Seven Artful Picture Books from 2017

from A Walk in the Forest

 

from Mud Book

Cage, John. (2017). Mud Book: How To Make Mud Pies and Cakes. Illustrated by Lois Long. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.

A book a child can hold in one hand.  An illustrated guide for making by composer John Cage. Simple illustrations. 

FROM Mr. Benjamin's Suitcase of Secrets

Chang, Pei-Yu. (2017). Mr. Benjamin's Suitcase of Secrets. New York: NorthSouth Books.

Honestly who would have ever thought that a picture book about Walter Benjamin would be written. Top of my list. The tragic story of the philosopher, a victim of the Nazis, is told well and illustrated with lots of energy portrayed.

from A Walk in the Forest

Dek, Maria. (2017). A Walk in the Forest. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.

It is the perspective that most captures my attention in this account of a simple walk in a forest. 

Miyakoshi, A. (2017). The Way Home in the Night. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press.

A soft, gentle nighttime story. The art, like usual, is subtle and lovely. I love all of her books. This is no exception. Dreamy. Aesthetically pleasing and oddly familiar.

Schwartz, Joanne. (2017). Town Is By the Sea. Illustrated by Sydney Smith. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Press.

In praise of miners, this gentle picture book set in the 1950s in Canada tells the story of a young boy who moves through a typical day while his dad mines for coal under the sea. Moving.  

from Away

Sher, Emil. (2017). Away. Illustrated by Qin Leng. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.

An exchange of written notes between a mother and her daughter is construct for this very lovely story about going away for the first time. Perhaps, the tenderness resonated all the more as my son, no longer a child, is poised to start his life away too.

Young, Ed & Barbara DaCosta. (2017). Mighty Moby. New York: Little Brown.

I thought this might be a retelling of Moby Dick and in many ways it is. But it is done with a twist and of course, Ed Young's illustrations are breathtaking.