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Hondo and Fabian
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From: Barbara Tobin <barbarat>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 02:51:52 -0500
One thing I really appreciate about _Hondo and Fabian_ is the beautiful pair it makes with _Little Bunny on the Move_, from an aesthetic, design point of view. They make a lovely complementary pair, identical in shape, but contrasting the muted silver and white tones (that project an edge of disquiet to me), with the soft cream and sepia tones, leavened with a little more color to reflect the tone of more fun and mischief making. This elegant pairing reminds me of the stunning contrast you see with Brian Selznik and Pam Mu?oz Ryan's _Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride_
(black with gray and silver) and _When Marian Sang_ (black and coppery tones). I think this is a bonus facet of the visual allure of such books that can be paired. Young readers can take pleasure in being able to recognize an artist's style, yet note differences and ponder over the reason behind, and effect of such design choices.
A little thing that tickled me in Hondo and Fabian: the picture of Fabian "going to the living room to play with the baby." That illustration of baby dragging the cat around reminded me so much of Ian Falconer's drawings of Olivia "moving the cat."
A picky little thing that didn't work for me: the gorgeous effect of the soft pencil on watercolor paper didn't seem effective for showing the two dogs in the surf (the second picture)--looks more like snow.
A question: that portrait on the wall near the end, as the two friends chow down--- do you think that is a foreshadowing of the next book --or is it an echo from an earlier book, like Little Bunny in the other portrait? To sum up: I LOVE this book! And I love the way it sits so enticingly on my bookshelf next to _Little Bunny on the Move_.
Barbara
Barbara Tobin barbarat at gse.upenn.edu
Received on Mon 10 Feb 2003 01:51:52 AM CST
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 02:51:52 -0500
One thing I really appreciate about _Hondo and Fabian_ is the beautiful pair it makes with _Little Bunny on the Move_, from an aesthetic, design point of view. They make a lovely complementary pair, identical in shape, but contrasting the muted silver and white tones (that project an edge of disquiet to me), with the soft cream and sepia tones, leavened with a little more color to reflect the tone of more fun and mischief making. This elegant pairing reminds me of the stunning contrast you see with Brian Selznik and Pam Mu?oz Ryan's _Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride_
(black with gray and silver) and _When Marian Sang_ (black and coppery tones). I think this is a bonus facet of the visual allure of such books that can be paired. Young readers can take pleasure in being able to recognize an artist's style, yet note differences and ponder over the reason behind, and effect of such design choices.
A little thing that tickled me in Hondo and Fabian: the picture of Fabian "going to the living room to play with the baby." That illustration of baby dragging the cat around reminded me so much of Ian Falconer's drawings of Olivia "moving the cat."
A picky little thing that didn't work for me: the gorgeous effect of the soft pencil on watercolor paper didn't seem effective for showing the two dogs in the surf (the second picture)--looks more like snow.
A question: that portrait on the wall near the end, as the two friends chow down--- do you think that is a foreshadowing of the next book --or is it an echo from an earlier book, like Little Bunny in the other portrait? To sum up: I LOVE this book! And I love the way it sits so enticingly on my bookshelf next to _Little Bunny on the Move_.
Barbara
Barbara Tobin barbarat at gse.upenn.edu
Received on Mon 10 Feb 2003 01:51:52 AM CST
