Christelow's appealing approach to answering the question "Where do books come from?" involves a picture story about two authors, a man and a woman. Both begin new books based on a neighborhood incident they witness simultaneously. The genial authors work separately. They use a library, conduct interviews, make happenstance observations, write drafts (and throw them away) and discuss their progress at a writing group. After completing entirely different manuscripts, they contact publishers. Once each manuscript is accepted, readers see the editing and publishing processes along with the subsequent school and bookstore appearances each author makes before beginning a new book. Full-color ink and watercolor illustrations, dialogue in balloons and a brief, no-nonsense text unfold a friendly interpretation of individual creativity and children's book publishing. (Ages 6-11)

A sprightly text and colorful illustrations follow two creative people-and a talkative dog and cat-through the writing process step by step, from the inspiration for a story to the satisfaction of sharing the book with readers. Eileen Christelow based this instructive picture book on questions children asked during her classroom talks around the country. Simple enough for young children to understand, and with the entertainment value of fiction, "What Do Authors Do?" is children's nonfiction at its best.