Candy Illustrators

If illustrators were candy, I'd fill my pantry with Oliver Jeffers. I'd drive to stores beyond the city limits, I'd stuff him in my pockets and purse, I'd give baskets of him at Christmas, and happily lose my teeth to Jeffers cavities. Hungry? Check out This Moose Belongs to Me, Stuck, or The Way Back Home. And The Incredible Book Eating Boy. Yum.

When I discovered Oliver Jeffers had teamed up with John Boyne (of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas fame), I was ecstatic. Boyne's book, Noah Barleywater Runs Away (illustrated by Oliver Jeffers) took me back to a specific world of fairytales that I haven't visited this clearly since childhood. Part Pinocchio, part The Phantom Tollbooth (by Juster--another favorite), this book is not only beautifully written (with occasional illustrations), it is a uniquely-told tale that reminded me I was not too old to be surprised and delighted by a story. Perfect for ages 8-12. Or 30+.

The best part? The Boyne'n'Jeffers duo just released another book: The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket. And since authors and illustrators are NOT made of chocolate, I can indulge all I want.

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2013 at 7:33 AM

    Oh, I've got Noah Barleywater Runs Away on my to-read list. Glad to hear it's good -- and I didn't know it was illustrated! I've never seen a copy of the book, just read the reviews. :)

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