Illustrator." The over-the-top humor and vibrant illustrations keep young readers engaged, while the underlying lessons about the creative process and collaboration make it a valuable addition to any child's bookshelf. The book's unique approach to storytelling—where words and pictures vie for dominance—provides a fresh perspective on how books are made, making it a must-have for young writers, budding artists, and lifelong book lovers.

In conclusion, "Author Vs Illustrator" is a laugh-out-loud picture book that perfectly balances humor and heart. It's an ideal read for children who are curious about the magic behind the books they love and serves as an inspiration for future storytellers and illustrators.

Presented initially as a “how to make a book” graphic novel, the readers watch how the author, Don, and illustrated, Bob, may not always agree when they work together. Bob narrates the story within the story about a self-inserted superhero saving the town of Sprinkleville from a ferocious beast. Don draws the pictures, which do not match Bob’s vision at all, and he self-inserts another superhero of his own. The book is complete with humorous puns, adorable illustrations, and the dual storylines of the author and illustrator’s writing process and the superhero book within the book.

THOUGHTS:
Overall, this graphic novel is a great way to introduce the writing process and how authors and illustrators create books and work together. The messages about creativity, conflict resolution, and teamwork would be beneficial for both classroom and library lessons.

'Author Vs. Illustrator' by the amazing duo Lemke and Lentz is an out-of-the-box read ideal for elementary schoolers.

Follow a creative author and his hungry illustrator pal as they go back and forth on the perception of words and ideas. With eye-catching, simplistic, bright, and creative graphics; witty banter, and lots of ice cream references-- This story demonstrates the power of working collaboratively and the strengths and weaknesses we all possess to complete a project.

I read 'Author Vs. Illustrator' to my kindergartener as a bedtime story the other night and she loved it.

Per my kindergartener's recommendation:
- "Some word bubbles and pages have too many words."
- (For pages that have more than one scene) "Which word bubble do I read first?"

Per parent/adult's recommendation:
- Although initially targeted for those ages 5+, I believe the age 6 or 7+ would be ideal as this reads more like a graphic novel than a picture book.

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

📕🖊️📕🖊️📕🖊️📕🖊️📕🖊️📕🖊️📕
Thank you to Donald Lemke and Bob Lentz, Netgalley, and Capstone | Capstone Editions for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Cute, quick read about the team work it takes to create a picture book! An Author and a hungry Illustrator battle a beast with their imagination and drawing skills, while their dog plots to get a drop of food. I thought this was kinda comical for a short picture book. Definitely for elementary or pre-k age range audience.

This was a highly predictable but still useful book for speaking with students about the different roles and responsibilities of book creators.

Go behind the scenes to see what it takes to make a children’s graphic novel. When Bob and Don decided to make a new book they struggle with how it should be illustrated. Can the author and illustrator see eye to eye or will artistic differences ruin their writing powers?
Overall rating 5/5
Such a creative take on a children’s graphic novel. We loved the illustrations, especially the real-life beast Huey Lewis. Such an interesting way to approach conflict resolution in an age appropriate way. We look forward to reading more books by Lemke and Lentz.
*Thank you to Donald Lemke and Bob Lentz, Netgalley and Capstone | Capstone Editions for the ARC book copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

This fun book can help demonstrate to kids how people work together and what each persons job is. It is a lovely story about working together and working things out when problems/disagreements arise.

Author vs. Illustrator reads like a "behind the scenes" book about the collaboration process between writers and illustrators. Readers see a writer and illustrator begin a book, have some conflict, but ultimately agree that both jobs are important to making a great book. It's set up well visually, & I imagine it was a lots of fun to create.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

Thank you to @NetGalley for the ARC. This book is so cute. I loved the two points of view and the illustrations are fabulous. I will be using this book to teach my students what an author and illustrator do and how they work together to make a book. Such a fun read.

The blurb for this book as that an author and illustrator duke it out and try to see what they can accomplish on their own. I don't find this blurb entirely accurate, as the actual 'parting of ways' didn't last very long. I might describe this as a discovery of teamwork, and it would be a great book for teaching kids to use their unique talents to work together and collaborate.

What I appreciated about this book was that the 'story within a story' aspect featured characters that would appeal to both girls and boys alike (the sweet fantasy land). Having to read to groups of kiddos, that's always appealing.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It delivers a positive lesson for children about collaboration and equality in a group project. I believe the bubble writing technique will captivate children and encourage them to continue reading. The illustrations are striking and in general, I would strongly suggest this book to my students.

I really loved his book and plan to buy it for my school library. I can imagine using it to teach lessons about authors and illustrators. I love how it makes it clear the book belongs to both the author and illustrator. This is a concept my students have struggled to understand during author visits in the past.

This was so cute! I loved the back and forth of the two characters trying to brainstorm ideas. The drawings are so vivid and well done. I read this to my son, and he wants to read it every night now!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. My seven year old and I enjoyed Author vs. Illustrator. It was a cute story about the troubles and advantages of teamwork. The illustrations were fun and silly! I would definitely recommend this book for K-2 readers. (Bonus kids get to learn a little more about how a book is made, and the different jobs that are required.) #AuthorvsIllustrator #NetGalley.

This is a fun children's book which illustrates the interaction between the author and the illustrator in telling a story. It has laugh out loud moments for kids while teaching about how a book is made. Great book!

Laugh out loud funny. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and look forward to reading it with my grandchildren. I know they'll get a kick out of it, too.