Tales of Trotter Street
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Cover Story
The cover of this issue is a design incorporating illustrations from four books illustrated by the subject of our Authorgraph, Ian Beck. The top left illustration is from Five Little Ducks (Orchard), the top right from Poppy and Pip's Picnic (to be published Autumn '97 by HarperCollins), the bottom left from The Owl and the Pussy-cat (Transworld) and the bottom right from Home Before Dark (to be published September '97 by Scholastic). Ian Beck's Picture Book (Hippo) is reviewed in this issue.
Beck talks to BfK's interviewer, Julia Eccleshare, also in this issue. His distinctive decorative style with its sensitive pen line and cross hatching has a nostalgic but sometimes also a surreal quality - he describes it as 'a look that is floating, strong and wistful all at the same time'.
Thanks to Orchard, HarperCollins, Transworld and Scholastic for their help in producing this composite cover.
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Tales of Trotter Street
This is a collection of favourite stories about the children and their families (white, black and Asian) who live in Trotter Street reissued in an omnibus edition that will serve any child, parent, class or teacher well. Shirley Hughes excels at making the ordinary special (new bikes, school play, building an extension, etc.). These stories are beautifully crafted to work on every level visually and through the story line. Sensitive use of characterisation and the sort of detail that encourages frequent revisiting are matched with stories of universal appeal. It is a tribute to Hughes' skill that even when fashions change her books do not appear dated or hackneyed. This will also be a favourite book that adults will not mind having to reread time and time again!
