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The discussion about illustrated volumes of poems had me going
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From: Megan Schliesman <Schliesman>
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 16:10:38 -0500
The discussion about illustrated volumes of poems had me going back to look at some of my favorite volumes of poetry published for children and young adults in recent years. All of the books for younger children, and some for older readers, are illustrated--something that I don't have a particular problem with unless I feell the illustrations in a particular volume detract or distract from the text in one way or another. (Which is much the same way I respond to a picture book text--an analogy Arthur Levine already made. If the art doesn't live up to the text, it's a shame, whether or not it's a volume of poetry.) But good poetry--and picture book writing-?n rise above mediocre art. And good poetry and art together can create a whole new dimension of experience.
Here are just a few of my illustrated favorites from recent years: A Pocketful of Poems by Nikki Grimes, with Javaka Steptoes marvelous collages--visual poems-?companing each entry; Stone Bench in an Empty Park selected by Paul B. Janeczko, with duotone photographs by Henri Silberman that echo the crispness and subtley of the haiku form; Patrol by Walter Dean Myers, with Ann Grifalconi's collage art with images of fear and destruction set against the lush natural beauty of the jungle landscape--both of which are referenced in the text.
In all three of these cases, the marvelous writing is not overshadowed in any way by the marvelous art. I like to hear and consider the words alone. But I also find it intriguing to consider the harmonies (and counterpoint) in the way these two elements of the books as a whole come together.
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, Wi 53706 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Fri 18 Apr 2003 04:10:38 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 16:10:38 -0500
The discussion about illustrated volumes of poems had me going back to look at some of my favorite volumes of poetry published for children and young adults in recent years. All of the books for younger children, and some for older readers, are illustrated--something that I don't have a particular problem with unless I feell the illustrations in a particular volume detract or distract from the text in one way or another. (Which is much the same way I respond to a picture book text--an analogy Arthur Levine already made. If the art doesn't live up to the text, it's a shame, whether or not it's a volume of poetry.) But good poetry--and picture book writing-?n rise above mediocre art. And good poetry and art together can create a whole new dimension of experience.
Here are just a few of my illustrated favorites from recent years: A Pocketful of Poems by Nikki Grimes, with Javaka Steptoes marvelous collages--visual poems-?companing each entry; Stone Bench in an Empty Park selected by Paul B. Janeczko, with duotone photographs by Henri Silberman that echo the crispness and subtley of the haiku form; Patrol by Walter Dean Myers, with Ann Grifalconi's collage art with images of fear and destruction set against the lush natural beauty of the jungle landscape--both of which are referenced in the text.
In all three of these cases, the marvelous writing is not overshadowed in any way by the marvelous art. I like to hear and consider the words alone. But I also find it intriguing to consider the harmonies (and counterpoint) in the way these two elements of the books as a whole come together.
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, UW-Madison 600 N. Park St., Room 4290 Madison, Wi 53706 608&2?03 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
Received on Fri 18 Apr 2003 04:10:38 PM CDT
