It’s Friday, and I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend (in amidst all my chores, that is). I have always been a firm believer in picture books as a great way to relax, especially if time and energy are in short supply, and I thought I would share my favorite author/illustrator.
David Wiesner is first and foremost an amazing illustrator. But the thing that stands out most about his books is probably his bizarre sense of humor. In his books, clouds become schools of fish, fish take pictures of each other underwater, and the three pigs have postmodern adventures beyond the pages of their story.
I am not familiar with all of Wiesner’s work (I’ve been rationing it so there will always be something new to surprise me), but I can speak to some of his books.
Flotsam is his most recent publication, and it won the Caldecott Medal this year. One look inside and you will see why. A boy finds an old camera washed up on the beach. He gets the film developed, and the pictures he sees amaze him - fish swimming past the camera, octupi in armchairs, etc. And finally, a progression of pictures of children holding up pictures of other children, which makes it clear that this camera has been travelling the seas for years. Wiesner’s imagination is captivating, and the pictures are breathtaking.
Posted by akdmyers
