Goodies from the Book Fair!!!!!!

More Madelines:





And guess what??Now I have all of them!!!!HA!

Harry the Dirty Dog,



which I have been wanting for AGES.

And also, a Shel Silverstein :)

My copy of Night Noises And Other Mole and Troll Stories used to belong to Craig Yaroch, who has written his name in very fine blue print, on the inside page. I thought it appropriate to thank him for this piece of neatness. Thanks, Craig Yaroch!

In four little episodes with no apparent plot, few words and intricate black-and-white pencil sketches, the affection between the whimsical, impetuous Mole and the wide-eyed,dependable Troll is told in a refreshingly light-hearted way. This book doesn't stick its friendship badge out a mile. (Unlike those that feature bambi inspired, identical, retch yellow bunnies/bears/pigs with psychedelic pink noses, romping on simply too much countryside.) You know, the fun 'n' (not even 'and') frolic kind.

When Mole wishes on a clover, his practicality and fancifulness is tickling. "I wish I had someone to tell me, when my fur needs combing!" He tells Troll, who overwhelmed by his friend's exuberance, listens, keeping a safe distance. When Troll has a toothache, it takes Mole's ingenuity to invent an 'Old Mole Family Way' and Troll's trollness to have faith in it. And the selfishness, the indignance, the taking for granted also has its space here, which I like very much.

The Mole and Troll Adventures are now out-of-print so for all the picture book buffs reading this, if you happen to see them at a book sale, even if the cover has spotting or the binding is damaged, pick it up!

My second hand books man mailed and said they've got lots of Gallico - do I want?Yes, I want!!!!!

YAY!

N

Madeline's dearer to me because I almost didn't pick it up. If its droll verse doesn't get you, the illustrations will - which look like Bemelmann popped into an unruly art class in a school and smuggled some willing kids back into his studio. The unstudied roughness and criss-crossing of lines, the ease with which certain colours acquire more importance than others, the unfussy lines and scribbles that make everything from a ripple to a skyline dynamic, how perfectly natural it is that noses aren't drawn on the faces of Madeline and the other little girls! - I can't stop looking at the book.

One of my favourite images, one that recurs throughout the series, is that of Mrs. Clavel, the governess, rushing to the girls' bedroom because she's got that sneaky feeling that something isn't quite right.



It isn't just the inspired childlikeness that makes it lovable but Bemelmann's lively perspective, which has captured the urgency of this moment so wonderfully.Each time I look at this page, I just marvel at the way he makes one travel the length of the corridor Clavel is on.

FatCat Stars: For its blend of comedy and warmth and for all the sights of Paris that fill the pages. (The landmarks are listed at the back too!)

N