All posts filed under: MAKI:bib

MAKIminimag_Listen Listen_Paul Rand_Ann Rand

Listen! Listen! by Ann and Paul Rand

Published by patricia

  The beauty of everyday sounds.  Listen! Listen! by Ann and Paul Rand is a fascinating children´s book just about that, published in 1970. The “Blop” of a raindrop, the “Wham!” of a shutting door, the whisper of the wind in the trees, the “Crunch Crunch” of a toast. Ann Rand collects all those loud and quiet, happy and scary sounds and turns them into beautiful, rhythmic rhymes. Paul Rand accompanies the words with simple, striking (paper cut) forms, bright primary colours and funny little details. Such as the hammer next to the piggybank (Sparschwein/spaarvarken): nothing happens at the end (the hammer is used for building) but in your imagination you can hear the clattering sound of the breaking porcelain pig! But the best sound is….wait! Read, no: LISTEN YOURSELF!   But the noise I like the very best is early morning before sunrise because then (when I keep my eyes tigth shut) I can hear the world wake up. It´s a wonderful mixed-up sound. From far and near From air and ground it comes from all …

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_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…

MAKI:minimag_DOT. The happy mag for creative kids

DOT. kids magazine #2

Published by patricia

Here is the second of our series on creative kids magazines. The first one was the french magazine Georges. Today we travel to England, where DOT comes from. DOT is the new, quite lovely magazine by the publishers of the famous kids magazine Anorak (we will feature that one soon too – promised!:) It is designed for toddlers. DOT is not just the name of the magazine but also the name of its main character who carries in his head all that is needed to solve any problem. The magazine’s first issue, focusses on the theme of shapes and includes stories, games and activities, all written and edited by Cathy Olmedillas and beautifully illustrated by Anorak’s chief designer Anna Dunn. Guest illustrators include Jon Boam, Lauren Humphrey and Andres Lozano. You can buy a copy of the first issue of DOT magazine here. Like this:Like Loading…

MAKI:minimag_Die blaue 2_detail

Pop Up Art 2

Published by patricia

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

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_ABC der Tiere_Piatti

ABC der Tiere – Animal ABC

Published by patricia

When I stood in the bookshop lately I saw a book. And I suddenly had this memory flashback: me, as a little kid, sitting on a small striped couch, book on the lap, watching these impressive drawings of animals… lots of black lines …strong colours… a kind of intensity and strangeness about them. I am talking about Celestino Piatti´s Animal ABC. What a picture book classic! I will try to find the original book at my parents house. But in the meantime I took some photographs of the new edition (Nord Süd, 2015) at the bookshop. Celestino Piatti (1922-1907) was a Swiss graphic designer, painter and book designer. He illustrated some very famous children’s book, as “The happy owls”. He achieved international success as a designer for the Deutsche Taschenbuch Verlag (DTV). The Animal’s ABC, with its colour intensive, black outline style dates from 1965. It was published just two years after Maurice Sendak´s children´s book classic “Where the wild things are”.         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_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 …

MAKI:minimag_Atop a hill...by Daniel Frost

Atop a hill in Frostville

Published by patricia

↓ Scroll down for Dutch/German version! A book without words. Is that possible?!? Yes, it is – as Daniel Frost, a young, London based illustrator proves. His first children´s book is called „Atop a hill in Frostville“ and is a wordless story. A boy and his dog wake up on a sunny morning and go on a walk through town. This is the beginning of a long, adventurous chase! Every page bristles with visual energy and humour, extraordinary and exaggerated characters, inventive street scenes and colourful details. For hours you can look, laugh, discover and invent stories….   Daniel Frosts style is modern and fresh, with a nod to 1950/60ies illustrations and their limited colour palette. Using watercolour paint, crayons and collage and a simplified imagery he creates quirky and funny worlds and characters. Inspired by the strangeness of everyday life.  For little ones and grown ups!  More of Daniel Frost and his current work here. Atop a hill in Frostville is published by Little Otsu, Portland.   Een boek zonder woorden. Is dat mogelijk? Ja, is het – …