All posts tagged: children books

MAKI:minimag_William Bee_Whatever

Whatever

Published by patricia

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

Published by patricia

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 …

MAKI:minimag_Bruno Munari_ABC_Cover

ABC

Published by patricia

First published in 1960 this imaginative ABC by Bruno Munari is a real gem. With lots of white space splashed with colour, children can learn how fun letters are. From an Ant on an Apple to a Blue Butterfly to a Cat in a Cage, Munari pairs words in a whimsical manner and prose like style. Until Fly frees itself from its page, lands on the Hat, buzzes near the Ice Cream and provides the final sound for Zzzz! Zum ersten Mal wurde es 1960 herausgegeben und ist ein echter Kinderbuch-Schatz: das fantasievolle ABC von Bruno Munari. Mit viel Weissraum und bunten Farbakzenten können Kinder lernen, wie viel Spass Buchstaben machen können. Von einer Ameise auf einem Apfel, über einen blauen Schmetterling bis zu einer Katze im Käfig kombiniert Munari Worte und Begriffe auf skurrile Art und in fast prosaartigem Stil. Bis die Fliege sich selbst von der Seite befreit, auf einem Hut landet, um eine Eis schwirrt und den letzten Ton liefert: Zzzzz! Het werd voor het eerst  in 1960 uitgegeven en is een echte prentenboek-schat: het …

MAKI:minimag_David Carter_1 roter Punkt

Pop Up Art

Published by patricia

The book “1 roter Punkt” (One red dot) by David A. Carter is a true piece of artwork made of paper. It received the Hans-Christian-Andersen-medal for the best artistic picture book in 2005. On every of the 10 double pages a refined paper construction unfolds – filigree, stunning, in elementary colours and forms. And in every paper-architecture a red dot is hiding. While following the numbers from 1 to 10 and searching for the red dot one is thrilled by the surprising diversity of shapes. It is fun to fiddle about the construction of paper lids, wheels and garlands – no matter what age! Das Buch “1 roter Punkt” von David A. Carter is ein wahres Kunstwerk aus Papier. Es wurde 2005 mit der Hans-Christian-Andersen-Medaille  für das beste künstlerische Bilderbuch ausgezeichnet. Auf jeder der 10 Doppelseiten entfaltet sich eine raffinierte Papier-Konstruktion  –  filigran, verblüffend, in elementaren Farben und Formen. Und in jedem Gebilde steckt „1 roter Punkt”. Man folgt den Zahlen von 1 bis 10 und freut sich an der Vielfalt der überraschenden Gestaltungsideen. Neugierige und Tüftler jeglichen Alters …

Shock`n Sugar

Published by patricia

Looking for a children´s book about animals, flowers or rainbows? Then “My First Nursery Book” is NOT what you want. A killed cock, a gingerbread men eaten by foxes or a burnt wolf are not the kind of things you expect in a sweet little children´s book. Illustrated by Polish/British avant-garde artist and publisher Franciszka Themerson “My First Nursery Book” is full of surreal, offbeat, macabre stories. Lots of death and horror – but then in wonderful sweet colours. A charming combination of block colour prints and red line drawings. In 2008 it has been reissued by Tate in its original 1947 form and includes four classic stories: “Who Killed Cock Robin?,” “The Gingerbread Man,” “Three Little Pigs,” and “The Three Bears.” A moral shock therapy for little ones – but with sugar coating! Auf der Suche nach einem Kinderbuch über Tiere, Blumen und Regenbögen? Dann ist „My First Nursery Book“ NICHT das Ende der Suche. Ein ermordetes Rotkehlchen, ein Lebkuchenmann verspeist von Füchsen, und ein verbrannter Wolf sind nämlich nicht gerade die Geschichten die man …

MAKI:minimag_Sparkle and Spin_Ann&Paul Rand

Sparkle & Spin. A book about words

Published by patricia

Do you like ice cream? Then we have got something for you! *Sparkle and Spin* is a book about words and – adorable enough –  dedicated ” to all children who like ice cream“.:) It is the second of four children books which designer Paul Rand and his wife Ann did together. The book is full of Paul Rands playfulness and humour and a virtuoso book for the audience he got so much inspiration of: children! Ann Rand, an architect by training, wrote the text in short sharp rhymes and rhythms with a clever awkwardness that makes you hear a child speaking. Paul Rand combined  simple forms, a selective colour palette and plays with paper cut-outs, doodling, collages and typography for his illustrations. The book got very good reviews and the New York Times chose it as one of the ‘Ten best illustrated Books of the Year’! in 1957. With its bold, playful interplay of words and pictures, the lyrical text explores what words are and how they are used. And it highlights some characteristics such as that some words sound like what the mean, …

MAKI:minimag_Rain!_Cover

Rain!

Published by patricia

↓ Scroll down for German version! Rainy days are not really a big fun thing. May be that is why RAIN!, the book by  illustrator Christian Robinson and author Linda Ashman caught our attention immediately! So colourful, fun and full of energy – it just made us smile!!! Rain can STILL be fun!  A little happy boy and an old grumpy man both go out on a rainy day and meet in a cafe by accident. Their attitudes could not be more different! The little one is happy to wear his frog-rain coat, is having fun with jumping into puddles and enjoys the trip to the cafe to munch cookies. The old one is complaining about the nasty galoshes, the hat that ruins his hair, the water in the streets. When they meet at the suitably named „Rain or Shine Café“ the question is: Which mood will be more contagious, the good or the bad one? Which one will win out – the ill-humor or the happiness? Robinsons illustrations are highly expressive mixed media collages, he paints, draws …

MAKI:minimag_Paul Rand_The Architectural Forum_1945_advertisment

ON SHOW – Everything is design

Published by patricia

↓ Scroll down for English/German version! “Everything is design. Everything!” Ha, hoe ik al die mensen benijd die in New York wonen of daar binnenkort naartoe gaan! Vanaf 25 februari 2015 is namelijk in het Museum of the City of New York en tentoonstelling te zien over het oeuvre van designlegende Paul Rand. De titel is “Everything is Design. The work of Paul Rand”, en een citaat van Rand zelf is daarbij titel en leidraad: “Everything is design. Everything!” In de tentoonstelling zal dan ook alles, het hele spectrum van zijn werk, te zien zijn. Naast magazine covers voor design en fashion magazines zoals Idea en Apparel Arts en het anti-fascistisch culturele magazine Direction zijn ook kinderboeken en reclame te zien. Evenals branding en re-branding projecten zoals bij voorbeeld voor IBM. In totaal meer dan 150 reclames, posters, corporate brochures en boeken! Rand was dé sleutelfiguur als het gaat om het opnemen van verschillende Europese Avantgarde stromingen in de wereld van de Amerikaanse grafische vormgeving. Hij keek naar het Kubisme, Constructivisme, De Stijl, Bauhaus, het hele Europese Modernisme om inspiratie op te doen en een heel vernieuwende, individuele toegang tot …

MAKI:minimag_Ich bin ich_Blumenwiese

Who am I? Little I-am-me

Published by patricia

↓ Scroll down for Dutch/German version! Hello English! Little I-Am-Me (original title „„Das kleine Ich bin Ich“) is an Austrian children´s book classic by Mira Lobe (text) and Susi Weigel (idea and illustration). Since 2014 it is translated into English language. Originally published in 1972 it gave distinctive memories to many generations of children in Austria and Germany but also in other countries. That is thanks to translations into manifold other languages, under which Chinese and Japanese. It tells the timeless story of a small, multicolored beastie, with long drooping ears, pink checkered body and long colored tail. Happy and satisfied it suddenly meets a frog who wants to know what kind of animal it is. The little I-am-me does not know an answer to that question and starts a search for its own identity. It starts running desperately from one animal to another, comparing itsself and trying to find conformities. But even if some characteristics match, it is REALLY no horse, fish, hippo, parrot or dog. In a moment of big sadness and fear (am I …