I awoke to find a new interview in Cordella Magazine with The Innocence Mission‘s Karen Peris, in which she talks about the band’s history, recent work, and future plans (including plans for new albums!)
She also says this, which made me stop and think:
As a reader of poems, I have most often been touched by poems that are visual, that get at something true, but leave a lot of space for the reader to imagine and connect. So that is always my goal for what I write, in spite of how unattainable it may seem.
Recently, I’ve been looking at a lot of photography of undersea life. Anne has a magnificent book of vivid imagery of creatures no sci-fi movie could have imagined, and they are sparking new storytelling ideas for me. Somehow it doesn’t surprise me that Peris’s evocative lyrics are inspired by image-focused poetry. Pictures speak more powerfully than messages.
She then goes on to talk about her favorite picture books:
Laura Carlin and Beatrice Alemagna are two illustrators I love. One daydream I have is to make a children’s book, so I work on that sometimes.
That has me asking a question I don’t think I’ve ever asked at Looking Closer: What are your favorite children’s books when it comes to illustrations? Share some recommendations in the Comments, and I’ll come back later this week with some recommendations of my own.
In the meantime, here’s Karen singing a song that conjures all kinds of images from my childhood of reading and dreaming…
Marla Frazee’s illustrations in “Seven Silly Eaters,” our family favorite.
A few favorites, for the illustrations….
A SICK DAY FOR AMOS McGEE illustrated by Erin E. Stead. An old man’s animal friends from the zoo visit him at his house when he has a cold.
WHY MOSQUITOES BUZZ IN PEOPLE’S EARS illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. Vibrant, animated images of an African folk tale that had a big influence on me as a child. I still have my worn copy signed by the author (Verna Aardema).
NOAH’S ARK by Peter Spier. Best adaptation of this story ever rendered.
JOURNEY by Aaron Becker. First part of a trilogy of books, but this is the first and the best one.
THE SECRET OF THE STONE FROG by David Nytra. A graphic novel that is like Miyazaki meets Lewis Carroll meets Winsor McCay, complete with giant rabbits, a mysterious train station, and the “Bee Lady.”
DU IZ TAK? by Carson Ellis. A story about bugs, seasons and rebirth, told in a complete gibberish language.
HOME also by Carson Ellis. A poetic exploration of different kinds of homes, and who lives in them.
THE TEA PARTY IN THE WOODS by Akiko Miyakoshi. A girl delivering a pie for her grandma walks through the woods and encounters a curious party of animals.
THE WAY HOME IN THE NIGHT also by Akiko Miyakoshi. Beautiful, haunting poetic book of a rabbit child wondering about the others he sees through windows on the walk home.
JAMES IN THE HOUSE OF AUNT PRUDENCE by Timothy Bush. A boy visits his aunt, a bear randomly shows up, and evil mice, monkeys & monsters attack. I’m not making this up.
PANDORA by Victoria Turnbull. A fox lives by herself in a garbage heap of forgotten things. A bird shows up and changes everything.
THE LISZTS illustrated by Julia Sarda. A family of eccentrics who spend all of their time writing lists are encountered by a very mysterious visitor.
MIRACLE MAN – The Story of Jesus by John Hendrix. The words of Jesus are brought to life in wonderful ways that become part of the illustrations themselves.
JULIA’S HOUSE FOR LOST CREATURES by Ben Hatke. Julia lives in a traveling house on the back of a giant tortoise, and by the sea, opens up her home to a menagerie of monsters and things.
Anything by Chris Van Allsburg, in particular JUMANJI, THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK, PROBUDITI!, THE WIDOW’S BROOM and THE GARDEN OF ABDUL GASAZI.
Anything by Maurice Sendak, in particular THE SIGN ON ROSIE’S DOOR, IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN, THE NUTSHELL LIBRARY, OUTSIDE OVER THERE, HIGGELTY PIGGLETY POP!, and of course WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE.
Morris’ Disappearing Bag – Rosemary Wells. Absolutely hilarious text and pictures.
Over at Story Warren, we put together this list of beautiful books. So many good ones on there…
http://www.storywarren.com/a-beautiful-book-list/
Enter – my board dedicated to the Provensons and Aliki – https://www.pinterest.com/toddfadel/prove-it-provensens-until-aliki/