Crossover Picturebooks

Chapter Two

Artists' Books

The artist's book is a conquest of new territory.

—Henri Cueco

Some of the most innovative crossover picturebooks fall into the category of what have been termed “‘artists' books' for children.” Although artists' books have been called “the quintessential 20^th-century artform,”¹ the definition and the term itself are still the subject of much debate. This study adopts the term “artists' books,” as it has become the most widespread, but often “artist's” is written in the singular or even without the apostrophe. Numerous other labels are also used to refer to these books, including book art, bookworks, and book objects. Often artists' books are defined in terms of what they are not, and one website begins by categorically ...