Books for All Ages

Here is a list of the many books that Raymond has written and illustrated that will appeal to readers of all ages:

With Needle and Thread
“With quiet prose and clear, lovely full-color photographs, Bial has stitched together a ‘sampler’ about people and the quilts they sew. Square in design, with lots of white space, high-quality paper, this photo-essay connects the folk tradition of quilting with a dynamic contemporary art form.”
                                                   —Booklist

The Underground Railroad
‘Bial’s simple, eloquent text explains how the Underground Railroad worked and why it was necessary, as well as the hardships involved in the journey north...Bial’s full-color photographs are what make this title outstanding.”
                                                   —School Library Journal

Portrait of a Farm Family
“Bial’s photographs of the Steidinger family dairy farm in Illinois are attractive on their own, but it’s their blending with a complicated critical text that makes this book more than just another view of cows, chickens, and smiling people.”
                                                   —Booklist, starred review

Amish Home
“Superb color photographs, found on nearly every page, distinguish his thoughtful work...[Amish Home] will be welcomed by libraries everywhere.”
                                                   —Booklist

Frontier Home
“In another lyrical but precise text, [Bial] invites readers to imagine traveling by Conestoga wagon to an uncertain future on the American frontier...The presentation is enhanced by sharp, beautifully composed, unpeopled color photographs.”
                                                   —Kirkus Reviews

Shaker Home
“This handsome volume introduces the traditional Shaker way of life in a thoughtful text and well-composed, full-color photographs.”
                                                   —Booklist, starred review

Corn Belt Harvest
“[Bial’s] photographs are both graceful adornments to each page and full of important information, truly complementing the text in every way...A jewel of a book.”
                                                   —School Library Journal

County Fair
“The full-color photographs are excellent...A book on an unusual topic, and one that deserves a blue ribbon.”
                                                   —School Library Journal

Mist over the Mountains
“A superb photoessay...documenting a pocket of American life and history...Bial consistently emphasizes the strengths of the people, their unique traditions, and the beauty of the landscape.”
                                                   —Kirkus Reviews

The Strength of These Arms
“Striking, full-color photographs and reproductions along with an interesting text make this title an outstanding addition to any collection.”
                                                   —School Library Journal

A Handful of Dirt
Soil may not be alive, but amazingly, a multitude of microscopic creatures live there, battling it out in an eat-or-be-eaten world. These tiny creatures, invisible to our eyes, provide food for the insects that in turn feed the reptiles and mammals that live in and above the soil. You’ll never look at the ground you walk on in the same way after Raymond Bial, an award-winning photo essayist, takes you on this eye-opening, down-and-dirty tour of one of the earth’s most precious resources.

all photographs