On the magic of books

 

From The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, Illustrated by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin, 2018) | Illustration © 2018 Tim Warnes

 

“Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.”

— Carl Sagan I’ve written about The Big Book Adventure before on my blog.

Because you know what? I’m really proud of it! It’s been well received by readers and has been recognised with two awards. So I’m pleased to recommend it to you again this week as my story worth sharing.

The opening illustration sets the scene for what is a celebration of story and the power of reading. We are introduced to the key characters - Piggy (sat, cross-legged and fully engrossed in a book) and Foxy (departing with a wagonload of books). Two friends united by their love of reading! Their preferred hang-out? Maple Leaf Book Club, nestled in the embrace of the giant tree’s roots.

 

From The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, Illustrated by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin, 2018) | Illustration © 2018 Tim Warnes

 

Libraries and book clubs.

Anyone remember them?

The very idea seems almost quaint.

Much of the planning and drawing for the book was done at my local library. But I haven’t stepped foot in it for nearly a year now. Pre-Covid, the UK library service was already suffering from crippling austerity cuts. (Almost 800 UK libraries have permanently closed since 2010.) I fear many more libraries will face the same fate once lockdown is over.

 

The story takes the form of a conversation between Foxy and Piggy. The premise is simple enough: they excitedly describe their imaginary adventures, inspired by the books they’ve read. 

 

The rhyming story communicates the transformative power of reading by placing the characters – and readers – into the middle of beloved fairy tales and exciting new adventures, including a spaceship voyage and a dragon ride. 

- Mom Read It

 

To coin a phrase, they’ve been away with the faeries, (quite literally, in the case of Foxy) roaming imaginary lands. 

 

From The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, Illustrated by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin, 2018) | Illustration © 2018 Tim Warnes

 

When you stop to think about it reading is like magic.

But it’s not the reader who is the magician. The book is!

What a fantastic gift to give your kids!

 

Carl Sagan (scientist, astronomer, and author), describes this magical power so well:

 

What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. … Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.

- Carl Sagan - Cosmos, Part 11: The Persistence of Memory

 

Truth be told, I very nearly didn’t work on The Big Book Adventure. Not because I didn’t like it - I loved the concept! As I recall, I felt overcommitted with other work. (Plus, the commissioning publisher wanted children for the main characters. Back then, this was enough to steer me away from a project!)

But some things are just meant to be.

It gnawed away at me.

The idea of the characters entering different stories - and the opportunity to use different art styles for each - was so appealing!

Unable to resist, I sent the publisher my initial ideas (including the decisive sketch of Piggy sat at the Mad Hatter’s tea table), and we were off! 

 

So as I said, I’m proud of my work on the book. As it happens, The Big Book Adventure turned out to be a pivotal project for me, expanding my skills and confidence.

 

What makes The Big Book of Adventure truly delightful is the rich variety of illustration styles that accompany every new adventure the friends describe. From classic to collage, comic book to painterly, the styles transport you with every page turn. 

- Books 4 Your Kids

 

Take the spread inspired by Treasure Island, for example. This was the first time I’d experimented with cut-paper college (yeah, yeah, I know - digital is easier) - and the addition of those tropical birds made my heart sing! Feeling inspired, this gave me the confidence to integrate both collage and birds into my next project, Only You Can Be You!

 

From The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, Illustrated by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin, 2018) | Illustration © 2018 Tim Warnes

 

(This particular image might have turned out looking very different: I originally played around with spoofing Red Rackham’s Treasure by Hergé. It fitted the theme of the spread, and at the time Levi was enjoying the Tintin series.)

 

Development sketch for The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, Illustrated by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin, 2018) | Illustration © 2017 Tim Warnes

 

The Big Book of Adventure ends perfectly with one friend saying to the other, “I’d love to see the things you’ve seen . . .” To that, the friend replies, “You lend your books to me, and I’ll lend mine to you!”

- Books 4 Your Kids

 

From The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, Illustrated by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin, 2018) | Illustration © 2018 Tim Warnes

 

Right now, of course, these two friends would encounter complicated social distancing issues.

*Sigh* 

How lovely we still have books - and our imaginations - to escape into…

 

From The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, Illustrated by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin, 2018) | Illustration © 2018 Tim Warnes

 STORIES WORTH SHARING: The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, illustrated by Tim Warnes

Good to Read because:

It encourages reluctant readers by modelling the joy of reading

With its short, rhyming text, it makes a quick bedtime read

When time allows, the illustrations open up plenty of opportunities to get creative and discuss the adventures.

With a multitude of art styles, it’s visually rich. Budding artists should find the possibilities inspiring

2019 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards - Silver Winner (Children’s Picture Book 0-3 years)

Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Winner - 2018 GOLD Winner (Picture Books, Early Reader)

 Good to Read

Stories that celebrate the magic of books

It’s a Book! by Lane Smith

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Book? by Lauren Child

Little Nelly’s Big Book by Pippa Goodhart, ill. by Andy Rowland

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, ill. by Tim Warnes

   SOURCES Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010, figures show by Alison Flood (The Guardian, Dec 6 2019)The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, ill. by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin 2018) Opening quote by Carl Sagan ( JamesClear.com) The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford and Tim Warnes (Books 4 Your Kids, May 23 2019) Go on a Big Book Adventure with two friends! by Rosemary Kiladitis (Mom Read It, July 22 2019) Super Isaac: What makes him different makes him great! by Tim Warnes (Storyteller Tim Warnes, Aug 28 2020) © 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)**** USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.