All posts tagged: picture book

MAKI:minimag_Seasons by Blexbolex_Summer reading list

Summer reading list #5 : Seasons by Blexbolex

Today it is already the last book of our summer reading list: “Seasons” by Blexbolex. The illustrations about summer are so lovely and diverse that even if it is a book about all the four seasons we chose it for our summer reading list. On creamy-white paper a world of associative, silkscreen-like illustrations unfolds – about the cycle of nature and the different qualities of the seasons. Every picture is combined with a descriptive term in capital letters. “A picnic, a shadow, a camping”. “Seasons” shows general themes and things such as ice-cream, swimming pool and departure, but zooms in on small details as well, such as a sunburn, a forgotten towel or ant-trails.   Blexbolex is a French author, comics artist and illustrator. He has a special, highly experimental approach to printmaking and book production. His illustrations are quite poster-like, with simple shapes, bold colours and an overall retro-feel. Blexbolex has won prestigious awards as the Best Book Design at the Leipzig Book Fair 2009 and The New York Times Best Illustrated Book in 2010). If you want to know more …

MAKI:minimag_Backe, backe Kuchen

Children´s books for summer – Five MAKI:minimag favourites – #1

As summer has definitely started here in the Netherlands I wanted to show you five of my favourite children´s books for summer – this best time of the year. “Backe, backe Kuchen, der Bäcker hat gerufen” (Bake, bake a cake, the baker called) originally is a children´s song and nursery rhyme about what you need to bake a cake. 20 years ago, writer Anne Geelhar turned it into a picture book verse and a story about a brother and a sister playing in the sandbox. And artist and children´s book illustrator Inge Gürtzig did the beautiful linoleum stencil illustrations. In summer colours and sharp outlines. A happy and simple children´s play scenery, with the girl and the boy serving cakes and cookies to their teddy, duck and Punch. Number one of our five children’ s books for summer is perfect to read to little ones, to learn a new song and to get some inspiration for great sand box cakes:).   Like this:Like Loading…

MAKI:minimag_Die blaue 2_detail

Pop Up Art 2

The book “Die blaue 2” is the follow up of “1 roter Punkt” (One red dot) by David A. Carter. This time it is a blue two that is hiding very elaborately in different architectural paper constructions. Again it is a true piece of artwork made of paper!!! Das Buch “Die blaue 2” ist das Nachfolgebuch von “1 roter Punkt” von David A. Carter. Dieses Mal ist es eine blaue Zwei die sich sehr kunstvoll in den verschiedenen architektonischen Papierkonstruktionen versteckt. Wieder ein echtes Kunstwerk aus Papier!!! Het boek “Die blaue 2” is de opvolger van “1 roter Punkt” (1 rode stip) van David A. Carter. Deze keer is het een blauwe twee die zich heel kunstvol in verschillende architectonische papierconstructies verstopt. Het is weer een echt kunstwerk gemaakt van papier!!!     Like this:Like Loading…

MAKI:minimag_William Bee_Whatever

Whatever

Whatever by William Bee is one of the funniest children books. Great illustrations, not a lot of words, And a great, hilarious ending… The original version had much more pages, if you want to see some pages that did not make it into the final version, check William Bee´s blog. “Whatever” says Billy. It doesn’t matter what Dad shows him – whether it’s the tallest giraffe or the smallest butterfly or the world’s curliest trumpet or the steamiest train. Even a trip to outer space yields the dismissive response, “Whatever”. Until, that is, Billy meets the world’s hungriest tiger and is promptly gobbled up. “I’m still in here Dad,” yells Billy. “Whatever,” says Dad! Like this:Like Loading…

MAKI:minimag_Daisy Hirst_The girl with the parrot...

The girl with the parrot on her head

When I have been to Austria lately I spent hours in the children´s departement of my favourite book store. And there I found this sweet new title „The Girl with the Parrot on her Head“ by British writer and illustrator Daisy Hirst. It is about a little girl called Isabel who has to say goodbye to her best friend Simon because he is moving away. A truly frustrating experience for her, making her angry and lonely at the same time. She tries to cope by organizing her stuff in boxes and embracing loneliness – but nothing helps. Until she steps outside her little world and finds a new friend. The story that seems to be so simple is actually full of metaphors. The parrot represents her boundless imagination, her loneliness is embodied by an imaginary wolf, which she banishes with the support of her new friend. Daisy Hirst captures all these deep underlying themes in simple language and whimsical illustrations. If you want to know more about how she developed the story and artwork, please …