Annu Kilpeläinen: Evolution. A Colouring Book

February 17, 2015, 9:56 am

If you read my blog regularly you will know that I post solely about books I really like. Some books however I like even more than others. This is one of those very special books. It's a colouring book obviously and the subject is "Evolution". What we find inside is nothing less than the concept of natural selection and the evolution of life, from sea creatures via dinosaurs to mammals and humans. The bold and alive illustrations, which work in brilliant bright colours and black & white alike, are by London-based Finnish illustrator Annu Kilpeläinen. Besides the dynamic colouring pictures there are flaps to lift, die cut holes and stencils as well as an experiment with step-by-step pictures to engage the little ones and their parents. I really enjoyed going through this with my science excited 7 year old. "Evolution" has been published by London book publisher Cicada Books, founded in 2009 by Ziggi Hanaor and specialised in high-end art and design books.

To purchase a copy of "Evolution" click here or here. Another book by Annu Kilpeläinen is in the works and will be published in September by Cicada Books as well.

Annu Kilpeläinen: Evolution. A Colouring Book, ISBN 978-1-908714-16-9, Cicada Books 2014

Take a look at this great zine as well, printed by Tan&Loose.

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Nadav Weisman: 2nd Date

February 24, 2015, 8:44 am

≫ Next: Fine Fine Stuff

≪ Previous: Annu Kilpeläinen: Evolution. A Colouring Book

Last week I got mail from Israel and I'm very delighted to show you a really charming comic book today. The illustrator is Nadav Weisman, living and working in Haifa. "2nd Date" is his first comic. It is meant for Hebrew readers and therefore told from right to left. I like the surprising perspectives Nadav Weisman used to illustrate daily activities like showering or teeth brushing and his way to zoom in and out of the scenery. The reduced colour palette and the "costumes" are aimed to reflect a nostalgic atmosphere inspired by the 1950s and 1960s. The comic contains five pages with panels and is wrapped with a black & white banderole. The illustrations are drawn with soft oil pastels and pencils. To find out more about Nadav Weisman's work take a look at his portfolio and flickr. Purchase a copy or one of his beautiful prints via ArtRebels.

Nadav Weisman: 2nd Date

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Fine Fine Stuff

February 26, 2015, 11:44 pm

≫ Next: Tate Publishing

≪ Previous: Nadav Weisman: 2nd Date

I'm very excited about 1.000 followers on facebook today! Thanks so much!

Last month I decided to give Instagram a chance as well. Want to follow me over there? Please this way! It'll be fun!

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Tate Publishing

March 16, 2015, 12:39 am

≫ Next: Jürgen Partenheimer

≪ Previous: Fine Fine Stuff

Browsing the webshop of Tate Gallery Publishing today. There are a lot of fine books to choose from. I will show you my favourites. Here it goes to their children's books.

Gérard Lo Monaco: Madame Sonia Delaunay, Tate Publishing

Mark Godfrey: Alighiero Boetti - Gameplan, Tate Publishing

Matisse (Tate Introductions), Tate Publishing

Francesco Manacroda: Mondiran & His Studios: Colour & Space, Tate Publishing

Ann Temkin: Colour Chart: Reinventing Colour 1950 to Today, Tate Publishing

All images: www.tate.org.uk

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Jürgen Partenheimer

March 23, 2015, 10:26 am

≫ Next: Fani Marceau / Joelle Jolivet: Wo bist du?

≪ Previous: Tate Publishing

Today I'm happy to show you these beautiful artists' books and paintings by Jürgen Partenheimer. Last year Partenheimer's work, including books, sculptures, paintings and works on paper, has been presented at the Pinakothek der Moderne here in Munich. He is among the most renowned German contemporary artists. His work has been widely shown internationally. In 1994 Partenheimer was part of the exhibition "A century of Artists' Books" at the Museum of Modern Art. He also was the first German contemporary artist to receive a retrospective at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Beijing in 2000.

Jürgen Partenheimer: Sure enough Mr. Who, 1990

Jürgen Partenheimer: Y Queda El Negro, 2000

Jürgen Partenheimer: Folded Spirits, 2012

Jürgen Partenheimer: Die Kunst schnalzt mit der Zunge, 1981

Jürgen Partenheimer: A la reveuse matiere, 2002

Jürgen Partenheimer: Dürer, Duchamp, Joyce and friends, 1980

Galerie Onrust, Amsterdam

Seven Virtues, 2011, oil and pencil on canvas, Galerie Onrust

La Fortune, 2012, oil on canvas, Galerie Onrust

Images: www.juergenpartenheimer.de, www.galerieonrust.nl

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Fani Marceau / Joelle Jolivet: Wo bist du?

April 9, 2015, 3:22 am

≫ Next: Die KinderTSeitung

≪ Previous: Jürgen Partenheimer

"Wo bist du?" has originally been published in French by helium in 2012 ("Dans le livre"), in 2014 in English by Chronicle Books ("In this Book") and finally in German by Aladin last month. This picture book tells not a single story, instead the short repetitive lines under each picture invite to all kinds of stories, always answering to the question "Where are you?" - "I'm in the tunnel, said the train. I'm in the apricot, said the pit. I'm in the forest, said the wolf." Children always want to know about their place in the world, don't they? So this book is a good starter to show them how even the tiniest thing has its place in a larger world. The last page features a dad with his son - and there is the answer: "And me (where I am?), I am in your arms". With 67 answers there is a lot to discover and it's not boring at all to look at the wonderful drawings by Joelle Jolivet. My 4 year old told me his favourite pages: the one with the spider, the tiger and the plane. Good taste, son.

Fani Marceau and Joelle Jolivet worked together as well at "Bei Tag und bei Nacht" (Vues d'ici). I'm also a huge fan of Joelle Jolivet's pinguins books (together with Jean-Luc Fromental).

Fani Marceau/Joelle Jolivet: Wo bist du?, Aladin 2014, €16.90, ISBN 978-3-8489-0064-0

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Die KinderTSeitung

April 22, 2015, 2:41 am

≫ Next: Britta Teckentrup: Alle Wetter

≪ Previous: Fani Marceau / Joelle Jolivet: Wo bist du?

The Kindertseitung (children's paper) is a non-profit project by German graphic designer Daria Holme and in its fifth year now. You find the Tseitung in selected stores or you can order it online. It is not sold for little money at the supermarket and it is not as colourful as the common children's magazines. What you get are 52 pages full of creative ideas. The Kindertseitung is self-published twice a year, it comes with a colouring poster, sticker or booklet and without any advertising. Each issue is dedicated to a special theme like Water,Alphabet, Red, Night, Danger etc. and each spread is designed by a different artist, graphic designer, photographer or illustrator, all of whom don't get any money for their contributions. The theme of the next issue is always published online in advance, so anyone can send in a contribution proposal!

All images:Die Kindertseitung

Read the interview with Daria Holme at Frozenbanana. All the artists are listed here, among them Jan von Holleben, Mirthe Blussé, Julia Schenk, Mareike Engelke (to name a few ...). To order the Kindertseitung click here!

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Britta Teckentrup: Alle Wetter

May 21, 2015, 5:13 am

≫ Next: Gérard Lo Monaco: Die kleine Welt aus Papier

≪ Previous: Die KinderTSeitung

I planned to make a blogpost about one of Britta Teckentrup's many beautiful books for a long while now. When I saw her new book published by Jacoby & Stuart I knew this one I'll have to show you. "Alle Wetter" is a very special non-fiction picture book about weather phenomenons. With 160 pages there is a lot of weather inside: thunderstorms and cloudbursts, summerrains, mist and hailstorms, the book shows and explains the weather by night and day, all year round. It is not a typical children's book and it looks more like a thick exhibition catalogue with carefully selected paintings by the artist. As Britta Teckentrup says in the preface this book owes a lot to Tizian, Turner, C. D. Friedrich, Monet, van Gogh, Hockney. The text is perfect to read out for (pre)school kids and the atmospheric paintings are a pleasure to watch for adults and kids alike.

Britta Teckentrup studied illustration and fine arts in London. After 17 years in the UK she returned to Germany to live and work in Berlin with her family. Visit her website to explore her many other books which have been published in over 20 different countries ... I especially like her "24-Stunden-Wimmelbücher".

Britta Teckentrup: Alle Wetter, Jacoby & Stuart 2015, €24,95, ISBN 978-3-942787-52-9

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Gérard Lo Monaco: Die kleine Welt aus Papier

June 17, 2015, 7:50 am

≫ Next: Catarina Sobral: Aschimpa

≪ Previous: Britta Teckentrup: Alle Wetter

"This is the best book in the world!" That's what my 4 year old said when he looked at Die kleine Welt aus Papier today. So Gérard Lo Monaco seems to have done everything right with this pop-up book. It is indeed very special and a great pleasure to explore. Browsing this book feels a bit like opening a toy box. Inside you'll find old-style toys like a red fire truck or a sailing ship. Each page is given a storyline "spoken" by a young child. So there is a lot of "Tuff, tuff, tuff!" when the tractor passes by and the elephant comes along with some "Stomp, stomp!". At the end all toys are scattered across the room and the child says goodnight promising to pick them up the next day ... The French original (Le Livre des Jouets de Papier) has been published by hélium in 2014, the German edition followed this year published by Gestalten. Watch out for their English version here!

Gérard Lo Monaco is an Argentinian illustrator, art director, and paper engineer living in Paris. In his newest book he converted Sonia Delauney's paintings into paper pop-up illustrations. Take a look!

Gérard Lo Monaco: Die kleine Welt aus Papier, €19.95, Kleine Gestalten 2015, ISBN 978-389955-745-9

Video by Silvia Pat

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Catarina Sobral: Aschimpa

October 16, 2015, 1:54 am

≫ Next: Carmen Chica / Manuel Marsol: O Tempo Do Gigante

≪ Previous: Gérard Lo Monaco: Die kleine Welt aus Papier

Two beautiful children's books landed in my postbox last week both illustrated by Catarina Sobral. The first one I want to show you is "Aschimpa" ("Achimpa" in Portuguese) which has been published first in 2012 by Orfeu Negro. Now it's finally available in German thanks to Knesebeck. As with all children's books I did a test with my youngest. And it's one of those read-it-again-Mum books, which means he likes it a lot. The story starts with the discovery of the ancient, long forgotten word "Aschimpa". Once discovered the word spread like a wildfire, everyone started to use it, first as averb, thenas an adjective, and finally as aPerlinzium, another word no one knew what it was good for... So there is a lot of puzzling and fun playing with words inside. Sobral's illustrations are bold and very charming with a lot of unique characters and details to detect. Take a look here for another award-winning picture book by Catarina Sobral.

Catarina Sobral: Aschimpa. Das geheimnisvolle Wort, Knesebeck Verlag 2015, €14.95, ISBN 978-3-86873-797-4

Here's the wonderful book trailer by Catarina Sobral:

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Carmen Chica / Manuel Marsol: O Tempo Do Gigante

November 2, 2015, 11:41 pm

≫ Next: Catarina Sobral: A Casa Que Voou

≪ Previous: Catarina Sobral: Aschimpa

Today I read in the publisher's newsletter that "O Tempo Do Gigante" has been awarded at the Comic Festival Amadora BD in the category Best Children's Book Illustration! I have to admit I was a bit sceptical when I first saw the cover and booktrailer. I couldn't classify the book's style. But the deeper I delve into it the more I loved it. "The Giant's Time"is a very poetic and atmospheric picturebook. It's about the passage of time, about memory and the little things that happen around us without us noticing it. Kids might miss the storyline. The text says again and again that nothing happens. That's not exactly what children want to hear ... Nonetheless this book draws the reader under its spell by its sensitive illustrations and slow pace. Look at the clouds, the growing tree on the giant's head and the little details together with the different angles the giant is shown up close and in the distance! Just brilliant.

Carmen Chica / Manuel Marsol: O Tempo Do Gigante, Orfeu Negro 2015, € 14.90, ISBN 9789898327574

Manuel Marsol's illustrations have also been awarded by the Iberoamerican Catalogue of Illustration. More about the Spanish illustrator here and here. "O Tempo Do Gigante" is his second picture book. It has been published by Portuguese publishing house Orfeu Negro in July. Take a look at their catalogue with some of the finest illustrators worldwide.

Here Manuel Marsol talks about the creation of his great debut "Ahab y la Ballena Blanca" (published by Edelvives in Spanish, in Portuguese by Orfeu Negro in 2016).

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Catarina Sobral: A Casa Que Voou

November 8, 2015, 10:51 pm

≫ Next: Nadav Weisman: The Morning Walk

≪ Previous: Carmen Chica / Manuel Marsol: O Tempo Do Gigante

One more by Catarina Sobral: "A Casa Que Voou" is her newest book together with author Davide Cali. It has been published recently by Bruaá in Portuguese. Its charming, subtle story is about a house that flew away one day and a man, the owner of the house, who wandered from the fire department via the police to the civil aviation department searching for help and finally arrived at the countryside. There his house has found its new place. "I never thought it could be nice to have a country house", the man said at the end when he took the key to go inside. All pictures are drawn with crayons and pencil. The colour range is limited to red, blue, yellow and grey. What I like most about this book beside of the limited colour range is that browsing it almost feels like scrolling through original drawings, almost as if the pencil could rub off.

Take a look here and here as well!

Catarina Sobral/Davide Cali: "A Casa Que Voou", Bruaá Editora 2015, €14.00, ISBN 978-989-8166-27-2

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Nadav Weisman: The Morning Walk

November 30, 2015, 3:20 am

≫ Next: Anna Kövecses: One Thousand Things

≪ Previous: Catarina Sobral: A Casa Que Voou

Mail from Israel! Which came together with some additional information in English ... fortunately, because this book is in Hebrew (and told from right to left). The words are originally by A. A. Milne and translated by Jacob Orland. Milne is best known for his famous "Winnie-the-Pooh" series whose two parts were first published in 1926 and 1928. Also in the 1920ies Milne wrote two books with little poems for his son ("When We Were Young" and "Now We Are Six"). Nadav Weisman chose ten of them for his personal project, a children's poetry book. His light and charming illustrations in pastel colours reflect Milne's vivid poems so nicely. Read the poems and look at the drawings!

The Morning Walk

When Anne and I go out a walk,

We hold each other's hand and talk

Of all the things we mean to do

When Anne and I are forty-two.

When Anne and I go out a walk,

We hold each other's hand and talk

Of all the things we mean to do

When Anne and I are forty-two.

Wind On The Hill

No one can tell me,

Nobody knows,

Where the wind comes from,

Where the wind goes.

Happiness

John had great big waterproof boots on;

John had a great big waterproof hat;

John had a great big waterproof mackintosh —

And that (said John) is that.

In Hebrew Milne's poems were published in the 1950ies. Nadav intended to take up the style of that time with a nostalgic setting and candy colour palette by using colour pencils for his fine strokes and airy shapes.

The reduced colour palette and the "costumes" are aimed to reflect a nostalgic atmosphere inspired by the 1950s and 1960s. - See more at: http://www.finefinebooks.com/2015/02/nadav-weisman-2nd-date.html#sthash.ZtedfUoU.dpuf

I wrote about one of Nadav's books before here!

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Anna Kövecses: One Thousand Things

December 16, 2015, 10:00 am

≫ Next: Madalena Matoso: Klapp auf, klapp zu!

≪ Previous: Nadav Weisman: The Morning Walk

This lovely book is for the youngest, it's perfect for children aged 1 to 3 who are about to build their basic vocabulary though it also could help older kids learn to read their first words. There are seven sections with different spreads showing "Things in nature", "Things that you can do" or "Things inside the house" for instance. Additionally on each spread the kids could search and find a little mouse hiding in the scene.
Personally I never get tired of looking at Anna Kövecses bold and colourful retro-modern illustrations. Her first picture book dedicated to her little daughter is a treasure as well.

Self-taught graphic designer/illustrator Anna Kövecses was born in Hungary. She's currently living in a small seaside village in Cyprus together with her family. Her previous clients include the BBC, The New York Times, and Monocle Magazine.

For me "One Thousand Things" is one of the most beautiful books published in 2015. Here it goes to the German edition.

Anna Kövecses: One Thousand Things, Wide Eyed Editions 2015, GBP £12.99

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Madalena Matoso: Klapp auf, klapp zu!

January 7, 2016, 9:35 am

≫ Next: Antonio Ladrillo

≪ Previous: Anna Kövecses: One Thousand Things

This one has originally been published in Portuguese by the talented people at Planeta Tangerina. And as all their books it is beautiful and special. Today I hold the German edition by Austrian publisher Moritz in my hands. The happy coloured illustrations are by Madalena Matoso. Don't miss her wonderful portfolio and books!

"Livro Clap" (in German: Klapp auf, klapp zu!) is concipated to encourage toddlers to explore the three-dimensional side of a book, to turn pages. By opening and closing the book the people and objects also move: hands are clapping, lips are kissing, a drum is beaten.
This "action" book should definitely be fun for small children. And it doesn't even need batteries.

Madalena Matoso: Klapp auf, klapp zu!, Moritz Verlag, ISBN 978 3 89565 304 9, €12,95

More books by Planeta Tangerina on the blog here, here, here, here ...

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Antonio Ladrillo

March 15, 2016, 3:17 am

≫ Next: Elisa Géhin: Eins, zwei ... und die ganze Welt

≪ Previous: Madalena Matoso: Klapp auf, klapp zu!

I love them all. Children's books by Valencia-based graphic artist/illustrator Antonio Ladrillo. All very colourful and charming. The first one has just been published in French by Editions Notari, it's my favourite. Take a look at his website where you'll find even more adorable creatures.

Mountains/Montagnes, Editions Notari 2016

Colors, Lines & Dots, Editions du Livre 2014

A… Wonderful World!, Apa-Apa 2015

¡Oh! ¡Un zig-zag!, Paga Extra 2012

Being a ghost is cool!, Corners 2014

All images: www.antonioladrillo.com

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Elisa Géhin: Eins, zwei ... und die ganze Welt

April 29, 2016, 12:22 am

≫ Next: MAKI minimag

≪ Previous: Antonio Ladrillo

I found this beautiful children's book today in the public library: "Eins, zwei ... und die ganze Welt" by Elisa Géhin. It has been originally published in 2013 by Les fourmis rouges ("Dans l'ensemble").Take a look at the illustrator's website which is as colourful as her books.

Don't miss Elisa's other picture books like this one or that. And her newest one "Maisons-Maison" published by éditions Thierry Magnier.

Elisa Géhin: Eins, zwei ... und die ganze Welt, Prestel 2015

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MAKI minimag

June 6, 2016, 2:07 am

≫ Next: Catarina Sobral: Tao Tao Grande / So So Big

≪ Previous: Elisa Géhin: Eins, zwei ... und die ganze Welt

The first issue of MAKI minimag is out! I'm glad to be one of the contributors. Want to see more? This way to finefinestuff.com!

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Catarina Sobral: Tao Tao Grande / So So Big

June 22, 2016, 2:51 am

≫ Next: Chloé Perarnau

≪ Previous: MAKI minimag

As you might know I'm a huge fan of Catarina Sobral's picture books. Her newest one has been published in May by Orfeu Negro once again.

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect-like creatur."– that's how Franz Kafka's famous novella "Die Verwandlung" (The Metamorphosis) begins. In "Tao Tao Grande" Samuel woke up to find himself transformed into a gigantic hippopotamus. How could he go to school? He was a hippo! He has a moustache! What was going to happen next?

Most of all I like the many details to discover drawn with quick coloured pencils strokes, the charming story about growing up, the unusual perspectives and the vivid typography. And take a look at the shadows! And the endpapers!

I wrote about Catarina Sobral's award-winning books before here and here and here and ...

Catarina Sobral: Tao Tao Grande, Orfeu Mini 2016, ISBN 978-989-8327-69-7

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Chloé Perarnau

September 30, 2016, 2:14 am

≫ Next: Tana Hoban: Is it red? Is it yellow? Is it blue?

≪ Previous: Catarina Sobral: Tao Tao Grande / So So Big

I'm so in love with her illustrations. Chloe Perarnau is a French illustrator living and working in Belgium for various projects, children's books, editorial press and art workshops. In 2013 she founded the fanzine Cuistax together with Fanny Dreyer and other authors/illustrators. Her newest book "L'Orchestre" has been published in May by L'Agrume. Want to see more? This way!

Chloé Perarnau: Combien de temps?, Actes Sud Junior 2014

Sandrine Le Guen /Chloé Perarnau: Clap Zoom, Actes Sud Junior 2013

Chloé Perarnau: L'Orchestre, L'Agrume 2016

Images: lagrume.org and chloeperarnau.fr

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Tana Hoban: Is it red? Is it yellow? Is it blue?

October 13, 2016, 2:43 am

≫ Next: Evah Fan: Weird View, Weird Few

≪ Previous: Chloé Perarnau

Another fantastic one by Tana Hoban: "Is it red? Is it yellow? Is it blue?" published in 1978. More about the photographer and her books here!

"Opens our eyes to the beauty of everyday objects."

Tana Hoban: Is it red? Is it yellow? Is it blue? A Greenwillow Book 1978

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Evah Fan: Weird View, Weird Few

October 21, 2016, 12:39 am

≫ Next: Saskia Nickles: Cat and Mouse

≪ Previous: Tana Hoban: Is it red? Is it yellow? Is it blue?

Yesterday I was happy to find this beautiful little zine in my postbox. It's by Oakland based artist/illustrator Evah Fan. "Weird View, Weird Few" contains paintings Evah collected in the context of her "Word/Phrased of the Day" project in the beginning of the year as an exercise to marry text and images that she was fond of: "Some words I purely loved for sound, the ring of it, nice to pronounce it out loud. These collected pieces became the main emphasis for my show and now collected in a zine."

Check out her great shop and portfolio and pick up your copy here!

Evah Fan: Weird View, Weird Few, 32 pages, 6 USD

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Saskia Nickles: Cat and Mouse

November 18, 2016, 2:14 am

≫ Next: Mia Cassany / Mikel Casal: Frankfurt, un chucho con estilo

≪ Previous: Evah Fan: Weird View, Weird Few

Huh, this is by myself. Some time ago I made this little booklet for kids aged 2 to 4 which now is available in the shop. It's in A5 and all black and white. The story is about a not so sleepy cat and a clever mouse. Believe me, when the cat faces the mouse every kid gets excited. And of course there's a happy ending for the mouse.

Pick up your copy here. It's ready to be shipped worldwide. There is an 10% opening discount for all products as well. Just enter the code HURRAY at checkout.

Saskia Nickles: Cat and Mouse, A5, 24 p, €8.90, Fine Fine Stuff 2016

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Mia Cassany / Mikel Casal: Frankfurt, un chucho con estilo

November 30, 2016, 1:04 am

≫ Next: Gérard Lo Monaco: Ahoi! Eine Seereise

≪ Previous: Saskia Nickles: Cat and Mouse

Frankfurt is the most refined little dog you could imagine. He drinks his tea without the slightest slurp, he never gobbles and arranges his toys and scarves according to size and colour. But there was one thing that really upset Frankfurt - his name. Nobody would ever take him seriously with a name like that!

This charming book about a clever little dog has been published by Mosquito Books Barcelona, a brandnew independent publishing house with a very fine catalogue. They plan to publish ten books per year all featuring Spanish artists like author Mia Cassany and illustrator Mikel Casal, winner of the 2016 Bologna Ragazzi Non-Fiction Award with "Así es la dictadura".

"Frankfurt, un chucho con estilo" is a really great book to start as a publisher, isn't it? Take a look at their other novelties as well here.

Mia Cassany / Mikel Casal: Frankfurt, un chucho con estilo, Mosquito 2016, ISBN 978-84-939905-9-6

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Gérard Lo Monaco: Ahoi! Eine Seereise

January 20, 2017, 8:45 am

≪ Previous: Mia Cassany / Mikel Casal: Frankfurt, un chucho con estilo

Another amazing pop-up book by Argentinian/French illustrator and renowned paper engineer Gérard Lo Monaco. I already showcased his first pop-up book "The Small Word of Paper Toys" published by Gestalten in 2015 here on this blog. Lo Monaco's latest book "Ahoi! Eine Seereise" (A Sea Voyage) is even more special and outstanding with its nostalgic charme and vivid rhymes. On six three-dimensional pop-up paper designs you'll find a sailing ship, an ocean liner, a rescue vessel, a caravel and pilot boat accompanied by two sailors and a dog. Background details about the ships, their shapes and ranges are included. Perfect for boat loving kids and grown-ups. Published in English by Thames & Hudsons. Pick up your copy in German here. Ahoi!