Jan Pyk I

'Nessie the Monster', by Ted Hughes, published in America by The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1974. This was an odd find, as I have Nessie the Mannerless Monster by Ted Hughes illustrated by Gerald Rose, but I was unaware of this other version illustrated by the Swiss illustrator Jan Pyk. Jan Pyk was born in Stockholm, Sweden where he studied graphics. He then worked in advertising for ten years in Stockholm, London, and New York where he settled with his wife  in 1967, and devoted himself to illustrating children's books for Swedish and American publishers.

 

Janet McCaffery I

'The Flower Mother' by Mary Calhoun, illustrated with beautiful fluid line work and bold flat colour by Janet McCaffery, published in 1972. Janet McCaffery trained in Philadelphia and had a career creating children's books.

This book is. an ongoing battle between the hot dry wind and the flower mother. After weeks of horrific fires and destruction in so many countries caused by global warming and  capitalism and fossil fuels it seems a pertinent story, are we allowed to flourish or die? It seems the government and corporations want the latter, they still believe us to be on a world of endless resilience and resources.

Edward Bawden VI

How Animals Move' written by James Gray and illustrated by Edward Bawden, published in 1953. I love Edward Bawden's work but I didn't expect that to extend to technical drawings of animal movement but I thought these charming and fascinating, so as a wee extra today enjoy, mudskippers, snakes and flying squirrels . . . all beautifully rendered in ink, often with stunning water.

Edward Bawden V

I had to feature 'More Good Food' by Ambrose Heath, illustrated by Edward Bawden (1903-1989) and published by Faber & Faber a First Edition 1933, just for this man with his arms full of cabbage, which is just so beautiful.

Hillary Stebbing I

Freddy and Ernest 1946 by Hillary Stebbing (1915-1996). This wonderfully political book two dragons have lived happily in the sleepy village of Wellbottom Poggs for centuries.

All this changes when a property developer called Mr. Hardsnitch turns up. He has persuaded the Council to put Dragonscott, the pretty thatched cottage where our heroes live, up for sale. He intends to buy it and evict them. 

Freddy and Ernest quickly try to make money which they haven't had to do before and aren’t very good at. 

The drama builds up to an auction of Dragonscott at which a man from the Natural History Museum arrives just in time to place the winning bid.

Freddy and Ernest are able to live happily ever after in their home.

Dahlov Ipcar VI

 

The Cat at Night, by Dahlov Ipcar, published in 1969. with clear bold shape, line and colour, Dahlov Ipcar shows us the night world from the cats point of view.