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| Elsa Beskow |
| Floris Books |
| 0863155847 |
| Feb 2007 |
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One of the founders of Swedish children’s literature, Elsa Beskow reported drawing joint influence for her work from her own childhood experience and from the fairytales and folklore told to her by her grandmother. Floris books who have not only brought these classics of European children's literature to the English market, have now made one of her classic picture books “Pelle’s new suit” available in a new mini book format, meanings it affordability makes this treasure of translated literature, accessible to many...
Extended across from the baseline of the animal provider – the sheep with his wool – Pelle must exchange his own skills, trade and time to acquire the assistance needed by others in this picture books that operates as a child’s externalised sense of social conscience. Roles in society, and the need to utilise our own abiities to gain access to the skills base of those surrounding us makes this a perennially valuable tale. Experience for Pelle placed in a Christian context as the newly made blue suit is completed just in time for Sunday. A sweet little picture book whose subtle Christian message does not overshadow its imperative for social adeptness through the meeting of our needs and desires. Clear naturalistic illustrations make this book as fresh today as upon initial publication in the early 20th Century. Look out for “The Sun Egg”, another of Beskow’s classic picture books made available in miniature format by Floris books, whereby the woodland community pontificate over the possible background and nature to the sun egg. The reality of this being something much more commonplace and the mystery weaved around it and the mythical and magical overtures cast around it make this a delightful and unexpected picture book.
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Picture Books: April 2007 Archives
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| Carl Norac, ill. Mei Matsuoka |
| Macmillan |
| 1405021896 |
| Feb 2007 |
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An internalised fear of a solipsistic existence whereby only her own fears and turmoils delineate her character is in danger of verification through external stimuli as Salsa the goat finds herself unable to sleep or to gain solace from those around her... The edginess of this dark subject is made more comfortable by the softened, idealised naturalistic illustrations that Mei Matsuoka lends the work.
Unable to sleep, Salsa finds herself anxious made anxious by her inability to waken any of the other sleeping animals. Tiring of making so much her exertions, Salsa seeks a different place to sleep and eventually recruits the aid of Cork, a passing sheep who she believes will have soporific effect if jumping a fence! Unable to assist, Salsa eventually requests a story from her mum who starts with one that is too exciting, moves on to another that is too funny, to a third that is too scary. Salsa decides there is nothing for it other than to tell her mother the type of story that would be ideal, in so doing… she begins… to feel… a little sleepy… The ability to find rest and relaxation was within her all along. A sensitive and touching picture book where story and illustration move towards peaceable slumber.
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| Peter Stam, ill Jutta Bauer |
| Wingedchariot Press |
| 1905341040 |
| Nov 2006 |
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Three generations experiment with coexistence in “When we lived in Uncle’s Hat”, together trying out life lived in numerous different locations. The first of these is the house with blue lights, where the sun was so hot the curtains had to be kept closed and the smell of lilac permeated from outside.
Moving through an increasingly outlandish range of abodes, the family spend time living in the forest, in Aunty’s violin and in Uncle’s hat. The real skill of this picture book is the way its characters are depicted with such minute detail through the situations in which they are encountered. There is no dialogue within the book and yet it is hard not to feel an intimate warmth and closeness to them, evidenced by Grandpa, whom when they live in the church yard feels sad every time that they bury somebody. Exploring change and the means employed for acceptance, this is a reflective and contemplative book that succeeds in taking its readers ‘outside time’ to experience and appreciate the ways our senses act as keys to unlock particular memories and the means via which the places we live in comes to be made home. Soulful pattern and resolve is reached by the end of the novel as ‘now our house has four corners. And out year has four seasons. We moved here four years ago…’
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