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Review of the Day: The Bearskinner - A Tale of the Brothers Grimm (Part Two)
November 2, 2007
(CONTINUED FROM
PART ONE)
What technique Mr. Grafe has used is not entirely clear. The term "mixed media" is too vague for my tastes. At times, the thickness of the paints informs the images. Maybe a sponge of some sort was used. Other times, hands, details, or silhouettes are merely carved into the image using a kind of scratchboard technique. What remains clear, though, is that Grafe has taken a significant amount of time and care to give this book the illustrations it so desperately deserves. Even the first image in this book is mimicked by the last, which is fun.
The first few sentences caught my eye and the image of the soldier and the middle daughter looking at one another for the first time sealed the deal. I don't know how well fairy tales sell on the open market. I don't know how many library systems appreciate them fully, or how many families know how important they are to a child's development and growth, both emotionally and socially. What I do know is that "The Bearskinner" as written by Laura Amy Schlitz and as illustrated by Max Grafe is a piece of fine art. A book that deserves love, attention, and more. Worth seeking out, to say the least.
Posted by Elizabeth Bird on November 2, 2007 | Comments (4)
