Reassemble by Tatsuya Tamaka

Begin with this video where you can see Tatsuya Tamaka at work and marvel at his studio. This will be the best two minutes of your day! Now click here to see more of his work.

Publisher blurb for Reassemble: Miniature workers are busy at work, disassembling and reassembling familiar everyday objects. At first, they just look like discarded parts of something we may or may not recognize. But how about when the workers put everything together? Don't the reassembled parts resemble something else you know? Join the miniature workers in this trip through the familiar yet new world of Tatsuya Tanaka's miniatures. Although a picture book, this book is not just for children, but is also aimed at adults interested in Miniatures, art, photography, and people interested in Japanese culture. The perfect coffee table book or gift for everyone.

Tatsuya Tanaka is a miniature photographer and Mitate artist born in 1981 in Kumamoto, Japan. In 2011, he started “Miniature Calendar,” an art project in which he reimagines, from the miniature perspective, everyday objects as something else. Since then, he has been presenting his creations every day on the Internet. ...  Over 3.8 million people follow his Instagram account (as of June 2024). Mitate is Tatsuya Tanaka's unique art of reimagining everyday objects as something else.

I have followed Tatsuya Tanaka on Instagram for many years. His clever photographs make me smile, laugh and marvel. Now I have seen his new picture book which I know will be a hit with readers aged 6+. The ideas here might even inspire your young reading companion or class at school to try adapting everyday objects into creative photos.

Here are some of his other books (for adults) and you could look for his calendars too.

You can row a boat made of chili. You can enjoy an easy morning stroll among asparagus trees. You will be excited alongside the racetrack, which is actually the surface of a vinyl record. In this miniature world life looks ordinary - yet from a different perspective. Japanese photographer Tatsuya Tanaka started posting miniature pictures every day in in 2011, calling it "Miniature Calendar."  In this book (Small Wonders) you can find more than 100 works created by utilising everyday objects, tiny figures, and an immense amount of imagination. You will be amazed by the ideas found in the ordinary things around you that bring back the curiosity you used to have in childhood.

When you go to Tatsuya Tamaka's web page be prepared to be amazed and also to spend a long time there. If you scroll to the bottom there is a theme list - it is a bit like a pandora's box but if you click on a theme you can see even more tiny imaginative creations by Tatsuya.

Image source: Calendar products Tatsuya Tamaka

On his web page you can also select a date from the archive of calendar images - there are hundreds to explore. 

I picked a random date September 23rd 2017 This is Grape Picking

Image source: Miniature calendar

This book reminded me this inventive vegetable book:

The images and creativity behind the work of Tatsuya Tanaka also reminds me of another wonderful Japanese illustration - Mitsumasa Anno.

Anno's Alphabet

Anno's Alphabet by Mitsumasa Anno

Look at the cover - see how the '?' is made from wood. Under the dust jacket there is a close image of the wood and then the first page has a huge tree. 

Image under the front dust jacket. 

Turn the page and an axe has cut down the tree. Then we see a mechanical device cutting the wood into the shape of a book. You can see the title page below with an open book (made from that same piece of wood). 

As you would expect Anno adds so much to his alphabet book and it is far from simple. Perhaps you have seen his visual tricks in books like Topsy Turvies; Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar; and Anno's Upside Downers. The sophistication of those images and the ones in this book make me suggest this alphabet book will probably appeal more to adults or art students.

Now for something surprising. I was quite shocked by the G page. G is for gun and I expected to read some criticism of this, but I didn't find any. It is a pop gun with a cork but the gun does look quite scary to my eye. 

 

Images from Impossible World

I did enjoy the pages with L is for lock; M is for mirror and map; O is for orange oil paint; R is for rocking horse and T is for typewriter. I wonder if Mitsumasa Anno ever actually saw a real Kangaroo. Oh and as with all Alphabet books it is fun to see how they interpret X and Z. 

Handsomely designed and produced, with graceful leafy borders, carefully rendered pictures and, facing them, woodgrain upper case letters that seem to have been lovingly hand carved, this looks like the beautiful sort of book that wins prizes for graphic excellence. And so it is. But you can't expect the creator of Topsy-Turvies (KR, 1970) and Upside-Downers (KR, 1971) to let it go at that, and if you take another look you'll notice the peculiarity of the letters, which resemble, variously, Escher's impossible fork, a partial Mobius strip, and other inconceivable three-dimensional illusions. Kirkus Star review

There's a small street library near my home and I regularly walk past and look inside. I was very surprised to see Anno's Alphabet yesterday. This book was published in 1974 and the copy I found was a 1980 reprint. Amazingly it is in good condition with a dust jacket.

Here is a list of the words used for A to Z:

Mitsumasa Anno (1926 – 2020) was a Japanese illustrator and writer of children's books, known best for picture books with few or no words. He received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1984. Anno's Alphabet was an ALA Notable Children's Book and received the 1975 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award.

Two years ago Dr Robin Morrow and I explored Alphabet Books as a project for our IBBY Australia members so I am always on the hunt for more examples. You can see our video (13 minutes) here. We were just learning how to make these videos - sorry the name label on the narrator is incorrect. Our latest video for IBBY Australia members explores the topic "One poem in a Picture Book".  I was excited to see Anno's Alphabet was originally purchased from The Children's Bookshop in Beecroft - the shop originally owned by Dr Robin Morrow. It cost AUS$14.95. 

You Rule! by Rilla Alexander

The subtitle of this book is "A book of possibilities" and that is so true.

How ready are you? 

not at all; thinking about it; just another minute; preparing; ready and willing; on my way; almost there; enthusiastic; can't wait; fired up; rarin' to go

Take a look at these answers - now think about them as a sequence. Can you see how they move from not ready to go go go! To show this progression the author/illustrator uses font size and saturation of the font black from pale to bold. And above the words, the child from the cover with his huge ruler, is climbing up a set of stairs ready to open the door. His small caterpillar companion has his pencil. Meanwhile the dog is not ready because he is digging a hole and heading the other way. 

Turn the page - How big are you?

On this one the sequence is in reverse order from soaring and sky-high down to teeny tiny, sprouting and microscopic. 

The caterpillar stands on the nose of the dog and the boy uses his pencil to mark the height chart.

Turn the page - How strong are you?

This page has fabulous words such as tenacious, robust, indestructible, solid, unsteady, flexible and mighty.

The boy and his dog are playing tug-of-war, and the caterpillar is helping his friend. 

And so we continue - How fast are you? How happy are you? How kind are you? How brave are you? How much do you know? How much do you have? How much can you do? How long will it take? How far can you go? How much do I love you?

Meanwhile the caterpillar is changing until the butterfly arrives on the final pages but wait there is another character. Where did that tiger come from?

Do you love the cover? I do! Turn inside and yes, the end papers are brilliant - at the front is a caterpillar munching a leaf and at the back a tiny butterfly flies off the corner of the page. The full-color illustrations were rendered in rubber stamps and digital collage. And under the dust jacket there is a surprise. It would so be good to add this book to your school library. My friend paid AUS$37 for this book but I have seen it listed for AUS$27 too. Here in Australia, I also found a bargain copy for AUS$15 but you might need to act fast! If I had this book in my classroom, I would display each double page for a week and use it as a discussion starter. There are enough pages to do this for a whole term. And think about all the rich words your group will encounter - diminutive, unsteady, hustling, supersonic, exhilarated, ecstatic, considerate, obliging, heroic, defiant, vulnerable, gutsy, an abundance, and immeasurably.

Bookseller blurb: This is a wonderfully affirmative and aspirational book of possibilities and exploration, a fantastic linguistic calibration/celebration of bravery, kindness, love, and so much more. Within this bright and colorful picture book and energetic glossary of words, Rilla Alexander brilliantly succeeds in measuring the immeasurables of life.

The publisher page says:

• BUILDS EMOTIONAL LANGUAGE: This book provides the linguistic tools to describe and measure the widest possible emotions and qualities with a rich palette of words saturated in wit, whimsy, and empathy.
• THE PERFECT GIFT FOR YOUNG AND OLD: Whether you are shopping for a baby gift, a graduation gift, or browsing the library shelves for a book to soothe a child getting ready to start school, this book is for you!
• A GENTLE MESSAGE OF INSPIRATION AND IMAGINATION: Follow along as a boy and his dog tenderly care for a lost caterpillar until its transformation and release as a glorious butterfly.
• GORGEOUS, BOLD ILLUSTRATIONS: The author's bright, kid-friendly artwork makes an instant impression-a feast for the mind and the eyes!

Often, responses cavort playfully on pages so readers have to turn the book—or their heads!—to read text, as is the case with the question “How strong are you?” for which answers appear on a rope with which the child plays tug of war with a dog. ...  This unique, clever offering will enhance visual literacy and help readers develop vocabulary. How do you measure a terrific, winning book? By the learning and smiles it will surely generate. Kirkus

Based on the author’s nephew who she features in the book, children will realize that not everything in life can be measured or tracked. Kids like to use rulers to measure things. They like to see how far they can jump, how tall they are, or how far they can throw. But, you can’t really measure how kind you are or how much you are loved. Children's Book Review Sincerely Stacey

Rilla Alexander is an Australian designer, illustrator, and artist whose work has appeared on everything from toys and teacups to buses and buildings. She explores creativity, ideas, and language through simple characters, graphic forms, and bold colors, inspiring both children and adults through books and workshops. Her picture books include The Best Book in the World, You Rule!, Her Idea, The New Rooster, and The Thingamajig. She lives in Los Angeles, USA. You can hear her talking here. (17 minutes talking about how creativity works).

I am very keen to see her other books and I will add her board books to my wish list.

Digger digs down by Johanna Bell illustrated by Huni Melissa Bolliger

Digger is a dog. Digger is a dog who digs. Nothing will stop Digger in his quest to dig down and down and down except when he bumps into something and so he digs right then left then round and round and round until he reaches somewhere quite surprising. Then he hears a voice from above:

"Digger! Where are you?"

So, it is time to dig again - this time up and up and round and round and left and right and upside down until ...

If you are going to write a book with only thirty words it is important to add a rich unspoken story in the illustrations and that is exactly what Huni Melissa Bolliger has done in Digger digs down. An adult sharing this book, or any really good picture book, with a very young child needs to enjoy the book too. The text here is very, very simple almost at the level of an old basal reader from the 1950s or 1960 but so much is going on under the ground as Digger digs deeper and deeper. This means adults and children will enjoy revisiting this book for repeated readings and there will be lots to talk about. 

I especially appreciated the way the first page has no text. You also need to begin reading this book from the title page because that is where the story starts. IF this book does ever appear on a service like Story Box Library I do hope they begin their 'reading' from the title page onwards. The end papers hint at the colourful marvels Digger will find deep under the ground. OH and please think about the rainbow on the cover. After reading this book with your young reading companion or with your preschool group you are sure to want to talk about the idea of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

The illustrations in this book, as I have said, really take this book to another level. They are full page and made with vibrant saturated colours printed on glossy paper. There are pages you need to turn sideways and the text is positioned to mirror the context - for example the words go down the page as Digger digs down and they are curved when he goes round and round. The 'noisy' words are given emphasis because they are written in capital letters. Blurry or smudged edges to his fur show Digger in action as he romps below and above the ground. He is an adorable orange coloured shaggy puppy full of energy. If you met him in real life you would want to give him a pat and a hug although I think he would probably jump all over your first. The word exuberant certainly applies to this energetic young dog. 

I was sent Digger digs down by UQP (University of Queensland Press). It will be published at the end of July, 2024. See inside this book here. This book will be a good addition to a preschool book collection and as a read aloud it will work well with words like donk!, bonk!, clonk!, and swish swish swish for young children aged 2+. 

Publisher blurb: Join happy-go-lucky Digger as he ditches the boredom of backyard life for an underground adventure. What will he find? What won’t he find? Packed with hidden treasures, this picture book is perfect for small children who love dogs, digging and discovery.

Johanna Bell is an award-winning children’s author, poet and Churchill Fellow ... Digger Digs Down is Johanna’s sixth picture book and her first created in nipaluna/Hobart with fellow Tasmanian Huni Melissa Bolliger.  

Huni Melissa Bolliger (you can see a show reel of her work) is an award-winning animator and artist. Her films have won awards in Australia and internationally, including a prestigious Special Jury Prize at Hiroshima Animation Festival. ...  Digger Digs Down is Huni’s picture-book illustration debut.

Background information shared by the publisher:  The story of Digger was first conceived when Johanna’s daughter (then three years old) began telling her a story about a dog called Digger, which was quickly scribbled on the back of a receipt. And in her debut as picture book illustrator, Huni, an animator, found inspiration for Digger in her very own Digger, her dog Rufus.

Here are some other books by Johanna Bell:

Go Home Cheeky Animals was the Winner: Territory Read Awards, Children's or Young Adult, 2018 and
Winner: CBCA Book of the Year, Early Childhood, 2017. 

Hope is the Thing illustrated by Erica Wagner has been shortlisted for the CBCA New Illustrator award for 2024. I am tipping it will be the winner!

The Truth about Old People by Elina Ellis

Who decides when you become old?  The other day I jumped onto a very crowed bus. There were seats towards the back but before I could get that far a lady (I would say she was around my age) jumped up to give me her seat!  Of course I said no and walked further back to the empty seat I had spied but really - am I old?

I have many friends who are grandparents. I would love to gift them this book (the paperback is only AuS$14) - the text and illustrations are wonderful opposites. It is not true that old people are slow, clumsy, not bendy, or scared of new things. Let's think about that last one. Today I visited the mum of a friend. She is well over 95 years old and she proudly showed me photos of her great grandchildren on her iPhone! Then she scrolled through the text messages from another family member and showed me some special photos her friend had sent recently.

This book goes on to say old people don't dance - but my friend (another grandmother) takes a jazz dance exercise class every day! Here is the dancing page from The Truth about Old People:

And I love the bendy page:

Publisher blurb: A very funny and lovable picture book tribute to grandparents and older people. When you're small, everybody bigger than you seems really old. But does being older have to mean being boring, or slow, or quiet? NO! Elina Ellis' wonderful illustrations reveal that the age you are makes no difference to how amazing you can be. From the winner of the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2017, The Truth About Old People is an instant favourite with children and grown-ups that tackles ageism without being preachy. Elina has a great talent for characterful illustration: you'll feel like you've known this family all your life.

Here's the web page for Elina Ellis.

Look for these books which debunk the myth about grandparents. You can search for some of these using my sidebar search box:

Here is the companion book by Elina Ellis:

Have you seen Dinosaur? by David Barrow

This is one of those terrific books where your young reading companion (aged 2+) will know way more than the main character.  Yes, there are plenty of dinosaurs but the little boy keeps missing them. You will even see one on the end papers.

I counted seven dinosaurs on the final page. Why not head to your library now and go to the non fiction shelf [567.9] and grab a few dinosaur books and then try to identify the dinosaurs in this book. There are other visual jokes too - such as the pigeon and the dog on each page. Watch out - the pigeon is riding a skateboard. I also love all the characters on the train especially the punk girl with her spiked hair and nose ring. This is a book you could also share with a slightly older group who might identify all the environmental print - street signs, newspapers, even number plates!

The joy of this book lies in the interplay between the dead-pan words on the page: ‘None here. Let’s keep looking.’, the images and the reader’s engagement with the search. ... This is a book to share time and again with readers from two or three upwards who won’t get tired of dinosaur hide and seek. Just Imagine

This is also a lovely story about friendship, and Barrow’s artwork is dreamy, painterly and stunning as well as being totally perfect for young readers. A fabulous read for any time of day, which will definitely get plenty of repeat reads. Book Trust

Here is an interview with David Barrow. He lists his own favourite illustrators as:  Brian Wildsmith, Alice and Martin Provensen, Evaline Ness, and David McKee. I’m also drawn to modern artists with a unique visual language, such as Isabelle Arsenault, Marta Altés and Birgitta Sif.

Have you seen Dinosaur is the sequel to this:

We Found a Cat by Heidi McKinnon

Something arrives in a box. Look closely. The box says "this way up" and "beware".  The older sister is delighted. She is sure this is a cat but her little sister is not convinced. In fact little sister really can see the truth but her big sister has decided this is a cat and that is all she can see. Readers are sure to agree with and sympathise with the little sister and it does look like we are heading for a disaster.  

Using two voices is a delightful way to tell this warm, funny, and playful story. This is a great example of a picture book where the illustrations add a different dimension - you really have to 'read' them to get the whole joke. This book provides a perfect way to explore visual storytelling with young readers.  The page where the tiger “smothers” mum and dad is hilarious. The cross reference to the Cat in the Hat with the goldfish and the huge cat is one many adult readers will recognise. Of course, the ending, while it might not especially original, it matches perfectly with the fun of the previous pages.  And this book is sure to make you want to revisit an old classic - The Tiger who Came to Tea. 

The end papers, which bracket the book’s timeline, will give astute readers enough of a hint about the shared joke which is the basis of this book. I adore the ball of wool on the half title page and the way the same wool tangles over the title page. 

The matt, beige paper used in this book provides a perfect background to the art on each page and the restrained, almost retro palette, is very appealing. Using the younger child character as the ‘voice of reason’ is very affirming for all younger siblings. In this book so few words can say SO much.  

One of my favourite things to consider is the sharing of our Australian books across the world. We speak English and so our books can be shared in USA, Canada, New Zealand, UK and South Africa. We Found a Cat is such a splendid picture book and I think it is one that should be shared with children beyond our shores. Not because it contains an especially deep message but just because it is funny and because it is a perfect book to share with a preschool child who will enjoy being "in on the joke". 

If you love Elephant and Piggy and books with dialogue and confusion you will really enjoy We Found a Cat. And the art in this book is sure to remind you of illustrations by Jon Klassen. 

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Here is the web site for Heidi McKinnon.  You could pair this book with these:

Would you like a Banana?

This is a dog

Blue Badger

You're finally here!

Read more about Pat Hutchins