Picture This!

Written by Catriona Coote Thursday, 29 July 2010 14:25

What makes a good picture book - especially one for gifted children (of any age)? They key is to make sure that you've chosen a true picture book and not simply an illustrated story. The illustrations must enrich the story - add details, meanings, nuances that the reader would be unlikely to otherwise find in the narrative. In illustrated stories, the pictures can be very attractive - but merely represent what is already present in the narrative, much as ‘plates' did in early children's novels.

A good illustrator can take the reader well beyond the narrative - ‘off the page' as it's is sometimes called. For this reason it is better if illustrations have no boundaries - e.g. frames or other artificial limits - except in very rare examples such as Shaun Tan's The Arrival and Jeannie Baker's Window. Illustrations often add humour and/or depth to the narrative and should convey emotions that are implied but not directly stated in the text.

A couple of journal issues ago I reviewed a number of excellent picture books that I'd been sent by publishers. Unfortunately the journal only allows for eight reviews. I can only hope that Association members also check out the online reviews as there are many delicious offerings available for picture book readers of all ages at present.

Perhaps the most outstanding to pass through my hands this year until just this week has been The Black Book of Colour, a truly astonishing creation that has librarians, teachers and booksellers united in their praise. Published overseas a few years ago and just reaching Australian shores, this is a book that will challenge the readers' perceptions on many levels. To save repeating myself, a review can be read here: http://nswagtc.org.au/reviews/beginner-readers/984-the-black-book-of-colours.html

Walker, bless them, has begun to rerelease some ‘late greats' - picture books that did extremely well at the time but haven't been available for years except in second-hand bookshops. This is allowing the next generation/s of young readers (and their parents/teachers/carers) to enjoy such treasures as I'm Taggerty Toad and One Dragon's Dream (Peter Pavey); The Duck In the Gun (Joy Cowley); A Bit of Company and Going Home (Margaret Wild) and Come by Chance (Madeline Winch) amongst others. Further classic Australian and New Zealand titles are promised.

Random House is also doing some reissues, particularly of the legendary Colin Thompson's work. Keep an eye out for The Last Alchemist (1999), Paradise Garden (1998) Falling Angels (2001).

Noah's Garden, the story of a child playing in a hospital garden during his baby sister's treatments, Potato Music, a deeply moving examination of the ways we choose to deal with uncontrollable circumstances, and Wibbly Wobbly Street, an allegorical tale about maintaining our individuality in the face of demands for conformity - these are probably the three best picture books I've read since the beginning of June.

For the very young, Look out Leon (Jez Alborough) has just been released by Walker - a simple tale about a young chameleon's first outing on his own. Children will love pulling the tabs to help Leon hide from the dangers he encounters and laugh out loud at the way his father tricks him. Another one that will have both adults and children laughing is The Wonkey Donkey by Craig Smith, through Scholastic. The illustrations and wonderful add-on rhyming narrative will have children asking for repeat reads, so be warned!

Under wraps until August 1st but something that all readers, librarians and teachers must keep an eye out for is the latest Jeannie Baker, which is a stunning piece of work designed to challenge us all to recognise our common humanity.

Finally, my apologies for having neglected my blog for so long but my own health issues, combined with those of two family members, have rather limited my computer time this year and I've been focusing on attempting to keep up with reviews. Hopefully life's rollercoaster is now a little less rocky and The Cat's Library can proceed as originally intended!

Want to share an old favourite or a new discovery in the way of picture books? Leave a comment or submit a review!

Just loaded: About 50 new reviews were loaded in May/June, including 20 picture books - too many to list here! But do check out The Black Book of Colour (picture book) and The Sky is Everywhere (novel for teenagers)

Read but haven't yet reviewed: Look out Leon (Jez Alborough); The Truth About Penguins (Meg McKinlay/Mark Jackson); 999 Tadpoles Find A New Home (Ken Kimura/ Yasunari Murakami); The Very Itchy Bear (Nick Bland); lots more!

Currently Reading: Gerald Durrell's autobiographical novels - great fun and I don't have to review them! I started reading these when I was 10 and have revisited them regularly ever since, enjoying both his occasionally lyrical descriptions of places as well as his dry humour when describing the antics of animals (including humans) on his collecting trips or at his zoo. If you don't know who Gerald Durrell is, check out:  http://www.durrell.org/

Until next time - happy reading!