Endpapers an Introduction

Above: Endpaper Butterflies by Hazel Terry

It is all going to go a bit wild and busy here for at least a month, as I lead you down a long and windy path of endpapers, with bursting, busy posts of images and information. 

Rarely do I make a post of more than one artists works, but we are moving into buffet territory! 

Why? Well As a prelude to an 'endpaper' challenge by Monty Lee, which you can all participate in from the 2nd - 8th September on Instagram

The prompts for this challenge are looser than usual to allow for more choice:

                    Prompt 1: A cooking book for kids

                    Prompt 2: A book about gnomes

                    Prompt 3: Choose a fairytale 

                    Prompt 4: A book about butterflies

                    Prompt 5: Choose a nursery rhyme (or more)

                    Prompt 6: A book about the sea

                    Prompt 7: Art and craft for kids

Endpapers are often the first magical page you open on a picture book, be it a blast of colour or delicious snippets of information; maps, tracks and ideas. 

Above: Endpapers from 'This is the Way to the Moon' by Miroslav Sasek (1916-1980) 1963

Above: The Ladybird Book of London by John Lewesdon 1961

These pages begin to fire your enthusiasm and joy in a book and for the illustrator they are the fun bit, often the part they turn their attention to in relief once the body of the book has been completed. 

Are they the books clothes, underwear, costume? well yes they are! They can be modest or gloriously exuberant and wild.

Above: Natascha Rosenberg

Above: Grammar can be fun by Munro Leaf, 1951.    

Above: 'Io sono un cavallo', by Bernard Friot, Illustrated by Gek Tessaro, 2015.

Above: 'A World Full of Journeys & Migrations', written by Martin Howard, illustrated by Christopher Corr, 2022.

Above: 'Au Lit' by Louise Marie Cumont, 2009.

Above: 'The Promise written by Nicola Davies, Illustrated by Laura Carlin, 2013

Above: Endpapers of Smartypants by Maira Kalman, 2003.