Books! - Hardcover

McCain, Murray

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1623260205 ISBN 13: 9781623260200

Publisher: AMMO Books, 2013

Synopsis

BOOKS! by Murray McCain and John Alcorn, the beloved classic children's book originally published in 1962, is now re-released for the first time in a new large format.

This 1962 New York Times book of the year is beloved for its charming hand-drawn illustrations, inventive typography, and sweet homage to the very nature of books themselves. The author and illustrator celebrate the importance of books in our everyday lives, through words and graphics that are all beautifully designed and printed with fluorescent inks.

This sweet and nostalgic book shares the wonder of language, stories, and imagination that young children can discover through the joy of reading. In our digital age, a treasure like BOOKS! reminds us of how irreplaceable they truly are. This classic example of hand-drawn, mid-century graphic design is sure to find renewed interest in a new generation of young readers.

From original jacket copy:
""This is a one-of-a-kind: A wonderful book for children and grownups about Books, how books are made, what they do, what people do with them. It is called Books! Flip through it and you will see why it is likely to turn children into book lovers and parents into Books! lovers. Get Books! Keep Books! Give Books!""

About this title

About the Author

Illustrator John Alcorn worked as a commercial artist and designer for Esquire, Push Pin Studios, and CBS Inc., and illustrated numerous children's books in the 1960s and '70s.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3—McCain's musings regarding the nature of books were originally published in London in 1962, and for modern audiences, some of his assertions may seem dated. McCain ponders the basic parts ("inside" and "outside") and what books are about. This leads to long lists of titles and subjects with which children may not be familiar (Billy Bunter, Swallows & Amazons, El Greco). Writing about types of books, words, punctuation, and fonts brings on similar enumerations. Occasional Briticisms, e.g., "full stop" for "period," are culturally interesting. While some of the interactivity and images would be mildly diverting to children, the title is neither funny nor fascinating enough in terms of narrative possibilities to hold youngsters' attention for the duration. There is an underlying assumption that all books have words: "Did you ever see a book without a word? Words are to help you understand books." This book has a few too many words, and some of the ideas are repetitive. Rendered in neon intensity, Alcorn's magenta and yellow watercolors; surreal images, such as a dog with a human head; and an abundance of broadside graphics (pointing hands, scrollwork) and fonts have the feel of a sketch from the TV show Laugh-In. Possibly the audience is the same-adults who enjoy the psychedelic aesthetic and typography. Children would be better served by Jon Scieszka's The Stinky Cheese Man (Viking, 1992). Purchase for large, retrospective collections.—Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

About this edition

• Publisher: AMMO Books
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1623260205
• ISBN 13: 9781623260200
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 42
• Illustrator: Alcorn John