ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the emergence of photographic picturebooks into the mainstream of all picturebooks for children. Photography in children's books has a lineage as long as photography itself. While the majority of picturebooks contain hand-illustrated imagery, photographic picturebooks are replete with photographs or photo-based illustrations. Discourse on photography in books for children is scant and mainly reflects on the last sixty years of children's books. All artists, including photographers of children's books, are of their time. Photo-illustrated picturebooks reflect prevailing historic movements and innovations in art and technology; all trends, techniques, and styles of fine art and commercial photography have been replicated. The subjects, themes, and topics of photo-illustrated picturebooks are frequently similar to those found in all picturebooks for children. The iconic Mother Goose is infinitely photogenic. In assessing the sum of picturebooks, the rich variety and extent of photographic children's books may be surprising to many.
