Author: patricia

MAKI:minimag_Gaston_illustrated by Christian Robinson

Gaston – A bulldog & poodle mix up illustrated by Christian Robinson

Published by patricia

Two dogs, a small bulldog and a little poodle are the main characters in this story from New York Times bestselling author Kelly DiPucchio and illustrator Christian Robinson.  What they learn? That family is truly about love and not looks! The tale is about four puppies: Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, Ooh-La-La, and Gaston. Gaston does his best at his lessons on how to be a true poodle. He sips—never slobbers! He yips—never yaps! And he walks with grace—never races! Gaston fits perfect with his little poodle sisters. But then an encounter with a bulldog family in the park—Rocky, Ricky, Bruno, and Antoinette—changes everything. Obviously there has been a mix-up, and so Gaston and Antoinette switch their places. The new families look right…but they don’t feel right. Will the puppies follow their noses—and their hearts—to find where they really belong? Another funny, meaningful illustrated gem by our favourite Christian Robinson! In a video about the choices he made for the illustrations Christian Robinson points to the colours that challenge gender norms, the representation of coloured people  and the absence of traditional family structures  – in this case the missing of any father figures …

MAKI:minimag_Seasons by Blexbolex_Summer reading list

Summer reading list #5 : Seasons by Blexbolex

Published by patricia

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_Stop Motion Pop-up book: A drop of water

Stop Motion Pop-up book: A drop of water

Published by patricia

We just found this great stop motion pop-up book about the lifecycle of a drop op water: Revolution. Nature’s rhythms in masterful paper engineering. It is a quite modern and extraordinary way of 3D storytelling.  It all begins with fire – and ends with rain. And it just takes 1 minute and 45 seconds. Have a look: The project is a one year collaboration of photographer Chris Turner, animator Jess Deacon and paper sculptor extraordinaire Helen Friel. The book contains nine scenes that were animated using 1,000 photographic stills shot over the course of a year. From original idea to execution the three artists pooled their individual talents to bring the project to life. “Revolution” was chosen as a winner for a PDN Photo Annual Award and was also selected for the Fantoche International Animation Film Festival, the Melbourne International Animation Festival, the New Zealand International Animation Festival and London International Animation Festival. Like this:Like Loading…

MAKI:minimag_Under the ocean_summer reading list

Summer reading list #4 : under the ocean

Published by patricia

Under the Ocean: That is where number 4 of our summer reading list brings us. After #1 about playing in the sand, #2 about the summer garden and #3 about an ABC of a sailor it is time to go diving. “Under the sea” is a beautifully designed pop-up book that plays the dichotomy between down and under, above the water and in the sea well. While on the top side you can find boats, ships, islands and harbours there is a totally different world under the surface: whales, fishes and turtles, divers and corals, icebergs and seashells. So: Climb aboard the red sailboat Océano and get ready to depart on an exciting expedition around the world! The scenery changes as the boat sails from a busy port to the icy Arctic, through stormy seas, on into an idyllic sunset. But it’s what lies under the ocean that will surprise and thrill you the most. “Under the ocean” combines inspiring pop-ups with cutting-edge illustration and design in a celebration of the splendors of the ocean. Anouck Boisrobert is …

MAKI:minimag_Playful_by MerMag_crafts for kids

Playful – A new Crafts for Kids book

Published by patricia

Sometimes it is great to have some inspiration on what to do with your kids when they are in a crafty mood, the weather is bad or gifts have to be made. “Playful” is the perfect solution on all those occasions! “Playful” by Merrily Liddiard is  a new book about crafts for kids. It includes 26 different and fun projects to make with and for little ones. And they are all beautiful, simple and full of fantasy. Divided into five categories—Playful Dress Up, Playful Toys, Playful Paper Crafts, Playful Repurposing, and Playful Art—the book offers a collection of low-skill, high-style, low-cost projects. Merrily Liddiard, the author, is a blogger, an experienced mum and crafter herself and she shows how to emerge in  creative worlds together with your kids. Her crafts for kids ideas are all about encouriging playfulness, creativity and handmade magic. Play towns, animals masks, crowns, wooden blocks, puppet parades, fingerprint art and a pen holder – that is just a small handful out of the suggested projects. They are all stylish and made of simple materials, …

MAKIminimag_Fredun Shapur_playsacks

Vintage Toys: Playsacks by Fredun Shapur

Published by patricia

In our collection of vintage toys we want to show you the Playsacks by Fredun Shapur today. Fredun Shapur is a South African born toy designer and illustrator and the creator of these fantastic “Playsacks”, designed for Creative Playthings in 1968!! Yes, thats right, 1968! Their look is so strikingly contemporary because of their modern use of colours and their graphic refinement. And yes, you can put the sacks on your head because they are made of paper! In total there have been 12 different designs, children could disguise themselves as tigers, pandas and zebras, amongst others. The idea is so simple but great it seems strange there have not been new, contemporary designs lately. Like Bruno Munari or Charles Eames, Fredun Shapur (born 1929) made a particular daring and inventive contribution to the world of children. Between the 1960s and 1980s he designed toys for manufacturers such as Naef in Switzerland, Galt Toys in Great Britain, and above all Creative Playthings in the United States. From wooden puzzles and racing cars  to animal disguises, Shapur’s toys still have …

MAKI:minimag_ABC du marin_Virginie Morgand_summer reading list

Summer reading list #3 : ABC du marin

Published by patricia

Today it is time for number three on our Summer Reading List: ABC du marin by French artist Virginie Morgand. A book full of wonderful illustrations, inspired by hands-on printing techniques and 50ies/60ies children´s toys and literature. The Paris based artist uses hand drawn shapes and bright colours to create vibrant images full of life and energy. Anchors, buoys, bulls-eye´s, pirates and parrots, lighthouses – it is all there in this blue, red and yellow sceneries. A perfect book for summer, like a little vacation and a graphic adventure in one. That is why we put it on our summer reading list. Virginie’s background is in animation but, having learnt how to screen print at L’atelier Dupont, she has developed her own visual language as an illustrator working for a growing number of clients. Recent projects include children’s books for book publisher MeMo, illustrations for The Sunday Times, Elle magazine, Barneys in New York, and front covers for Ballroom Review, The Parisianer and Erratum. If you want to see more of her fantastic work look over here. Like …

MAKI:minimag_summer reading list_Im Garten von Alain Gree

MAKI:minimag summer reading list – #2

Published by patricia

We have compiled a little summer reading list with five of our favourite children´s books. Number 1 has been “Backe backe Kuchen”, about playing with sand. Number 2 on the MAKI:minimag summer reading list is “Heidi, Peter und der Garten” (Heidi, Peter and the garden) by French illustration hero Alain Grée. It is about Heidi and Peter visiting their uncle Bertram and his garden. In beautiful colours Grée shows  sorts of flowers in the garden, the different trees, tells about the vegetable garden and how you care for it. It shows the animals that live in a garden and features a little picture story about how an apple becomes a tree becomes an apple again. We love these vintage illustrations in bold 60/70ies  colours and their naivety of form. There are other books of Alain Grée (which are available in English) which are great for a summer reading list. There is “Nature”,  a compilation of books, including, amongst others, ‘On the farm’ and ‘In the forest’. In simple words it tells children about the different flora and fauna they …

MAKI:wishlist*tate_british_art_activity_book

Tate Kids British Art activity book for kids

Published by patricia

The new book on our MAKI:wishlist – Tate Kids British Art activity book for kids While writing about books and working on our first printed issue of children´s magazine MAKI:minimag we come across so many great books we would like to have. So why not put them on a MAKI:minimag wishlist and share them all with you? Our first one is the Tate Kids British Art activity book for kids, illustrated by great James Lambert. Here is what this charming activity book for kids is all about: “This book includes art activities based on 10 historical, modern and contemporary British artworks. Devised by Tate Kids online editor with designer/illustrator James Lambert, it is a fun and insightful introduction to art. Throw yourself into British art with this zany book of activities based on artworks by some of Britain’s most exciting artists. Play a game of ‘Formaldehyde and Seek’ inspired by Damien Hirst; take cues from Barbara Hepworth and carve a sculpture out of soap; and find out how to capture the spectacular glow of J.M.W. …

MAKI:minimag_Backe, backe Kuchen

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

Published by patricia

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…