Illustrations

Sometimes the Better Part of a Book..

Book illustrations should never be considered a sideline or a part of the background of the book. Good illustrations should be just as good as the story if not better than the actual reading material. Perhaps this would worry the author that the illustrations would detract from the writing. Sometimes the illustrations are what make a book.

But authors needn't worry that much because the pictures can complement the story nicely and add quality to the material. In the case of younger readers the pictures are an integral part of the book. Illustrations of children's books are valuable introductions to art, and could inspire lives of artistic creativity.

Classic Storytelling

Ever since Gutenberg invented the printing press children have been picking up volumes of classic stories good or bad to look at the pictures. Many young imaginative children, including a certain blog writer you know, would make their own stories up in their heads as they go. These were the best stories.

When we read Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland as children the depictions of all the strange characters led us through the tale and allowed us to put ourselves in the story. Zany as the story itself is, you can expect some zanier pictures. The one at the top of this page is by the book's original illustrator Sir John Tenniel, whose interpretations of the story are probably the most famous. A famous character is the Mad Hatter. His hat says "In this style 10/6" meaning it costs 10 shillings and sixpence.

Another good version is by Arthur Rackham, who also did the Brothers Grimm, English Fairy Tales, Shakespeare works, some King Arthur illustrations and much more. Ignoring the danger of going too off subject, I will take this opportunity to plug some fine video game art. In this modern age you can actually be in the Alice in Wonderland story, such as in American McGee's 2000"Alice" computer game. Coupled with the music of Nine Inch Nails drummer Chris Vrenna, the eerie artwork makes for a good experience.

Animals In Clothes, and Morals