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is by Axel Scheffler for "Pip and Posy - the Snowy Day" (2012). It has snowed here in Bungay! So I'm off with my hat and mittens to have some fun. Scheffler is one our most beloved illustrators (and Authors), bringing colour, bonkers joy to many a book!

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2019-01-30

is by Angela Barrett, for "The Snow Queen" (retold Lewis, after Anderson,1988). Bitterly cold here in Suffolk, but no snow. I adore Angela. Genius, wonderful artist, living legend. I look at this elegant, exhilarating illustration & think "Whooosh!"

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2019-01-24

is by Sybille von Olfers, for The Story of the Snow Children (1906). Von Olfers was a German nun who also taught art and created books with charming, art nouveau illustrations and imaginative tales.

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2019-01-20

is by Elsa Beskow, for "Ollie's Ski Trip" (1909). Beskow was a Swedish author/illustrator, whose charmingly eccentric & curious stories must surely have inspired Swedish speaking Finn Tove Jansson. In this story Ollie meets Jack frost and King Winter.

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2019-01-19

is by Jill Barklem for "Winter Story", part of the Brambly Hedge series (1980). Beloved, cherished little books, fully of exquisite detail and superb observation. Who wouldn't want to be cosy indoors, by a fire, on a wintry day like today?

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2019-01-14

is another fab Snow Queen by another little known Czech illustrator - Jan Marcin Szancer (Anderson's fairy tales, 1961). Sweeping movement, delicate line & gentle colour invite us in - it's a beautifully accessible image - but a dark horizon threatens!

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2019-01-12

There really can only be one possible person for today - John Burningham, whose death was announced yesterday. Experimental, innovative, daring; beautiful, astonishing, heartfelt. An inspirational giant. Here's a wintry scene from "Granpa" (1984)...

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2019-01-08

is by Armin Greder for The Island (2002). A powerful parable about mistrust, gossip, fake news, fear, lies, rumour & blame - triggered by the arrival of a refugee. Sums up 2018 to me, alas. An important book. I hope 2019 brings better things for us all!

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2018-12-31

its by Ursula Moray Williams for her "The Good Little Christmas Tree" (1943). Best known for Gobbolino, Williams also wrote this Christmas classic & illustrated it too, in bold, graphic images, using scissors! Later editions were in black/red only.

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2018-12-23

is by Molly Brett for "Robin finds Christmas" (1960). Gentle, charming watercolour illustrations that even in the 60s looked appealingly nostalgic, and which proved hugely popular in both her own books and in the blossoming greetings card market.

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2018-12-20

is by Jan Marcin Szancer - one more Nutcracker from 1951 (ETA Hoffmann version). Szanceer was a polish illustrator and set designer. I love the soft sugary, gingerbready, biscuity feel to this gentle, dreamy but bonkers vision of the Land of Sweets!

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2018-12-16

is by Artus Scheiner for Hoffmann's "Nutcracker & the Mouse King" (1924). Here it's Marie, not Clara, carried across a lake of pink lemonade to a marzipan palace, by a tiny nutcracker. The ballet wasn't yet popular; this is the original story...

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2018-12-13

is by Graham Oakley for The Church Mice (1972), a tale about Arthur the mouse and Samson the cat, and part of a popular series. Lots of details for children to pore over in these books...

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2018-11-29

is by Lisbeth Zwerger for her retelling of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake (trans. Martens, 2002). A typically spare, haunting and surreal interpretation by this extraordinary artist, who says so much with incredible restraint and subtlety. Lunar and liquid...

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2018-11-17

is by for his own story, "Camille and the Sunflowers" (1994), a moving true tale of Vincent van Gogh. Anholt's graceful, dreamlike illustrations are colourful yet melancholy. One of an excellent series about the lives of great artists.

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2018-11-08

is by Maurice Sendak for Alec Wilder's song setting of R.L. Stevenson's "Windy Nights", in "Lullabies & Night Songs" (1965). Stevenson's wild & wonderful words are beautifully matched in Sendak's sweeping line work. A rare & truly favourite book of mine!

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2018-10-28

is by Arnold Lobel (my hero) for Miriam Young's "Miss Suzy" (1964). Was there ever a more adorable, beady eyed little mouse? Line, colour, mood... All combine to perfection. And such character too.

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2018-10-23