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I'm missing picturebooks on this blog! Colour and playfullness! Which makes me wonder - are we endorsing the message: picturebook writers have still to ‘grow’ into YA writers? As an art teacher in another life, I see picturebooks as the foundation for developing an early aesthetic - line, tone, texture, colour, imagery, flights of fancy, hidden meaning, pattern and rhythm are all there to be unknowlingly absorbed by the child.
So here are my favourite 5 PICTUREBOOK BEASTIES. Classic beasts like Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, Antony Browne’s Gorilla and Munro Leaf’s Ferdinand are givens, (5 is an impossibly small number!) so I’ve tried for some really small beasties, one imaginary one and one jungle beast. You probably have plenty more favourites to add. No vampires or dinosaurs allowed!
1. THE FROGS AND THE CAT (see top of blog) by Kazanari Hino illustrated by Tokao Siato published by Fukuinkan Shoten won the IBBY Honours Book in 2004 for Japanese Illustration.
These wonderfully delicate and distinctive illustrations are so full of detail and incredible humour that you don’t have to understand Japanese to enjoy the story. The young frogs of Genji Pond gather on lily pads while an elder tells them an ancient tale. There’s a strange attack one night. A frog receives a bad slash on her back and claims it’s a monster with glistening eyes… a cat belonging to a rival clan. The young frogs decide to avenge, riding out on fierce-looking crickets, brandishing bamboo-shoot lances, wearing flower helmets and brave expressions with an almost calligraphic grace. Each time you look there’s more to discover. A picturebook at its VERY best. I love it! Please won't some UK publisher bring it out in English.
2. THE SEA-THING CHILD by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Patrick Benson, published by Walker Books won the V&A Illustration Award in 2000. 
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11 Comments on
5 FAVOURITE PICTUREBOOK BEASTIES – Dianne Hofmeyr, last added: 7/23/2010
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A most glorious collection of picture books for ABBA! Thank you, Dianne! And I agree we don't attend to picture books enough.
Beautiful! I love the Siato illustrations - and the Big Blue Beastie made me laugh. Thank you for opening my eyes to a whole new world!
Yes, thank you!
I will look out for these, especially the fruit bat - it looks gorgeous.
Hello Augustus! Will you be jealous if I say I also like "The tiger who came to tea"?
GRRRR!!!! Only if I don't get invited to tea as well! We could have a tiger party as I also love Malachy Doyle's 'The Dancing Tiger'and it was a toss up but the illustrations are a little uneven... though that one of the grandmother dancing with the tiger in the moonlight is marvellous.
Oh these are wonderful. Dianne, and I especially want the Japanese one. I love picture books... I would like to add 'My House on the Hill' by Philippe Dupasquier.
To my delight, have discovered the Japanese one on Amazon in French: "Les Grenouilles Samouraïs de l'étang de Genji : D'après le Heiké monogatari".
So I have ordered it! Vive la France.
That's absolutely wonderful Kath. So the frogs speak French but why can't we get them to speak English too? We translate so few interesting foreign language books.
Hooray (for picture books)! The Seathing Child and Augustus are favs of mine so I'll be chasing down your other suggestions...
We should suggest the Japanese one to Ann Arscott of Winged Chariot. Did you speak to her on Monday, Diane? BTW - lovely to see you at the Pic Book event, and I agree entirely that picture books are neglected rather on ABBA. A lovely post, thank you. And I'll order that Japanese one in French right now, it looks gorgeous :-)
Yes great to see you Anne... and good idea. I should talk to Winged Chariot.