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.

Doug Salati

Words with Wings and Magic Things,  poetry by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Doug Salati,  the creator of the 2023 Caldecott Medal-winning picture book, 'Hot Dog'. 

"I want the pictures to be a little catalyst for kids to see that writing poems and drawing pictures is a way to transport yourself to and create new worlds, and to have a lot of fun. It’s something that you can do anytime." Doug Salati.

Monique Partridge I

 

This illustration style is almost like vintage printed fabric toy patterns and thus has a strangely appealing simplicity, these precise illustrations are from Monique Partridge's  Child Education Quarterly, published in Spring 1962. 

Gaynor Chapman II

 

In the 1960's Gaynor Chapman (1935-2000) was commissioned to produce posters for London Transport and created these rich tapestries of various highlights of London to visit.

Gaynor Chapman I

'The Fooling of King Alexander', written by Mervyn Skipper, illustrated by Gaynor Chapman. Published in 1967 by Hamish Hamilton. Gaynor Chapman (1935-2000) attended the Epsom School of Art, Kingston School of Art and went on to study illustration and graphics at the RCA in the early 1950’s. She illustrated many books and did many advertising campaigns. Her style often incorporated bold black outlines.