Appreciating children picture books
Sunday, August 12, 2007
The stunning visualizations of illustrated pictures books have a way to capture and compel the reader into believing that words are secondary in telling a story. If you notice, most picture books are 32 pages, if not 40 the most. To cram a story into that few pages requires careful planning and some cunningness to maximize the limited space. The perception that picture books are only for children is misguided. It is a form of art to be appreciated and enjoyed by anyone.
I recently discovered Raymond Briggs, a successful illustrator / author with more than 60 titles to his name. Here are three of his works that I’ve recently explored.
Father Christmas
Father Christmas or better known as Santa Claus is usually portrayed as a prosperous jolly old man with apple rosy cheeks and a booming laughter. Not so in this book. Here you get to see the human side of Father Christmas who’s grumpy and very much lonely. No Mother Christmas to make him breakfast or Christmas elves running around. The story is told in comic strip style with scattered speech bubbles containing not more than 10 words each. The colours are striking and I especially love the double spread illustrated pages that depict expansive scenes. In 1973, Briggs won the Kate Greenaway Medal for this book, awarded annually for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.
The Snowman
Told in continuous panels, this picture book contains no dialogue or speech bubbles at all. In just 175 softly hued frames, a little boy makes friends with a snowman he built. The snowman comes to life and both he and the boy have a little adventure throughout the night. The next morning, the boy races outside his house only to find his new buddy's melted remains, scattered with a few forlorn lumps of coal.
The Puddleman
Illustrated in soft coloured-pencil artwork and skillful use of panels of different sizes, it tells the story of Tom and his grandfather, and the former’s discovery of the Puddleman who carries a stack of puddles on his back. Tom, determined to play in puddles, eagerly helps the man place the puddles on the road.
I recently discovered Raymond Briggs, a successful illustrator / author with more than 60 titles to his name. Here are three of his works that I’ve recently explored.
Father Christmas
Father Christmas or better known as Santa Claus is usually portrayed as a prosperous jolly old man with apple rosy cheeks and a booming laughter. Not so in this book. Here you get to see the human side of Father Christmas who’s grumpy and very much lonely. No Mother Christmas to make him breakfast or Christmas elves running around. The story is told in comic strip style with scattered speech bubbles containing not more than 10 words each. The colours are striking and I especially love the double spread illustrated pages that depict expansive scenes. In 1973, Briggs won the Kate Greenaway Medal for this book, awarded annually for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.
The Snowman
Told in continuous panels, this picture book contains no dialogue or speech bubbles at all. In just 175 softly hued frames, a little boy makes friends with a snowman he built. The snowman comes to life and both he and the boy have a little adventure throughout the night. The next morning, the boy races outside his house only to find his new buddy's melted remains, scattered with a few forlorn lumps of coal.
The Puddleman
Illustrated in soft coloured-pencil artwork and skillful use of panels of different sizes, it tells the story of Tom and his grandfather, and the former’s discovery of the Puddleman who carries a stack of puddles on his back. Tom, determined to play in puddles, eagerly helps the man place the puddles on the road.
2:33 AM
1 comments
hmm?
