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Christmas is approaching, and you know what that means: time to buy picture books for all my friends’ small children!!!!
In years past, I have often bought copies of my best-beloved favorites, like Jamberry and Miss Rumphius. However, (a) at this point I’m struggling to remember who I’ve already gotten a copy of Miss Rumphius, and (b) it occurred to me that perhaps I ought to support a few living authors and illustrators. So this year I’ve branched out a bit.
First, the Fan Brothers’ Ocean Meets Sky. I’ve loved the Fan Brothers’ work since I stumbled upon Lizzie and the Cloud, and this has the same style of dreamily delightful illustration. After the death of his grandfather, a young boy builds a boat in his memory, then falls asleep from his labors and voyages through wondrous lands - the Library Islands, a sea of dancing moon jellyfish - until he reaches the place where the ocean meets the sky, and three-masted sailing ships fly alongside dirigibles and blue whales.
Second, Briony May Smith’s Margaret’s Unicorn. This author/illustrator is unfamiliar to me, but the cover stopped me in my tracks and the illustrations inside are just as lovely. (It’s always worth checking. Sometimes the front cover is by far the best picture.) Soon after moving to Scotland, young Margaret finds a baby unicorn that was left behind during the unicorns’ seasonal migration, and looks after it until the unicorns come back. Gorgeous landscapes, and the unicorn is just adorable with its dappled coat and long goat’s tail.
In years past, I have often bought copies of my best-beloved favorites, like Jamberry and Miss Rumphius. However, (a) at this point I’m struggling to remember who I’ve already gotten a copy of Miss Rumphius, and (b) it occurred to me that perhaps I ought to support a few living authors and illustrators. So this year I’ve branched out a bit.
First, the Fan Brothers’ Ocean Meets Sky. I’ve loved the Fan Brothers’ work since I stumbled upon Lizzie and the Cloud, and this has the same style of dreamily delightful illustration. After the death of his grandfather, a young boy builds a boat in his memory, then falls asleep from his labors and voyages through wondrous lands - the Library Islands, a sea of dancing moon jellyfish - until he reaches the place where the ocean meets the sky, and three-masted sailing ships fly alongside dirigibles and blue whales.
Second, Briony May Smith’s Margaret’s Unicorn. This author/illustrator is unfamiliar to me, but the cover stopped me in my tracks and the illustrations inside are just as lovely. (It’s always worth checking. Sometimes the front cover is by far the best picture.) Soon after moving to Scotland, young Margaret finds a baby unicorn that was left behind during the unicorns’ seasonal migration, and looks after it until the unicorns come back. Gorgeous landscapes, and the unicorn is just adorable with its dappled coat and long goat’s tail.
