Sunday 11 December 2011

Why I Still Search the Back of Every Wardrobe I Come Across...

'Bye Bye Baby' by Janet and Alan Allberg' is a beatuful and poingent story which I have read countless times. This is my favourite illustration and really sums up 'family' to me.
 It's no secret that when I was little I really, really wanted to be a hamster when I grew up... and when I realised that was not going to happen... ever... I set my sights on becoming a children's book illustrator. That has never, ever gone away.
'Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury... Love this meeting of dog and bear!
 I'm lucky because my mum read to me constantly, helped me to construct storybook worlds full of magic and possibilities. My childhood was full of playing, of magical rockinghorses, den building and making things... non-stop making things. I'm very, very lucky.
'Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury... Perfect adventure fodder
 Books are my ultimate source of comfort, especially beautifully illustrated ones... they just transport me to a place that is better... a place where anything could be... When I gave birth to my daughter 5 and a half years ago, I read to her (even in the hospital, when she had not a clue). I wanted her to find comfort in books too, to associate reading with being loved... I have never stopped sharing books with her... and the beautiful thing is that she reads me stories now too... and nothing, but nothing, makes my heart sing more (and do that little flippy thing that is rather akin to being in love). She is still far to young to be introduced to Narnia, but that doesn't stop us searching the back of wardrobes together and stomping through woods...
'Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
 As for being a book illustrator, well it will never happen for me now, but I am very fulfilled the artwork I do... and the mere dream gives me licence to indulge in reading beautiful books every single day...
'Bear Hunt' by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
'Bye Bye Baby' by Janet and Alan Allberg' And... Isn't this just the most perfect happy ending?!

2 comments:

  1. how lovely, Thats what u miss about the children growing up is the not reading to them 5 years ago when they were 14 and 17 we went on holiday to a little cottage in the middle of nowhere in Wales and they both wanted to read the same book, so over the course of the week I read it to them. It was inconceivable by Ben Elton, although very different to the books we read them when they were young. it is now one of our favourite holiday memories. Also older daughter is doing a degree in illustration and we are hoping to write a book together with some of the made up tales I would tell them when they were little.

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  2. I too loved The Albergs books - all of them (especially the Postman's letters in the tiny envelopes) sadly now gone as the kids have grown - maybe I should ask Father Christmas for some?

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