Inspiration: Agata Krolak

Well, I can't believe it! Four years online and I've never mentioned the wonderful work of Polish visual artist, illustrator and graphic designer Agata Krolak... Where have I been???

Wherever you are, stop what you're doing and dive into her rich and colourful art portfolio here or here. Needless to say, I would love a copy of her brand new children's book Workin' Teddies:

 Love!

Das Kind und die Katze

Das Kind Und Die Katze

Written by Ingrid Bacher and illustrated by Rotraut Susanne Berner

Perfect for Colour My Monday, don't you think?

I hope you enjoy looking at the rest of the book here

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Along A Long Road

Miles had two favourite English books up until yesterday.

Richard McGuire's Night Becomes Day  and Christoph Niemann's Subway have pride of place in his bookcase (along with many a Dr Seuss and Dennis Lee poems, I hasten to add). The visual and lyrical appeal is obvious. Miles likes his rhymes (to his mum's delight) and although he is only just starting to read in French, he knows these easy-to-read stories off by heart, and was proud to take them to school to show them to his friends.

 And now he has another one to share - award-winning artist and designer Frank Viva's first children's book "Along A Long Road". After seeing it on Ohdeedoh a few ago I thought I'd order it to put away for Miles for Christmas. However when it arrived yesterday, I knew I couldn't wait.

See the road?

There it goes!

From page to page

Without a break

We've read the story over and over,

Following the lone cyclist's ride from cover to cover,

Tracing his journey on the shiny yellow track,

Up and down, in and out, through and around.

Along A Long Road

A new favourite

A must-have

For young and old alike!

(c'est même mieux qu'une nouvelle toupie Beyblade selon Miles...)

Are You Sitting Comfortably?

Then I'll begin...

A sweet idea from Catherine Szpilkwska 

(which obviously reminds me of this)

A pillow book that doubles up as a little bed

Recline or Read?

That is the question.

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Kalimagier

Etymology may not be your cup of tea but as a former translator living in a foreign country, it's something that's of interest to me, and something that I like to talk about with my children. Kalimagier, co-published by Les Editions Ricochet in France and Lazhari Labter Editions in Algeria, is  a perfect way of introducing children to the evolution of languages. 

Qahoua - Café

My children are bilingual (French / English) - two languages, two cultures - I believe this enriches their lives. I'm tempted to say that the whole family is trilingual because we've also invented our own "dialect", a mish-mash of both languages, "franglais".

 Al-Roubaâ - Arobase

Kalimagier presents one hundred words in French and Arabic, clearly showing from which language the word originates as well as giving help on pronunciation. Quoton becomes Coton, Zarafa - Girafe, Canapé - Kanabi...

Rouement - Roulma

Of course I wouldn't be telling you about this beautiful book if you had to have a perfect grasp of French or Arabic. Kalimagier is a picture book, superbly illustrated by Marie Mahler, whose work I've mentioned before. The colours are splendid and every page is a delight, frameable in fact! It's most certainly worth the 17 Euros I spent at Christmas!

 Amir al-Bahr - Amiral

This a lovely book for children and adults alike. It's clear, intelligent and richly illustrated. We all love it and I think it deserves greater recognition - hopefully it will make its way onto your bookshelves ?!

Kalimagier by Lazhari Labter, Nadia Roman and Marie Mahler

Available here, here and other good bookstores (K&C maybe?)

A nice overview of Marie's illustrations here

Etsy Find: The King's 6th Finger

  

I think my little Miles would enjoy this! 

The King's 6th Finger (...)  is a tale about a King named Mortimer who is obsessed with the number 5. He has 5 towers on his castle, 5 moats around it, 5 knights on 5 horses, 5 queens, 5 servants, 5 meals... he's obsessed! Until one day, from his five-legged chair, he looks down at his hand and discovers that he's grown a 6th finger!  

Made possible thanks to the funding platform for creative projects, Kickstarter.com, The King's 6th Finger is the first collaborative effort between Jolby and Rachel Roelke. You can buy it from their etsy store here.

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Tana Hoban

A vintage classic!

I love these books.

Push, Pull, Empty, Full by Tana Hoban

Going, going, gone!

Etsy Find - Circus Time

 

 

Drawing The Circus For Young Artists, Mary Black Diller, 1960

 

 Good Morning!

Let's kick off today with some circus-themed inspiration (yes, I love it !)

A fun vintage children's book which I'm sure will appeal to young and old alike.

Could This Be Heaven?

Pages and pages of beautiful vintage children's illustrations
Golly Gosh!
Thank you idiapict!

Eleonora Arroyo

Les Précieuses Ridicules

Argentinan artist/illustrator Eleonora Arroyo has one of the nicest websites I've ever come across. Her portfolio of published and unpublished works is full of colourful treasures, just waiting for you to explore.

I love everything about this Buenos Aires-based artist's illustrations. I love her use of colour and the playful, theatrical nature of her collages and compositions. She makes me smile and I'm sure that her children's books are magical.

Todo en Tren - available here

If I had to choose a favourite piece of work it would be her little theatres. Aren't they beautiful? Eleonora has made lots of them, which you can see on her blog.

The Magic Flute

Waiting For Godot

Othello

Why don't you have a go at making some with your children or students? Choose a favourite story, nursery rhyme or play and let their imagination do the rest. I'm sure Eleonora would love to see some photos... Enjoy!

Eleonora Arroyo
Blog
Flickr

Robert Frank Hunter

Illustration from "People I Remember, Places I Don't"

Bristol-based illustrator Robert Frank Hunter's books would make lovely, affordable gifts for children. I discovered his work via the Here Gallery, where he is currently exhibiting with John McNaught, and was immediately drawn to his "Square Collections".

Fancy Dress

Bearly Warm

"Fancy Dress" and "Bearly Warm" were both self-published by Robert and printed by Doveton Press. They cost £5 each and can be purchased via Robert's site.