I suppose this unintentionally turned into the week of handwritten text. This children’s book is an illustrated version of a classic children’s rhyme that dates back to 1755. The rhyme builds upon itself and you repeat the last verse with every new line. Simms not only repeats the text on each page but also the illustration before. By the last page all the text and pictures fill the page to the edges. The drawings of Jack’s house looks crooked and hand constucted with lots of pattern on each different section. Little bits of collaged photos are mixed into the illustrations- like in the windows of the house for instance or the flowers on the ground. The end pages have to be my favorite part. They are clips of real estate ads with drawings of the houses above them. Too adorable. Simms Taback has won the Caldecott Award and illustrated about thirty-five books for children. He also illustrated the first McDonalds Happy Meal box. You can learn more about him here or pick up a copy of this book here.

Next week I will be be busy at the textile show Surtex so artist(and good friend) Matt Leines will be guest blogging for me. I can’t wait to see what he picks!

© Julia Rothman 2007