Colurs, colours, colours and shapes!

This is the kind of video that makes me feel inspired: energy, colours, movement, shapes!

Coldplay - Every Teardrop is A Waterfall

Korean talent

I'm currently trying to write my dissertation about co-editions, but... Yesterday I've decided to have a break while I was in LCC Library and look for some children's books. I came across a wonderful volume collecting the most amazing illustrators' books since... 1890s! I'll share them with you in the next posts, it's something you can't really miss. They were not just simple books, they were real masterpieces, toys, beautifully illustrated and produced.
Stay tuned for more details...

What I'd like to share with you today, while my colleagues are hungrily reading their articles and getting more and more nervous about the dissertation, is Magic Bottles.

Above: The original Korean cover. 

This book was published in 2006 by Jaimimage, a Korean publishing company with a series of amazing highly illustrated children's books.

This is a surprising publication, including not just illustrated pages, but also some unexpected 'guests'... Can you imagine opening a bottle of milk, or soap, or chocolate and find hiding in there a cute animal?! This is what magically happens in this book: turn the bottles and find out who is waiting for you!

The talented illustrator and author behind the scenes is Goh Gyong-sook (b. 1972), who was awarded at Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2006.

Give in to your curiosity and let your imagination guess... Is that soap or an elephant?

Looking forward to... L'Isola

Following last post, I just found out there is an up and coming book published by LOGOS and illustrated by Ana Juan...

L'Isola

Matz Mainka and Ana Juan

Apparently, it's the story of a lighthouse keeper feeling lonely - despite his family - and looking for some relief in the bottle. He falls in love with a wonderful woman, an illusion. This title is supposed to be sensual, raw, mad and upsetting. Of course, there would have been no better choice than the melancholy lines drwan by Ana Juan.

The book will be published in September. Can't wait to flip through its pages!

A stunning Italian publication

During one of my work experiences in London I came across the books published by LOGOS. And this is the book that made me fall in love with their style and list:

Sorelle

Matz Mainka and Ana Juan

Sorelle ('Sisters') is the story of two twins, sharing everything, creating their own personal world where no one is allowed to enter. But then something happens: growing up, meeting the first love, and... 

While turning the pages of this volume you'll be able to experience all the feelings these girls go through, you'll feel the dramatic side of such a close relationship. The story is illustrated by Ana Juan, another unexpected surprise I've found in the book. Her style is so all-involving and bold, and the use of colour is simply perfect, matching dark shadows and spots of bright colours.

I'm not sure there is an English version of this publication, but I'm sure about one thing: This is a book that should not miss from your shelves!

A Stunning Pop-Up

And this is how I'm going to start my blog...

As you can see from my little profile, dear reader, I love children's books' illustrations and pop-up books.
A couple of weeks ago I found myself watching the most amazing video presentation of a stunning book: Il était une fois... by Benjamin Lacombe (Seuil Jeunesse, November 2010). The style of this illustrator is simply wonderful - The lines, the use of colour, the characters and their expressions...

Enjoy this video and this book,

I'm looking forward to have it on my shelf, available any time I want to flip through its pages and explore the fantastic world they hide.