Illustration Corner: March

  I have the great good fortune to work in the children's section of my local library. As you my infer from this information, I am also quite bookish. And I love picture books. I think they are magical and wonderful. Of course some are better than others, so when I happen upon one that is exceptional, I want to record and share my treasure. 

  This month I want to highlight Migrant, written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. First let me say that it is a sweet and whimsical story with a dash of historical and cultural influence. Ah, but the pictures. They stole my heart. I love quilts and quilt patterns to begin with, so I was very willing to be charmed by these. The exceptional part for me is how the patterns morph and are married to the text. 

  First we see flying geese, granted a slightly wonky, painted and cut-paper version. Then the geese break out of their neat rows and fly free, transforming into real birds... And these quilt patterns continue throughout the book, along with the theme of flying.

Flying is another of my favorite things, especially monarch butterflies. What a lovely, subtle visual metaphor for the life of a migrant farm family.

 

 So, to recap, this imagery very much appeals to me. It, in my opinion, enhances a story that otherwise might not appeal to me. It is whimsical, playful, traditional and delicate.