The Adventures of a Nose - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0744594642 ISBN 13: 9780744594645

Publisher: Walker Books Ltd

Synopsis

Nose thinks "Somewhere in the world must be a place just for me. A place where I can fit in, and stick out. I could be really happy there!" And so he goes to look for it. He climbs up high as the mountains and dives down deep as the fish. He goes where it's clear, cold and tingly and to where it's spicy and hot. He goes everywhere...until one day he realizes that wherever he goes, he fits in perfectly because he's in the middle of his own world, which is all that matters.

About this title

About the Author:

Viviane Schwarz studied Illustration at the Falmouth College of Arts in Cornwall. She says of The Adventures of A Nose, "I remember that as a small child I always worried: do I fit in? Am I part of something? And if I weren't here, would it matter at all? The Nose wonders the same, and discovers what I discovered: no matter what you do, you are always in the middle of your own world, so you don't have to worry." Joel Stewart was awarded a First Class BA Hons degree in Illustration at Falmouth College of Arts. This was his first title for Walker Books, though has since illustrated a picture book version of Lewis Carroll's nonsense poem, "Jabberwocky". Joel lives in Falmouth, Cornwall with Viviane Schwarz and several goldfish.

From Publishers Weekly:

Magritte, in a whimsical mood, might have done these charming paintings of a disembodied nose who seeks "a place where I can fit in, and stick out." The Nose, a pale and fleshy triangle, stands upright on two slim legs (one from each nostril) that wear tasteful gray flannel pants and brown dress shoes. Collages of maps, menus and rail tickets suggest how far the restless Nose roves in search of his ideal spot; in delicate pencil sketches and squarish color illustrations, the Nose poses in green landscapes and on street corners. This tale from a first-time author-illustrator team gets the tone just right. Schwarz's understated text conveys alienation; the Nose yearns for a sense of belonging. Meanwhile, Stewart's ingenious portraits show that everywhere the Nose goes, he unwittingly creates the illusion of a face. While enjoying a good book at the library (" `This one smells of ink, and this one smells of dust,' he thinks"), the Nose sits between reading lamps that resemble green-lidded eyes; the open pages on his lap suggest a white mustache, ... la Arcimboldo. When the Nose performs a "beautiful sneezing dance," symmetrical theater curtains recall a red mask; when he wanders through a market, two orange squash simulate eyes and a broad red sombrero indicates lips. In the end, the Nose reclines on a daybed (the bulging headrest forms a melancholy brow ridge) and a therapist reassures him, "Don't you see? The whole world fits perfectly around you... because you are a Nose!" Thanks to the surreal, captivating images, the diagnosis is as plain as, well, you know. Ages 6-up.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
• ISBN 10: 0744594642
• ISBN 13: 9780744594645
• Binding: Paperback