AL FINAL (at the end)
Text by Silvia Nanclares
Illustrations by Miguel Brieva
Publisher: Kókinos
Hardback – 28 x 28 – 72 pages
An amazing book halfway between picture book and comic book, brimming with intelligence and imagination, poetry and humor, irreverence and enthusiasm …
A wonderful journey of initiation which transports and fascinates the reader, regardless of his age …
A brave heroine, full of curiosity, without prejudice, open on the others and the world …
A book that can be read again and again to enjoy the wonderful pleasure of discovering, at each reading, new meanings, references, details, hints and characters
Imagination is the world of all that can be represented in images. Some people even say that anything we can imagine can become reality, and vice versa, that we’ll never be able to make real what we are unable to imagine. Thus, the imaginary reality goes in and out of real life through that wide door, a so wide door that we cannot even see it. Al final (At the end) is the story of a fantastic journey like many others, featuring a girl with no name that could be anyone. The text, with verbs in the present, announces briefly the facts without regard at all for anecdotes: juxtaposed actions, described in direct phrases reduced to the minimum that enable a focus on action. The voice of the narrator uses the second person and thereby creates a strange split that seems to come from this great interior we live in dreams and makes us wonder “Where am I?” and “Where are you?”. Nothing is missing and nothing is superfluous in this example of minimal literature. Not surprisingly, the author, Silvia Nanclares, comes from theatre. Perhaps, among writers, playwrights are best placed to understand the possibilities of picture books. Following the words, the drawings by Miguel Brieva lead us through the story. But, unlike what happens with writing, graphic information is displayed in profusion, as in a beautiful garden, and needs time to be observed. Thus, the main part of what happens in this work is entrusted to the sight. To imagine is to see, and the authors respect that visual priority for the reader because what matters here is not what it’s said but what is shown, not so much what happens as what is given to imagine. Miguel Brieva is one of the best satirists of the time. Committed to a radical critique of our Western value system, he turns his satirical vision in works such as Dinero (Money) (Mondadori, 2008) and Enciclopedia Univeral Clismón. Bienvenido al mundo (Universal Encyclopedia Clismón. Welcome to the world) (Mondadori, 2006). Contributor to the magazine El Jueves, of La Vanguardia and El Pais, and other more alternative media, Brieva gets in touch here, from the first time, with children readers with a unique and uncompromising know-how, full of authentic style, without wasting a single occasion to show to his readers the contradictions and vices of our time. But social criticism remains at the background in this work, where what matters really is the fantastic journey of a girl that one day crosses the double red door and makes up her mind between: “Come in without knocking” or “Knock without coming in”. Without any doubt, when this book falls into your hands, opt to come in without knocking: Come and see! Review issued in Pantalia – Gestión de ideas (Spanish language) See “Pantalia elige” children’s books selection (Spanish language)
Imagination is the world of all that can be represented in images. Some people even say that anything we can imagine can become reality, and vice versa, that we’ll never be able to make real what we are unable to imagine. Thus, the imaginary reality goes in and out of real life through that wide door, a so wide door that we cannot even see it.
Al final (At the end) is the story of a fantastic journey like many others, featuring a girl with no name that could be anyone. The text, with verbs in the present, announces briefly the facts without regard at all for anecdotes: juxtaposed actions, described in direct phrases reduced to the minimum that enable a focus on action. The voice of the narrator uses the second person and thereby creates a strange split that seems to come from this great interior we live in dreams and makes us wonder “Where am I?” and “Where are you?”. Nothing is missing and nothing is superfluous in this example of minimal literature. Not surprisingly, the author, Silvia Nanclares, comes from theatre. Perhaps, among writers, playwrights are best placed to understand the possibilities of picture books.
Following the words, the drawings by Miguel Brieva lead us through the story. But, unlike what happens with writing, graphic information is displayed in profusion, as in a beautiful garden, and needs time to be observed. Thus, the main part of what happens in this work is entrusted to the sight. To imagine is to see, and the authors respect that visual priority for the reader because what matters here is not what it’s said but what is shown, not so much what happens as what is given to imagine. Miguel Brieva is one of the best satirists of the time. Committed to a radical critique of our Western value system, he turns his satirical vision in works such as Dinero (Money) (Mondadori, 2008) and Enciclopedia Univeral Clismón. Bienvenido al mundo (Universal Encyclopedia Clismón. Welcome to the world) (Mondadori, 2006). Contributor to the magazine El Jueves, of La Vanguardia and El Pais, and other more alternative media, Brieva gets in touch here, from the first time, with children readers with a unique and uncompromising know-how, full of authentic style, without wasting a single occasion to show to his readers the contradictions and vices of our time. But social criticism remains at the background in this work, where what matters really is the fantastic journey of a girl that one day crosses the double red door and makes up her mind between: “Come in without knocking” or “Knock without coming in”. Without any doubt, when this book falls into your hands, opt to come in without knocking: Come and see!
Review issued in Pantalia – Gestión de ideas (Spanish language)
See “Pantalia elige” children’s books selection (Spanish language)
Miguel Brieva in wikipedi (Spanish language)
Interview to Miguel Brevia by Borja Crespo (Published in Spanish by Guía del Cómic)
La siesta by Silvia Nanclares (Kókinos)
Other Kókinos’ books in lazuli
Exhibition of the original illustrations at Pantha Rei Bookshop/Gallery (c/ Hernán Cortes, 7, Madrid) from May 14 to 19
Modified on Oct. 28, 2009
Text by Gabriela Keselman
Illustrations by Gabriela Rubio
Published by Kókinos
Catalina doesn’t like saying goodbye. Every time she has to say goodbye she has a strange feeling in her heart and she gets butterflies in her stomach and really feels like shouting “DON’T GO AWAY!”.
But the sun disappears so that the moon can come out and the winter leaves us to give way to spring, as her father leaves her room so that she can sleep and dream… In this way, Catalina understands that some things have to go in order to make way in our lives for other things that are just as nice, just as fun and just as comforting.
This is a story full of daring three colour illustrations (black, red and golden inks), where each farewell has a reason to be and a happy ending. Through this story, readers will realize the importance of being able to let things go and to learn how to say goodbye.
Printed in 2 true colours + golden ink
Issued in Spanish language
Finalist of the Madrid Booksellers Prize 2009
Illustrations by Noemí Villamuza
Marc wanted to go to sleep. He really did. But he just couldn’t sleep. He really couldn’t. So he called his mom. “I’m afraid a giant mosquito will fly in and bite me,” he said. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” his mom answered. “I’ll take care of that in no time and you’ll be asleep before you know it.”
She made him a special pair of mosquito-proof pajamas, complete with a helmet, a sword for defending himself against insects, and a buzz-repellent teddy bear. Then she left the room.
When fear invades a child before going to sleep, everything is possible: imaginary monsters, strong winds and mysterious events. Only his mother seems to be able to keep him out of danger. However, in the end, both of them understand that a warm touch is the only thing needed to calm down and fall asleep.
De verdad que no podía was created using both digital and freehand techniques. The greasy pencil line stamps the character’s expressions and introduces the narrative, while soft digital colour stains define the story’s atmosphere.
Finalist National Prize of Illustration 2002
Selection La Joie par les Livres 2002
IBBY Honour List 2004
Issued in Spanish, English (USA) and Japanese languages
Review in Curled Up with a good book (English)
Review by Cheryl Rainfield (English)
Review in Babar (Spanish)
Text by Javier Sobrino Illustrations by Noemí Villamuza
Hardback – 32 pages – 252 x 312
I like living… with the wind blowing in my hair and your laugh near me. I like watching… the full moon at night and the sun setting. I like smelling… the perfume of the rose and the damp ground after the rain. I like listening… to the music that comes from their hands and to the crickets that sing in summer: cri-cri, cri-cri. I like eating… warm fritters and chocolate cakes. I like touching… the sand of the beach and my cat as it purrs. I like sleeping… curled up under the stars, my face near yours. I like dreaming… that yesterday I was an Indian in the prairie and that tomorrow I will be a pirate in the sea. I like playing… with my doll, my spinning top and, with a lance, conquer a castle. I like planting… a flower here, a tree there, no matter where. I like painting… colors in the air and toys in his hands. I like imagining… that blood does not stain the Earth and that we are all friends under the stars. I like listening… to this short story I have just told.
Issued in Spanish and Korean languages
Review in Cuatrogatos (Spanish)
Best children’s books 2002
Text by Pablo Guerrero Illustrations by Emilio Urberuaga
Hardback – 220 x 300 – 32 pages
When I’m a taxi driver, I drive you in my taxi to the sea.
When I’m a piano player, I sing to your heart’s rhythm.
When I’m a painter, I cover your ceiling with almond trees…
All the papers a child is able to assume, all the worlds a child is able to build, all the words a child is able to say…
Text & photos by Sandra Barrilaro
Hardback – 270 x 250 – 34 pages
A special album lit up by a bluish light, the moonlight…
A night trip to the land of dreams: the sea, an island, children, the midnight sun… but, above all, the carriers of dreams who travel across the villages and hamlets to gather the dreams of their inhabitants and give them to the gods who live in the mountains. Their baskets are as large as their dreams. Their baskets are as light as their dreams.
Review in Revista Cuatrogatos (Spanish)
Text by Ana Rossetti Illustrations by Jorge Artajo
Hardback – 240 x 320 – 32 pages
“Hello Mr. Today”, says Mireya as she welcomes the new day blowing with all her might and filling the air with happiness.
So begins this clever book which spins a poetical and simple story that tells us about a day in the life of Mireya. She shares her feelings with her friends, wondering what the day will bring them, what the sun will allow them to do, wondering at what moment Mr. Today will cry and about the fears that come with the darkness. Will she be able to go on her outing? and so together with her friends she asks the day to be exciting, fun, happy and extraordinary. Will there be a lot of traffic and will the city be as noisy as a horrible storm? Will the night fishermen arrive and help Mireya to fill the air with good vibrations?
With an easygoing narration, created by Ana Rossetti, and jointly with the original illustrations of Jorge Artajo, this book invites children to play with their imagination, by creating expectations of the most wonderful thing that we all have: our daily life.
Buenos Días Señor Hoy is a book full of easily interpreted metaphors, a sweet and beautiful book where good thoughts come flying along and fears disappear when you turn on the sun in your bedroom.
Text by Jorge Luján Illustrations by Mandana Sadat
Hardback – 300 x 220 – 32 pages
Oshi… who are you?
With these words Jorge Luján presents us two semi celestial, semi earthly creatures that are both beautifully naive and sweet. He uses a poetical dialogue where we are able to read between the lines and gather different meanings and messages.
Cosas con plumas is the story of two friends, told in five parts, who once they coincide in time, they start sharing their ideas, their feelings and their actions. They also question their existence, their being and their name, and they finally understand that in the end they will no longer be “beings” or “feathered things”, but instead they will be sweet memories or shooting stars.
The reader is able to let his or her imagination fly, traveling in a hot air balloon through a world full of deep meanings and surprises, as well as enjoying Mandana Sadat’s poetic illustrations.
Modified on Sept. 22, 2009
Text and illustrations by Nicolai Troshinsky
Hardback – 220 x 235 – 32 pages
There once was a man who was able to dream so well that he was capable of dreaming about anything he wanted. That man was my grandfather…
This is how the story begins. El domador de sueños, a book by Nicolai Troshinsky, offers us a clever story, where imagination is the main character and where anything is possible.
It is a pleasant read full of hope, beautifully illustrated in a combination of drawings, paintings and collage,and where dreams, in a way, come true.
The author-illustrator is a young Russian artist who studied in Madrid and Italy and is now collaborating with Spanish publishing companies.
Text by Antonio Ventura Illustrations by Leticia Ruifernández
Hardback – 245 x 275 – 32 pages
In a simple tender way, Antonio Ventura brings us close to Pablo, a boy who plays hopscotch at school and whose only wish is to get to the square which represents “heaven” so that he will be able to ask for his wish, that Marta, his friend from Art class, falls in love with him.
La Rayuela is a story that shows us the strength and innocence of young love. It shows us that we must not give up hope and that we should continue trying to get to “heaven” in order to achieve what we want in life.
The beautiful and classical illustrations by Leticia Ruifernández blend in perfectly with the text and the nostalgia it represents. This book can be a trip down memory lane for many adults and a beautiful story for children, where anything is possible.
Text by Silvia Nanclares Illustrations by Equipo Elatico
Publisher by Kókinos
Hardback – 270 x 240 – 32 pages
A book for young children which talks about the sensations, tenderness and sweetness shared. A simple and evoking text with illustrations based on colored photographs which remind us of that wonderful moment which is the siesta shared between a mother and her child.
Every day… after lunch, everything is calm and dark. And suddenly… an unexpected noise, a ray of light which comes through the window… and in that moment I realize that we are alone… hair and face, head and chest, back and arm, shoulder and hand, foot and leg. And then, I think as always… how wonderful it is sleeping a siesta with you!
Site