The Animals of Paradise
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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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The Animals of Paradise
Illustrated by Simon Trethewey
If the devil has all the best tunes, this handsomely illustrated, original, but ultimately disappointing book seems to suggest that he also has all the best yarns. The setting is heaven, and the book starts with the perfectly happy animals deciding to tell each other stories about their adventures on Earth. These stories are drawn from the traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and include Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, and Abraha's attack on Mecca, all told from the point of view of the animals involved. This is quite interesting, but the tone of the narration is so drenched in celestial piety that reading each story is like downing a pint of maple syrup.
