(almost) wordless story by Imapla
Board book – 155 x 210 – 24 pages (and flap)
Issued by Océano-Travesía
Glu… Zazzzzzzzz… Glu glu… Zazzzzzzzz…
The law of the sea is clear: the big fish eats the small fish, usurping power. There will always be big and small fishes.
However, law may also be other, when all fishes join their forces… Then, who is the real King of the Sea?
Text by Daniel Nesquens
Illustrations by María Titos
Hardback – 210 x 180 – 24 pages
Issued in French language by Rouergue
“My dad left on a boat. A Tuesday. He was in search of some mysterious and exotic birds.”
A little boy says good bye to his father at the port. The anchors are raised up, the gangway is released and he stays with her mom and her little sister, standing on the mole. All of them feel alone and sad. But the imagination of the kid wakes up. Where has gone his father? Which birds has he gone to find? Are they more valuable than him, his son?
Through a game in which dreams and illusions interfere with reality, Daniel Nesquens and María Titos invite us to visit the world of a child, who, to face yearning and nostalgia, reaches to put himself in the distant adventures of his father and to maintain, at the same time, his presence beside him, at home.
Issued in 2010 – All rights available except French language
PDF available in French and Spanish languages
Review of the French edition
Text by Manuel Brugarolas
Illustrations by Lluïsa Jover
Hardback – 16,5 x 25 – 96 pages (Spanish Edition by Siruela)
Hardback – 17,3 x 23,2 – 64 pages (Catalan Edition by Cruïlla)
Manuel Brugarolas and Lluísa Jover are publishing in Catalan language (Els conills savis) and in Spanish language (Los conejos sabios), an illustrated compendium of philosophical tales for all ages…
The wise rabbits are rabbits who are ingenious, curious, dreamers, love-struck, and wanting to fly.
All of them search for the meaning of life and there are so many kinds of them. They come to be proud, arrogant, winners, artists, travelers, impatient, and they can even come to be hopeless from time to time. Moreover, some have read Ana Karenina.
These stories, with their clear tone of fable, introduce us to the rabbit who wants to appear what he is not and loses himself; the rabbit who goes out in search of what he already has; the rabbit who wants to learn how to hunt and is hunted.
Of course, it also tells us of the rabbit in love with a romantic female rabbit in love with another; of the strict father; of the rabbit that only talks of himself; of the artist who wants to succeed; or of the rabbit that has stopped envying the future.
Through its direct language and clear illustrations, the stories of the wise rabbits allow us to read them with our eyes and to see them aloud, covering the distance that goes from innocence to experience, erasing every dividing line drawn between ages, and above all making us reflect, to finally make us smile.
Stories
THE PLAYER RABBIT
THE TRAVELER RABBIT
THE CURIOUS RABBIT AND THE INSIGNIFICANT FLY
THE THREE HUNTER RABBITS
THE ROMANTIC RABBIT
THE RABBIT WHO WANTED TO FLY
THE LOVESTRUCK RABBITS AND THE WHISPERING TREES
THE PROUD RABBIT AND THE GREYHOUND
THE ARROGANT RABBIT AND THE STUBBORN AMOND TREE
THE DROWNING RABBIT AND THE SINGING SWAN
THE ARTIST RABBIT AND THE JAPANESE ARCHER
THE RABBIT WHO SEARCHED FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE
THE DILETTENTE RABBIT AND THE VAIN TURTLE
THE RABBIT WHO HAD READ ANNA KARENINA AND THE BARBARIAN RABBITS
THE CURIOUS RABBIT AND THE INSIGNIFICANT FLY Once, a curious rabbit and an insignificant fly spoke in New York. Now the curious rabbit wanted to know why it was that flies bang their heads time and again against the windowpane when they wanted to go out and fly over the fields of Central Park. “Why don’t you just give up, after the first crash? Why don’t you look for another exit?” he asked the fly. Curious rabbits are used to asking two questions at the same time. The insignificant fly answered him with two questions as well, trying to imitate the curious rabbit in a mocking tone. “Why do you ask me what flies do? Why don’t you ask a fly?” The curious rabbit continued anyway. Curious rabbits know that they’re rabbits, probably insignificant flies don’t. “Let’s suppose that you’re a fly.” The insignificant fly rubbed its wings and said: “Why do you think the flies want to go out? What do you know, what if for flies going out isn’t instead coming in? You have no idea.” Insignificant flies like to be redundant, they have a tendency to be that way. “Ok, that’s true. But you, as a fly, why do you think you would do it, that thing of banging against the windowpane time and again?” That part of “But you, as a fly” is irresistible for an insignificant fly. Deep down, all insignificant flies have an actress inside them. They love to be the center of attention. “Let me think. If the window panes are imaginary obstacles that are as often there as not, I must guess that the flies try to ascertain the right moment to pass through, and that’s why they insist. In this, flies must not be very different from rabbits, don’t you think?” “I don’t know, it depends. Would you say that overcoming the obstacles makes the flies greater?” The insignificant fly looked the curious rabbit directly in the eyes and began to howl in laughter. “You didn’t understand me,” the curious rabbit insisted. “I mean that for us, the rabbits, the obstacles are real and they attract us. We seek them out to overcome them, because the overcoming of difficulties makes rabbits greater.” The insignificant fly approached him. “Are you trying to tell me that rabbits never stumble time and again in the same place?” “Of course they do. You know how it is with obstacles: you overcome one and there is another beneath it. It’s usually a question of luck.” “I see that, finally, you think like a fly.” “No, what I wanted to say is that among rabbits, you don’t know the importance that choosing the right path has.” “You mean to say that it is as important as for the flies to choose the right window?”
Once, a curious rabbit and an insignificant fly spoke in New York. Now the curious rabbit wanted to know why it was that flies bang their heads time and again against the windowpane when they wanted to go out and fly over the fields of Central Park.
“Why don’t you just give up, after the first crash? Why don’t you look for another exit?” he asked the fly.
Curious rabbits are used to asking two questions at the same time. The insignificant fly answered him with two questions as well, trying to imitate the curious rabbit in a mocking tone.
“Why do you ask me what flies do? Why don’t you ask a fly?”
The curious rabbit continued anyway. Curious rabbits know that they’re rabbits, probably insignificant flies don’t.
“Let’s suppose that you’re a fly.”
The insignificant fly rubbed its wings and said: “Why do you think the flies want to go out? What do you know, what if for flies going out isn’t instead coming in? You have no idea.”
Insignificant flies like to be redundant, they have a tendency to be that way.
“Ok, that’s true. But you, as a fly, why do you think you would do it, that thing of banging against the windowpane time and again?”
That part of “But you, as a fly” is irresistible for an insignificant fly. Deep down, all insignificant flies have an actress inside them. They love to be the center of attention.
“Let me think. If the window panes are imaginary obstacles that are as often there as not, I must guess that the flies try to ascertain the right moment to pass through, and that’s why they insist. In this, flies must not be very different from rabbits, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know, it depends. Would you say that overcoming the obstacles makes the flies greater?”
The insignificant fly looked the curious rabbit directly in the eyes and began to howl in laughter.
“You didn’t understand me,” the curious rabbit insisted. “I mean that for us, the rabbits, the obstacles are real and they attract us. We seek them out to overcome them, because the overcoming of difficulties makes rabbits greater.”
The insignificant fly approached him.
“Are you trying to tell me that rabbits never stumble time and again in the same place?”
“Of course they do. You know how it is with obstacles: you overcome one and there is another beneath it. It’s usually a question of luck.”
“I see that, finally, you think like a fly.”
“No, what I wanted to say is that among rabbits, you don’t know the importance that choosing the right path has.”
“You mean to say that it is as important as for the flies to choose the right window?”
Issued in Spanish and Catalan languages
New project (text and Ilustration) by Imapla
(Spanish language)
Hardback – 200 x 280 – 24 pages
Estanislau Zamori loves clouds and he lives in them.
He paints the clouds of colours and plays with them, until his teacher appears with her huge black cloud.
His dad one day got himself into a black cloud, and ended as a me-teo-ro-lo-gist… now there is not cloud in the sky that resists him.
This is a tender story about reality, dreams and the strong relationship between father and son.
“Today is Friday, there are some clouds.
I like Fridays.
On Fridays my dad walks me to school.
I kiss him and I get into the classroom.
The clouds follow me.”
Text by Jorge Argueta
Illustrations by Fernando Vilela
To be published by Groundwood in 2010
Hardback - 32 pages
Rice pudding is one of the most international and traditional desserts which exist. It is also a dish that is typically homemade and easy to make, whose preparation is within the reach of any child who can cook beneath the attentive supervision of an adult.
But above all, it is perhaps one of the dishes most characteristic of childhood, with its particular texture and its unmistakable aroma.
Arroz con leche (Rice pudding) is a cooking poem by the Salvadoran writer and poet Jorge Argueta, already an expert in this type of poetic exercise. With his magical words, it is nature itself which erupts in the kitchen, with its rivers, waterfalls, rainfalls, skies, clouds, rainbows, and stars… And to cook thereby becomes a true adventure…
Fernando Vilela chose a palette of happy though gentle colors for this book and an undulating line which gives his illustrations a sweetness very evocative of familial tenderness. Magic and reality are united in one of the artist’s most accomplished works.
There is no doubt that the aroma of cinnamon of this marvelous rice pudding, a true gift, will always remain in the memory of all those who share it.
New Spanish language project by Imapla
(Spanish language or wordless books)
Board books – 140 x 140 – 18 pages
Imapla breaks all conventions by proposing a new series of small and original books, called “Pixel”, where she plays with animals, numbers… sounds, with our imagination and obviously with pixels.
SMALL OR BIG How small or how big can something be? A journey that goes from microcosm to macrocosm…
A DIFFERENT FARM In this nice farm, when the Rooster sleeps, the animals dance… have fun and transform themselves…
SQUARE KISS How many trips must take the square kiss of a frog so that it can turn into Prince Charming?
123456789 ANIMALS A new, fun and creative way of counting to infinity…
Spanish language project by Imapla
Board book – 140 x 140 – 18 pages
With a little bit of imagination, we may see things in many different ways and really have fun…
Imapla shows us through this story how objects are often not what they seem…
New Project (Text and illustrations) by Imapla
(Spanish Language)
We all have inside of us some wolves and sometimes we should let them howl…
Inspired on the crying of a clown, Imapla has created this touching story, where a child unburden himself, letting out the wolf that he had inside.
“When Charlie was born,
he had sadness on his lips.
When Charlie was born he did not cry.
Nobody knew why Charlie was so sad.
But he was sad.
Charlie had a little wolf inside of him
who tried to come out every time he spoke.”
Modified on June, 28, 2010
Fondo de Cultura Económica and the Fundación para las Letras Mexicanas are publishing Los espejos de Anaclara (The Mirrors of Anaclara), a poetry collection by the Uruguayan writer Mercedes Calvo, winner of the prestigious Premio Hispanoamericano de Poesía para Niños, 2008.
From the perspective of early childhood, this book narrates the imaginings of a little girl who looks in the mirror and imagines that her eyes are two doors through which she can enter to discover what is trapped within her: dreams, fears, pains, joys, and yearnings. It is a book which unfolds at the limit between reality and fantasy and the channels through which these two communicate…
The Brazilian artist Fernando Vilela has chosen to work in three colors to illustrate these poems, creating transitions, paradoxes, shiftings, reflections, and games between reality and fiction and thereby creating a book that is suggestive, deeply intelligent, and full of life.
Hardback – 52 pages – 18,5 x 24,5
On the edge of the well / I leaned / and a word to the bottom / I let fall.
The mirror of the water / which shattered / stole my word, / took it away.
Down a dark path / my voice went / I remained thinking / had I lost it?
But the echo of the water / answered me: / poetry always / is made between two.
Review by Pedro Villar in Revista Educación y Biblioteca (Spanish)
Interview of Mercedes Calvo by Pedro Villar (poet and Member of the Prize Jury) (Spanish)
Review in El Universal (México) (Spanish)
Interview of Mercedes Calvo by Agencia Noticias 22 (Spanish)
Review in María García Esperón’s blog (Spanish)
Letter to Mercedes Calvo by Pedro Villar Querida Mercedes: A través de nuestra amiga María García Esperón, ser alado y generoso, vuela este mensaje desde España hacia ti. Quiero dejarte mi testimonio de gratitud, como gran poeta y maestra que eres, y a las personas que como tú tienen el oído y el corazón atento a la escritura y saben entregar la poesía para niños y otros seres sensibles como una ofrenda, como el mayor de los tesoros.El destino me trajo a México como jurado para encontrarme con los espejos de Anaclara, un descubrimiento de versos gigantes, de palabras sencillas y profundas, que llevan la luz de la poesía a flor de labio, al borde del corazón. Versos para recitar serenamente o para ser jugados y cantados ( Ya lo dijo Cortázar, toda poesía que se precie es juego), versos arrebatadores, profundamente hermosos, con una hondura que no suele ser habitual.Vino tu voz como un sueño de nubes y de pájaros, de olor a tierra mojada, de infancia y de tradición en su estado de pureza. Vino cantando por los caminos, en un espacio sin tiempo, para reflejarse en la mirada y el misterio de cada uno de nuestros espejos. Gracias. Este abrazo de palabras es para ti. Pedro Villar, desde España y con México en el corazón.
Letter to Mercedes Calvo by Pedro Villar
Querida Mercedes:
A través de nuestra amiga María García Esperón, ser alado y generoso, vuela este mensaje desde España hacia ti. Quiero dejarte mi testimonio de gratitud, como gran poeta y maestra que eres, y a las personas que como tú tienen el oído y el corazón atento a la escritura y saben entregar la poesía para niños y otros seres sensibles como una ofrenda, como el mayor de los tesoros.El destino me trajo a México como jurado para encontrarme con los espejos de Anaclara, un descubrimiento de versos gigantes, de palabras sencillas y profundas, que llevan la luz de la poesía a flor de labio, al borde del corazón. Versos para recitar serenamente o para ser jugados y cantados ( Ya lo dijo Cortázar, toda poesía que se precie es juego), versos arrebatadores, profundamente hermosos, con una hondura que no suele ser habitual.Vino tu voz como un sueño de nubes y de pájaros, de olor a tierra mojada, de infancia y de tradición en su estado de pureza. Vino cantando por los caminos, en un espacio sin tiempo, para reflejarse en la mirada y el misterio de cada uno de nuestros espejos. Gracias. Este abrazo de palabras es para ti.
Pedro Villar, desde España y con México en el corazón.
Message from Mexican children to Spanish children
Video by María García Esperón (by courtesy of Pedro Villar)
“Poetry is a transgression” Conference by Mercedes Calvo
Text by Clara Lairla
Illustrations by Ana G. Lartitegui
Paperback – 180 x 180 – 48 pages (20 acetate pages)
Project in Spanish language
Lucia likes to disappear. She hides behind her hands and in such way, she gets into her world. There she covers herself from her brothers; escapes from the horrible neighbour and stops listening to the barks of the grumpy dog that lives next door. Lucia’s world is magical, sweet and there the bad guys always lose. However, every now and then she goes beyond certain limits and patience run out of the others. Then, it is useless to hide again.
Lucia’s hands are drawn on the acetate pages, showing that she is covering and uncovering her eyes each time she wants to hide. This game of transparency, gives life to the project, offering a different and original perspective.
Text by Asha Miró Illustrations by Philip Stanton
Published by Satelite K
Hardback – 235 x 235 and 140 x 140- 48 pages
In a small village in Madagascar the river has dried up. Young Nirina has to set out on a fascinating trip seeking the aid of the world’s great rivers to help her find the magic drops which will bring the water back to her home. During her adventures she travels to eleven different countries, meets new friends, and learns the songs that children sing, using their own languages.
Contains also the lyrics of 13 children’s songs from countries around the world + audio CD.
Rights also available without audio CD.
Gotas de color in itunes
Presentation in Mamaterra Ecology Festival
Text by Sergio Lairla Illustrations by Ana Lartitegui
40 pages – 230 x 300
An original picture book divided in 2 parts: Mr. Goodluck’s journey and Mr. Badluck’s trip...
Mr. Goodluck is preparing his holidays. It has been a good year: he has been promoted at work, he ended up paying the rent of his flat and he has won a photo contest.
He thinks that this time he deserves something special.
He pulls out his travel journals and starts dreaming while having a Ceylon tea. - An island! – He suddenly said out loud.
He would like to travel by boat and feel surrounded by sea everywhere…
At the meantime…
It has not been a good week for Mr. Badluck; last Monday, someone stole his car, on Tuesday he lost his clock, on Wednesday he didn’t catch the 8 a.m. train, on Thursday he mislaid his wallet, and today he has lost his job for being late.
So he goes crestfallen, walking without raising his eyes from the floor. And as luck would have it, now he finds something. It is a tourist brochure that talks about a wonderful island: Serere.
- And why not? – He thinks – Now that he doesn’t have a job anymore, may be the right time for a change of scene. Maybe that way his luck will change as well…
Text and illustrations by Philip Stanton
Published by Ediciones SM & Baula
Hardback – 200 x 250 – 48 pages
A six-titles series
Misha, the purple cat, just started first grade. She is a prankster with a hot temper and a quick tongue, but underneath the huff and puff a soft heart beats. This new series of 6 pre-school and up picture books follows Misha and her friends as they discover how to have fun facing everyday childhood problems and worries such as not wanting to be different, being scared of the dark, not wanting to go to school or to have a brother.
In Misha, award winning author and illustrator, Philip Stanton, has created a fun and colourful new character certain to provoke and delight.
¡No quiero ser violeta! (I don’t want to be purple!) Misha is sick of being purple. None of the other cats around her are purple… Misha wants to changer her colour…
Review in New Spanish Books in Germany
Review in New Spanish Books in the UK
Es mío, ¡devuélvemelo! (It’s mine, give it back!) Misha is playing with one of her best friends, Lorenzo Lizzard, but after a short time, the fights start: “Me first. I run faster than you. I saw it before. It’s mine, give it me back!…”
¡Hoy no voy al cole! (I’m not going to school!) After her second day of school, Misha explains her parents she has already learned all she needs to know. School is boring, full of rude kids and bossy teachers and a prissy rabbit named Rachel who makes fun of Misha’s clothes…
¡No tengo sueño! (I’m not sleepy!) Even if it is almost 10 p.m., Misha does not want to go to bed. Between yawns she keeps saying she is not sleepy…
Issued in Spanish & Catalan languages. To be issued in Basque language.
Misha’s website (English & Spanish languages)
Misha’s blog (Spanish language)
Misha’s press review
Philip Stanton’s website (English & Spanish languages)
Interview about Misha the Purple Cat at BTV (Spanish and Catalan)
Text by Stela Barbieri Illustrated by Fernando Vilela
Published by Escala Educacional
Paperback – 180 x 200 – 48 pages
The Collection Ways to Change the World - universal stories written and adapted by Stela Barbieri and illustrated by Fernando Vilela showcases a dialogue with the 8 Millenium Development Goals, proposed in the year 2000 by the United Nations.
In this occasion, Brazil, among other 190 countries, signed a pact in which they would commit themselves to achieve the goals concerning the humanity and the planet until 2015.
On the whole, the stories presented in the Collection Ways to Change the World are inspired by traditional stories from many countries. The illustrations make the readers slip into places from many cultural backgrounds. In order to write and illustrate the stories, Fernando and Stela have made a thorough research of the elements that pertain the diverse cultures represented in them.
The pact has proposed 8 ways of changing the world, which issues will be delved into the 8 stories of the Collection Ways to Change the World:
ERRADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER
(A Menina do Feijão Suculento / The Girl and the Juicy Bean Stew)
ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION
(O Reino dos Mamulengos / The Kingdom of Puppets-Showcase)
PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN
(Radija e os Tapetes Mágicos / Radija and the Magic Carpets)
REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY
(Na Sombra do Baobá / Under the Shadow of the Baobab Tree)
IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH
(Satiko e o Vulcão / Sachiko and the Volcano)
COMBAT HIV/AIDS, MALARIA, AND OTHER DISEASES
(O Gênio do Poço Encantado / The Genius of the Enchanted Well)
ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
(O Amigo dos Animais / The Animals’ Friend)
DEVELOP A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT
(A Ponte / The Bridge)
Issued in Portuguese language
Text & illustrations by Fernando Vilela
Published by DCL
Paperback – 300 x 300 – 40 pages
Snake is eating too much… the jaguar, the wild pig, the macaw, even the worm! With a full up belly, will the snake stand it? Watch out the illustrations, because the animals are wild and they might come out of the book!
Wordless story by Fernando Vilela
Published by Brinque-Book
Paperback – 180 x 225 – 64 pages
Illustrated with a technique that uses crape bands, this new book by artist Fernando Vilela has no text, but the images shown in each page fulfill the curiosity and the imagination of readers about the planet Earth, specifically the bottom of the ocean, whose fauna and flora the author researched in depth. This book can be read as well from the beginning than from the end, creating in each case, a new trip.
Wordless story
Vilela’s interview in Educación y Biblioteca by Gustavo Puerta (Spanish)
Text by Stela Barbieri Illustrations by Fernando Vilela
Once in a certain place there was an enormous well that supplied the region pure and limpid water. The water came from a fresh and a healthy fountain, and the local people believed that inside it there was a generous genius that took care of that well. People used to live happily and with health. Nonetheless, as time went by, they began to get sick. The herbs and medicine available would not cure them. Wise men and doctors were called and found out that people were getting sick because the water was infected. At last another well was built.
This book is part of the Collection Ways to Change the World, based on the 8 Millennium Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The sixth Goal, “Combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases”, has motivated The genius of the enchanted well.
Cauan, a wise boy that in his dreams would communicate with the animals, used to live in an indigenous tribe. Once there was an attack of wild pigs. The witch doctor, when interpreting Cauan’s dreams, found out that the attack was a result of their living in a state of environmental unbalance.
This book is part of the Collection Ways of Changing the World, based on the 8 Millennium Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The seventh Goal, “Ensure environmental sustainability”, has motivated The animals’ friend.
In a far-away village, in the bank of a river, used to live an agricultural community that grew corn and sold it in a town nearby. To sell it, they had to cross the river in canoes. In the rainy season the river became very torrential. Crossing it was impossible. So they decided to build a bridge and, to do so, they trusted each villager’s knowledge and cooperation. Many trials and errors engage the readers in this story.
This book is part of the Collection Ways to Change the World, based on the 8 Millennium Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The eighth Goal, “Develop a global partnership for development”, has motivated The bridge.
Published by Cosac Naify
Paperback – 240 x 195 – 52 pages
What do you suppose might happen if the famous outlawn “Lampião” from the backlands of northeastern Brazil were to meet up with one of the medieval knights of King Arthur’s Round Table? Such an extremely unusual meeting led illustrator – and now author – Fernando Vilela to compose an extraordinarily original work, mixing various styles: in verse, using the sextain (six line stanzas) typical of the string literature of the backlands; in prose, in the style typical of the epic narratives of medieval culture, and in stamping and wood engraving. The confrontation between Lampião and Lancelot extends to the special colors that come to fill the pages: silver and copper, in contrast to the black, making up pictures of spectacular beauty. The book also includes a glossary of terms and an explanatory text about the references Vilela used to compose this work, wich is outstanding in terms of size and talent. The result, as Braulio Tavares points out in the text on the blurb, “is a visual and poetic adventure worthy of the two cultures that inspired it”.
Mention – New Horizons – Bologna Ragazzi Award – Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2007
White Raven List 2006 – International Jugend Bibliothek de Munich
2 Jabuti’s Awards 2007 (Brazil Academy of Letters)
In words of the Bologna Ragazzi Award Jury The book by Fernando Vilela, Lampião & Lancelote, published by Cosac & Naify Edições, resonates with a multitude of elements. First and foremost it brings together many techniques and cultures in a manner true to the splendid definition of Lewis Mumford. The combined techniques of woodcuts, bronze coloured overlays and silver finishing allude to the Galaxy of Gutenberg whose artist-typographers were wont to combine a vast array of techniques. The fury of battle, landscapes where trees and bushes seem to come alive, the appearance here and there of human faces reminiscent of Lampião, scattered weapons and uniforms all speak of history, the human story – and fiction through reference to Borges. This is a book of dreams to encourage dreaming; a book where hills are bronze and the cavalry of the ancient epic poems are redolent of Italian frescoes.
In words of the Bologna Ragazzi Award Jury
The book by Fernando Vilela, Lampião & Lancelote, published by Cosac & Naify Edições, resonates with a multitude of elements. First and foremost it brings together many techniques and cultures in a manner true to the splendid definition of Lewis Mumford. The combined techniques of woodcuts, bronze coloured overlays and silver finishing allude to the Galaxy of Gutenberg whose artist-typographers were wont to combine a vast array of techniques. The fury of battle, landscapes where trees and bushes seem to come alive, the appearance here and there of human faces reminiscent of Lampião, scattered weapons and uniforms all speak of history, the human story – and fiction through reference to Borges. This is a book of dreams to encourage dreaming; a book where hills are bronze and the cavalry of the ancient epic poems are redolent of Italian frescoes.
In words of the White Raven Selection Commitee Popular culture – Middle Ages – Poetry – Fight This book is written in the form of a “cordel” text, a verse narrative that constitutes an important genre of popular Brazilian culture. In it, the author crafts an unusual encounter between the medieval knight Lancelot and the legendary “cangaceiro” (bandit) Lampião. They compete in a verbal combat that evokes their different times, their habits, the imaginary of medieval literature, and the typical language and setting of northern Brazil. The result is a truly original story in each passage and every brushstroke. The very expressive illustrations in extra-large landscape format contain numerous allusions to the two different epochs and cultures: Whereas Lancelot’s universe is depicted in silver, a colour that was also used in medieval book art, the woodcut-like illustrations in copper, reminiscent of the printing technique of “cordel” literature, represent Lampião’s world. Both in the text and the pictures, the two different worlds are merged into a fascinating whole. (8+)
In words of the White Raven Selection Commitee
Popular culture – Middle Ages – Poetry – Fight This book is written in the form of a “cordel” text, a verse narrative that constitutes an important genre of popular Brazilian culture. In it, the author crafts an unusual encounter between the medieval knight Lancelot and the legendary “cangaceiro” (bandit) Lampião. They compete in a verbal combat that evokes their different times, their habits, the imaginary of medieval literature, and the typical language and setting of northern Brazil. The result is a truly original story in each passage and every brushstroke. The very expressive illustrations in extra-large landscape format contain numerous allusions to the two different epochs and cultures: Whereas Lancelot’s universe is depicted in silver, a colour that was also used in medieval book art, the woodcut-like illustrations in copper, reminiscent of the printing technique of “cordel” literature, represent Lampião’s world. Both in the text and the pictures, the two different worlds are merged into a fascinating whole. (8+)
Vilela’s interview by Gustavo Puerta in Educación y Biblioteca (Spanish)
Review in Ràdio Cultura Brasil (audio in Portuguese)
Text and illustrations by Imapla
Published by Ediciones SM
A tale told through simple and graphic images and a few onomatopoeic expressions.
At the beginning, there were only trees and silence. Birds came and began to sing. But the world is changing and the birds have to learn new languages: the language of the woodcutter’s saw, the language of the trees falling down, the language of the sirens and all the new city languages…
An apparently very simple story to read out loud, to have fun, imitating all the city noises but also to make us think about the changes of our environment.
SM Foundation International Illustration Award 2007
Text by Eusebio Delfin
Illustrations by Imapla
Published by Ekaré
Hardback – 170 x 126 – 32 pages
This book takes the lyrics of the eponym Cuban bolero written by Eusebio Delfin and performed by the Buenavista Social Club, among other groups. “Y tú ¿qué has hecho?” narrates the beautiful story of a girl and a tree/lover, a story about love and what finally remains when love is gone. “I’ll keep forever your beloved name and you, what have you done with my poor flower?”
A beautiful edition of a leporello folded book, suggesting an accordion made of flowing images and words. A book for children and adults, for poetry and life lovers.
Special Mention at the Junceda Awards
Published by Serres (RBA)
Hardback – 248 x 185 – 32 pages
This is the story of a mother, like many others…
This is the story of a mother who is asking every morning to his 4 years old son, Peter, if she has turn into a trash can or a shelf… Or if she is a closet or a hanger?
But this is above all the story of Peter who has to turn himself every morning in a swordfish as all his classmates… and Peter thinks that his mother is neither a trash can, nor a hanger… But she seems to have so many arms… Maybe she is an octopus! And Peter likes octopus’ hugs!
Review in Pizca de papel (Spanish)
Text by Jorge Zentner Illustrations by Philip Stanton
Published by Macmillan
Hardback – 200 x 200 – 24 pages
Every day Chuf-Chuf, the little train, travels from Big City to Small Town. And each day he passes through the Great Desert. But he dreams of seeing the sea and making new friends. Will he be able to find a new route and make his dream come true?
A warm story, full of adventure, about making new friends and taking responsibilities for one’s actions.
Issued in Spanish & Catalan languages
Text by Judith Nuria Maida Illustrated by Fernando Vilela
Published by Editora Ática
Paperback – 330 x 230 – 40 pages
It is a book that combines scientific soundness and poetry to tell the children, in an accessible way, a story that has amazed humanity from thousands and thousands of years: the origin of the Universe. The book presents the Big Bang theory, which is a likely explanation about the beginning of the Universe, in a poetical language prepared for children.
Judith Nuria Maida was born in Patagonia, Argentina. Since she was little she has enjoyed writing poems and studing Astronomy – the science that unveils – among other amazing things. She is very interested in the arising of the Universe and the movement of heavenly bodies.
Fernando Vilela was born in Sao Paulo City, Brazil. He is an awarded author-illustrator with more than fifty books published by several important publishers in Brazil and abroad.
Published by Girafinha
Paperback – 260 x 230 – 48 pages
The story of a princess with a shining string on her head.
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess who was born with a different string on top of her head. It was not hair, it was stronger than steel, shining and very long. It would tangle everywhere giving the girl a heck of a headache. Nothing nor no one could pull the string out of the girl’s head. As the girl grew up she became a beautiful lady but very cranky and sad. Gentlemens’ gifts were of no use for the princess who would always refuse these and make fun of them. But one of them realized she was not doing it out of sheer evilness, she was doing it because the thread kept pulling her head back bothering her tremendously. Decided to help her, he followed the thread untangling knot by knot. When he untangled the last knot the princess felt happy for the first time in her life.
And then they were wed. But the string kept on growing. So the princess decided she would weave and knit beautiful fabrics and clothes out of this thread. Clothes so beautiful people would come from far away just to see the wonderful clothes she was making.
Highly Recommended Award by FNLIJ (Brazilian branch of IBBY)
Finalist Jabuti Prize 2007 (Category Children’s books)
Paperback – 180 x 200 - 48 pages
The bumba-meu- boi is a Brazilian popular party in which indigenous and afro-brazilian cultures join in a single dialogue and it takes place in many regions of the country.
However, Stela Barbieri and Fernando Vilela retell a different version to children’s public, inspired in the regional version from Maranhão State “The Ox has black skin full of colored outfits”, where this entertaining story enchants everyone in St. John’s Folk Party.
In Words of the White Raven Selection Committee: Ox – Wish – Dance Since the 18th century, Bumba-meu-Boi is part of Brazilian folklore. It is a comic-dramatic dance, which tells the story of the death and resurrection of an ox. The drama is told and danced in the whole country to the present day. Depending on the region, it has different names and versions (Boi-Bumbá, Boi-de-fita, Boi-de-reis, etc.). The readers of this version will be captivated by the protagonist Francisco’s deeds in order to satisfy the fancies of his pregnant wife, Catirina, who is craving an ox tongue. The problem is that she only wants to eat the tongue of the charmed ox, which sparkles with coloured strings and dances during the “festas juninas” in honour of Saint John and Saint Peter, or during the Nativity celebrations. In the end, Francisco is able to find a compromise and, to the joy of the audience, the ox can dance again. The mixed-media illustrations present the festivities of the ox party in vivid colours and transmit the joy of the traditional feast. (8+)
In Words of the White Raven Selection Committee:
Ox – Wish – Dance Since the 18th century, Bumba-meu-Boi is part of Brazilian folklore. It is a comic-dramatic dance, which tells the story of the death and resurrection of an ox. The drama is told and danced in the whole country to the present day. Depending on the region, it has different names and versions (Boi-Bumbá, Boi-de-fita, Boi-de-reis, etc.). The readers of this version will be captivated by the protagonist Francisco’s deeds in order to satisfy the fancies of his pregnant wife, Catirina, who is craving an ox tongue. The problem is that she only wants to eat the tongue of the charmed ox, which sparkles with coloured strings and dances during the “festas juninas” in honour of Saint John and Saint Peter, or during the Nativity celebrations. In the end, Francisco is able to find a compromise and, to the joy of the audience, the ox can dance again. The mixed-media illustrations present the festivities of the ox party in vivid colours and transmit the joy of the traditional feast. (8+)
Review in Dobras da Leitura (Portuguese)
White Raven List 2008
Text by Stela Barbieri Illustration by Fernando Vilela
Published by Editora Moderna
Paperback – 170 x 240 – 48 pages
Pedro Malasartes plays an important role in many Brazilian children’s and adults’ imagination. Important character of Brazilian popular culture, his stories are told everywhere. They are full of humor, with surprising solutions. Even though Pedro Malasartes looks like a common man, he is cunning and sharp-witted in his “arts”.
Pedro Malasartes in Wikipedia (Spanish language)
Published by Editora SM (Brazil)
Paperback – 270 x 205 – 48 pages
A trip to the rising Sun country, with its landscapes (made of beaches, volcanos and gardens) through its millenary traditions (like the Zen-Buddhism), its art (like the Kabuki, the Haiku and the Ukiyo-e), its people and its habits. Among dragons and shoguns, swords and lanterns, a whole new world is revealed, with powerfulness and kindness.
Pedagogical guide (Portuguese)
Text by Ilan Brenman Illustrations by Fernando Vilela
Paperback – 120 x 180 – 80 pages
This volume encloses popular stories from many regions of the vast Mother Africa. “Ananse woke up one day strong-minded: “I want to be Africa’s official storyteller”. At that time, the owner of all stories was Nyankonpon, the sky god. Ananse asked to be given an audience with the all-powerful owner of narratives.
Ilan Brenman was born in Israel. He is the author of many books for young readers and has been published by several important Brazilian publishers.
See also Pocket Book Storyteller – Brazil
This volume encloses popular stories from the five regions of Brazil: North, Northeast, Center-East, Southeast and South Brazil. “What has happened to the jaguars that were trapped in the liana? No one knows. What we know is that the Brazilian raccoon’s children, grand-children and great-grandchildren and great-great-great grandchildren have to watch out the jaguars as this story has spread over all Brazil’s Center-East corners.”
See also Pocket Book Storyteller – Africa
Published by Companhia das Letras
Paperback – 230 x 230 – 48 pages
In Japan, origami has been part of people’s lives for a long time. Samurais used to apply this technique to develop motor coordination, blood circulation and the touch. And so did the famous warrior Massao Kazuo, also a master in the art of origami. His son, Mitio, enjoyed watching his father making the tsuru, an origami form that represents the crane, bird of health and richness. As a good observer, Mitio soon became an origami specialist. Until the day his father got sick and Mitio decided to make a thousand tsurus, in order to save Massao.
Paperback – 300 x 300 – 32 pages
What fits into a book? All you want, all you imagine. A book is like mother’s heart, has endless spaces and possibilities. This small big-sized book would not be different. In it everything in the world fits in, be them big, small, full of movement or motionless. With wonderfully vivid colors and shapes, young readers will not veer from it up to the end, making them dream, like only books can do…
Sachiko, who was pregnant, used to live with her family in a village, on the lake bank, which, on its turn, was placed on the foot of a volcano. The volcano had never erupted and would always release a smooth smoke. However, in a cold night, the earth quaked and suddenly the volcano, overtaking everyone, spilled rivers of lava that invaded the village. Sachiko lost her husband and, looked after by the community, was assisted in her needs as pregnant.
This book is part of the Collection Ways to Change the World, based on the 8 Millennium Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The fifth Goal, “Improve maternal health”, motivated Sachiko and the Volcano.
Severino was a young man when he decided to get around in the world in search of his fortune. He was an expert in playing with puppets. However he did not know how to read and write. Due to this, he was almost fooled by a jealous king who did not want his daughter to get married with him. Helped by a friend who was a mountebank leader, Severino learned how to read and built a great library to his people.
This book is part of the Collection Ways to Change the World, based on the 8 Millennium Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The second goal, “Achieve universal primary education”, motivated The Kingdom of the Puppets-Showcase.
Published by Escala Educacional Paperback – 180 x 200 – 48 pages
With a simple and friendly language, the book approaches the hunger and solidarity issue. It stimulates the reader to slip into the story, get involved by the issue, mostly due to the illustrations that value the plantations, the land cultivation and the “Feijoada” (Brazilian Bean Stew) made by the whole community.
At the end, the book presents the text “The Fight for the Dreams”, which explains the Collection Ways to Change the World, based on the 8 Millennium Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The first one, “Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger”, has motivated The Girl and the Juicy Bean Stew.
Radija used to live in the middle of the desert, together with her parents and five siblings. She would enjoy imagining the day when she would go with the merchants’ traveling group, selling her “magic” carpets that used to feed her imagination.
Her father used to say to her she could not travel without him or her husband. Despite the adversities, she did not give up her dream and turned out to be a very special storyteller.
This book is part of the Collection Ways to Change the World, based on the 8 Millennium Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The third Goal, “Promote gender equality and empower women”, has motivated Radija and the Magic Carpet.
In a very distant place, there was a woman who wished to have a son. Everyday she would go to a nearby baobab tree to make her prayers, pledging to the gods to help her have the kid she wanted so much. Once, desperate, she shouted: “May the Gods send me a son even if he were as small as this baoba seed!” Nine months went by and the woman gave birth to a tiny little baby. From that day on, feeding and taking care of him was a great and awfully demanding challenge, which she carried out with all her efforts and the assistance of the people from that place.
This book is part of the Collection Ways to Change the World, based on the 8 Millennium Development Goals proposed by the United Nations. The fourth Goal, “Reduce Child Mortality”, has motivated Under the Shadow of the Baobab Tree.
Paperback – 220 x 300 – 64 pages
A Story-Teller’s Favorite Stories brings a selection of seven tales from different peoples around the globe: Africans, Brazilians, Greeks, Asian and even one from the Canary Islands. The stories, recommended for children over 7 years old, are retold by Ilan Brenman and illustrated by Fernando Vilela, who used woodcutting techniques for the job. The beauty of its images and the careful choice of its stories give this book not only great narratives, but also a very good visual appeal.
Through an innovative and free-writing style, the author presents seven short stories, full of grace and good-humor. The reader comes in contact with an inventive and rich cultural universe, which provides children with new vocabulary, along with words and symbols. More than just entertaining children, A Story-Teller’s Favorite Stories stimulates their imagination, educates their mind and gives them support to build even more distinguished and outstanding personalities.
Fernando Vilela was born in Sao Paulo City, Brazil. He is an awarded author illustrator with more than fifty books published by several important publishers in Brazil and abroad.
Published by Scipione
Paperback – 170 x 260 – 64 pages
The Boatman and the Canoeman narrates the getting together between a white boatman and a indigenous canoeman on the Amazon River. The canoeman is rescued by the boatman, from the small canoe which was about to sink. During their trip down the river, the two men tell their stories and adventures. Absent-minded, they do not realize the vessel was damaged and is also about to sink.
Hardback – 205 x 270 – 24 pages
“We are five in my house, five as in the fingers of the hand. Adding them all up we have ten arms that hug, exactly one moment for each thing. There are instants that come wrapped in sun and moon paper. Mum’s arms are the best for those. She keeps dreams into them and unwraps them in the morning, with mint flavour. Those are moments that rustle like cellophane paper.”
All the moments shared with the mother, the father, the brother and the grandfather add up and allow the little girl of the story to calmly, joyfully and strongly assume chosen moments of loneliness. There is also, as in all Sergio Lairla and Ana Lartitegui’s books, a discourse inherent to the illustration. This discourse is never redundant and only enriches the text with conceptual links between details of the illustrations, funny or poetical elements that the reader discovers little by little through several readings.
Published by Atica
Paperback – 275 x 202 – 40 pages
The book tells us the story of two children – and their pet turtle – who live in the region of Jarí, a small riverbranch that links River Amazon and River Tapajós in Pará State. However the main character of the book is, in fact, the scenario itself: the river that leads the destiny of the communities that live around it, who are compelled to move on to other places in the Forest in the period of the rains. Even the school obeys the logic of the river, interrupting the classes in the rain season.
The fauna and flora, the day-by-day of the community and their habits are portrayed with beauty and fidelity in details – all of it without the need of a single word. It is an invitation for kids to discover a part of Brazil little explored.
Wordless
Review in Rádio Cultura Brasil (audio in Portuguese)
Published by Fondo de Cultura Económica
Hardback – 215 x 315 – 32 pages
La carta, originally titled La carta de la Sra. González, is a very surprising and unusual picture book.
A woman wrote a love letter remembering the sweet cherry aroma of her lover’s pipe and thought to herself: “One must pay careful attention to detail”. Then she posted it in the letter-box. The postman, surprised by the cherry scent of the letter, decided to give it priority. He went riding on his bicycle but he was so happy and absent-minded that he fell down a big hole as deep and dark as the mouth of an enormous fish. The enormous fish was resting in a large river. He hardly ever moved but this time, he decided to swim away and look for food. He was trying to reach a silver fish when both of them fell down a deep hole as if they were being swallowed by a giant. The giant was very thirsty, drinking a big bottle of water and thinking “I could drink a whole river!”… He was still thirsty and decided to go to the well. But it was so difficult to get the water that the giant fell down into the dark round hole of the well, like the navel of a huge beast… But finally, the lover receives his letter…
The book has a circular narrative structure of stories within stories, many surreal elements and a type of fantasy that is based in reality (all the elements hidden in the illustrations belong to the worlds of the woman and the man: “One must pay careful attention to detail”). A book about how love is able to change life, time and reality.
The illustrator has designed 2 alternative covers for this book.
This book has been studied by several important specialists in children’s literature who praised the quality of the experimental writing and drawing and the meta-fictional aspects of the book.
Best Children’s Picture Book Award Mexico International Book Fair
Issued in Spanish Language
Review in Babar.com (Spanish language)
Review in Imaginaria.com (Spanish language)
Text by Agatha Echevarría Illustrations by Philip Stanton
Published by Ediciones SM & Cruïlla
Hardback – 210 x 284 – 40 pages
During his last space flight, Yuri the astronaut saw that the Earth had sprung a leak. Meanwhile, in the heart of Africa, the tribal shaman lost most of the feathers of his headdress after dancing so much in order to make it rain. But the rain clouds were so small that they didn’t hear his song and couldn’t find the village. Bomaral, the son of the shaman, left the village and started a journey searching for the clouds that his father had failed to bring.
A creative book about the earth’s environment and what children can do to improve it.
Text by Jordi Sierra i Fabra Illustrations by Philip Stanton
Published by Destino
Hardback – 220 x 235 – 32 pages
A charming country farmhouse is slowly surrounded by an ever encroaching city. Abandoned and decrepit, the house’s skyscrapers neighbours call for its demolition. Does everything old have to be torn down?
One day, a black limo parks in front, what will happen to the old house?
His author, Jordi Sierra i Fabra, is one of the Spanish most prolific and prize winning writer.
Philip Stanton, the illustrator, is a well-known American artist, living in Spain, winner of the prestigious Destino infantil Apel.les Mestres Award for children’s picture books.
Text by Emili Teixidor Illustrations by Philip Stanton
Published by Destino & Planeta Oxford
Ring 1-2-3 y el mundo nuevo is the story of the arrival of a new child into an old, worn-out world. The newborn looks at the world and does not like what he sees. Noisy gray cars, gray buildings in flames, gray boats, gray wars and gray pollution… This baby decides to use his imagination to change his name and much more. He invents a whole new world that better suits him: a new world filled with colours and friendship with everything he wants to see and experience.
This delightful 32-pages picture book deals with surprising themes. It conveys positive sensations using colourful illustrations with references to modern issues, and friendly texts brimming with humour and creativity.
Stanton’s illustrations forcefully project the positive development of the storyline: an old world built by grown-ups and based on wars, weapons and towers in flames is replaced by the colourful creation of an invented planet. A place where imagination enables each of its lucky inhabitants to share happiness and good intentions.
Video Presentation Ring 1-2-3
Review in El Mundo
Ring 1-2-3 in S.O.L. (Servicio de Orientación a la Lectura)
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