Book By Its Cover » ABC Cercasi…

2.24.09

Gwenola CarrÃ¨re

To my understanding, I could be wrong since I am translating this book from Italian in google translate, this an alphabetical book of animal wanted ads. Starting with a tarantula named Alice, each page has a new animal with their wanted ad. Whether they are looking for a new friend, someone to have dinner with or a new home, it seems like the animal on the next page could be the one they are looking for. For example Stella, the dancing giraffe was in a (car?) accident and has had a cast for months. Her wanted ad seeks an eyewitness. And then on the next page is Hassan, a porcupine crossing guard, who very easily could be an eyewitness, no? His ad offers driving lessons. It all continues this way A through Z. What a clever idea! The illustrations are really cool as well. I haven’t really seen anything like them before. They have a crayonish texture over flat color. The palette is gorgeous giving it a vintage feeling. There’s so much stylization to the characters and surroundings that sometimes it takes a second to understand what’s going on exactly. It’s very satisfying when you do because there are really sweet details throughout. On my second flip through this book I did notice something that struck me as very unusual in a children’s book- Carole, the frog(?), is smoking a cigarette! Only in Italy! You can learn more about this book here.
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13 Comments

02/24/09 12:19pm

lulu wrote

Hi there? do you need some help with italian translation’ the book is amazing, thanks!
luisella

02/24/09 12:50pm

Eva wrote

Funny that everybody seems to think that these grotesque deformations are for children. They are funny for grown-ups. I hated such things when I was a child, I wanted pictures in which the animals look like they look. I bet, children would say they hate these pictures — but probably those children should be asked who haven’t been disneyfied yet.

02/24/09 2:02pm

Olivia wrote

I’m not sure about that. I still have all the books that my mother bought me. I really enjoyed to look at the drawings for hours when I was six or seven years old.

02/24/09 11:16pm

Carrie wrote

I don’t find these illustrations to be grotesque. I think they’re playful and silly, with bright colors. The style reminds me a little of J. Otto Siebold, who writes the Mr. Lunch series about a dog. Now, if H.R.Giger (designer for the Alien movies with Sigourney Weaver) illustrated a children’s book, that would be grotesque. And would scar me. Child or adult.

02/25/09 4:36am

giulia wrote

Hi I’m italian and if you need help.. I’m here, your blog is always lovely :)

02/25/09 7:53am

plumers wrote

The book is available also in French @ Editions Thierry Magnier
http://www.editions-thierry-magnier.com/livre.php?isbn=9782844207210
It is one of the five books which won the CJ Picture Book Award in Korea, last January

02/25/09 1:15pm

Laura Di Francesco wrote

Hi dear friends,
I’m an italian illustrator who lives in Sweden and writes stories too.

If you need whatever kind of help, don’t hesitate to contact me.

xxx

Love… and….

My daughter who is five Y.O. loves this book, its animals that inspires her to catch their funny personality… And people should remember that children LOVE everything which come from FANTASYLAND… included Disney and all the others new outstanding illustrators that works together with heart and dreams.

Laura

02/26/09 2:25pm

Amy C wrote

oooh this is really cool , I love the vintage euro feel it has too. Thanks for sharing this great find!

03/9/09 3:28am

Lagarde wrote

There is some illustrations from the great GwÃ©nola CarrÃ¨re on Illustrissimo.com
We are preparing an exhibition with this artist around “ABC des petites annonces” (french title published by Thierry Magnier) aftrer the 20 th March
Some details soon on http://www.illustrissimo.com/blog

03/21/09 2:25am

Sam wrote

I love this retro/ modern style – such fun! It’s a bit 50s I feel.

03/21/09 11:23pm

john wrote

I didn’t see any purchase info on the publisher’s web site, do you know how I could get a hold of this book in the United States by any chance?

03/29/09 9:09am

plumers wrote

John,
looks like the only way you can buy this book is through the internet.
original italian edition here
french edition at amazon.fr.
Unless you are in SF and willing to wait till next Marin Italians Children’s Book Festival:
I got mine at the Bologna Children’s Bookfair.

09/24/09 7:39am

Meathaus Enterprises: Comics, Cartooning, Art, Inspiration » Gwenola Carrere Illustration wrote

[...] Carrere’s fantastic illustration can be found on Gigposters, in this book, and on [...]

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