Piatti for Children

by Celestino Piatti

"This superbly printed volume will appeal to young children who love animals (especially the owl, Piatti’s signature animal) and fans of Eric Carle, Leo Lionni and Alice and Martin Provensen." – The New York Times

Beloved Swiss designer Celestino Piatti’s fun and retro children’s picture books—all seven combined in one volume for the first time—make this collection a visual treat for the whole family!

Celestino Piatti is one of Switzerland’s most famous artists. The designer of thousands of posters and book covers made Piatti an icon. The owl was his hallmark, as was his graphic style with its distinctive black lines. Piatti also painted for children. He illustrated seven picture books at the height of his career. For the first time they are all gathered in a high-quality Animal ABC , Barbara and the Dormouse , The Happy Owls , The Little Crayfish , Circus Nock (The Circus Family) , The Golden Apple , and Holy Night .

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Childrens

216 pages, Hardcover

Published February 1, 2022

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I am not going to be musing about the textual contents and writing styles for the seven picture books that are featured in Piatti für Kinder here (and in the original German language texts) and even regarding Celestino Piatti's artwork for the books, except to say that Piatti's illustrations are always a total visual treat, with lots of colour, visual emotion and an enchanting realism that is at the same time imaginative and even a bit reminiscent of Expressionism, of artists like Paul Klee and Franz Marc. For I am going to be posting my actual reviews for ABC der Tiere, Barbara und der Siebenschläfer, Eulenglück, Der kleine Krebs, Zirkus Nock, Der goldene Apfel and Die heilige Nacht separately for each title (as reviewing each book in Piatti für Kinder would probably go over the Goodreads limit for the amount of characters allowed). But I am going to say that I find the set-up of and for Piatti für Kinder absolutely wonderful and very much do appreciate having all seven picture books that were illustrated by Celestino Piatti appear and be available in one single over two hundred page long coffee table book like omnibus (both because it is actually rather difficult and often really expensive to find many of the included picture books online for purchasing and that it also sure is nice having everything Celestino Piatti illustrated for children appear in one place, in Piatti für Kinder, as it makes reading easier and also makes comparing Celestino Piatti's pictures, his art much easier as well).

Now for me, even if Piatti für Kinder were to ONLY contain the above mentioned seven picture books and nothing else, my rating would be solidly five stars. But yes, that Piatti für Kinder also includes memoirs about their obviously very happy marriage from Celestino Piatti's widow Ursula (who is equally the author of Barbara und der Siebenschläfer, Zirkus Nock and Der kleine Krebs), a short biography of Celestino Piatti and the publication, the biographical details for the seven picture books, yes, this not only is totally the icing on an already most delicious cake for me, it also places Piatti für Kinder amongst those very rare books I wish I could indeed rate with more than five stars. Highly recommended and in particular for fans of Celestino Piatti as an illustrator and colourful and delightfully illustrated, artistic feeling picture books (and indeed, there is also an English language edition titled Piatti for Children, which is basically exactly the same as Piatti für Kinder but of course and naturally so contains the English language translations for ABC der Tiere, Barbara und der Siebenschläfer, Eulenglück, Der kleine Krebs, Zirkus Nock, Der goldene Apfel and Die heilige Nacht).

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piatti's children's books are mostly 3.5 stars for me. They're quieter and have less plot than is to my taste, now, or as a child (although I think I only encountered one or two as a kid).

However, I'm bumping this up as a really high quality collection of reproductions with good color and paper etc, and also a couple of very pleasant end notes about the author, including one from his wife, writer Ursula Huber, who did some of the texts.

[Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this collection of Piatti's works. It's fun and vibrant. Most artists, young or old, will appreciate this as a gift.

This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

[Tracy]

Five stars! This is a lovely book which combines an anthology of the work of Ursula and Celestino Piatti with a brief biography of the couple. As a former child who read the Piattis’ books, and as a former children’s librarian, it was so interesting to learn their background while reliving the books I loved as a child. This is the perfect purchase or gift for anyone with an interest in art, the nostalgia of having read Piatti books as a child, or anyone who wants to share the books of their childhood with the children in their life.

I am so grateful to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for the opportunity to read and review Piatti For Children.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

PIATTI FOR CHILDREN is a feast for the eyes from the beloved Swiss artist Celestino Piatti. Combines his seven famous children's picture books into one volume. Perfect for young readers and adults alike.

Pub Date 01 Feb 2022
#PiattiforChildren #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, North South Books Inc., NorthSouth Books, and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine.

[Sabine Ibing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wer kennt nicht Celestino Piatti? Nein? Bestimmt schon mal gesehen, wenn nicht gar gelesen! Er wurde 1922 in Wangen bei Zürich geboren. Seit 1948 arbeitete Piatti als freier Grafiker, Autor und Karikaturist. Insgesamt schuf Piatti über 6300 Buchumschläge, Bilderbücher und Buchillustrationen, Briefmarken, unter anderem für die Schweizerfibel. Die Eule war sein Kennzeichen, genau wie der grafische Stil mit den markanten schwarzen Linien. Die Gestaltung tausender Buchumschläge machte Celestino Piatti zur Ikone. Heute gehört er zu den bekanntesten Schweizer Künstlern. Seine Kinderbücher sind weltberühmt. Sein Werk wurde mehrfach ausgezeichnet. Im Jahr 2007 starb Celestino Piatti im Kanton Basel-Land. Der Nord Süd Verlag hat seine sieben Bilderbücher als Hommage an den großen Künstler als Gesamtausgabe herausgebracht. Ich zumindest kann mich an den Grafiken nicht sattsehen. Enthalten sind folgende Geschichten:

ABC der Tiere
Barbara und der Siebenschläfer
Eulenglück
Der kleine Krebs
Zirkus Nock
Der goldene Apfel
Die Heilige Nacht

Das ABC der Tiere ist in lustiger Reimform gestaltet, zu jedem Buchstaben wird ein Tier vorgestellt. Aber in den lustigen Reimen sind auch gute Informationen zum jeweiligen Tier verpackt.

Barbara und der Siebenschläfer: Barbara hat Angst, denn des Nachts rappelt es in ihrem Zimmer. Ein Siebenschläfer hat ein Winterquartier gesucht. Der Papa fängt ihn ein. Und das Tier erzählt Barbara etwas über den Siebenschläfer

Eulenglück: Eine wunderschöne Geschichte über ein Eulenpärchen, das nie streitet.

Der kleine Krebs: Ein kleiner Krebs, der nicht rückwärts laufen mag, ein Stinktier, das nicht mehr stinken mag, eine Kröte, die im Sonnenschein marschieren möchte, ein Biber, der mal faul sein möchte, ein Hase, der in Ruhe den Wald genießen möchte ... kann denn hier jeder machen, was er will?

Zirkus Nock: Wir lernen die Zirkusfamilie kennen und dann: Manege frei! Hier gibt es viel zu entdecken.

Der goldene Apfel: An einem prachtvollen Baum hängt auf einmal ein goldener Apfel, ganz hoch im Gipfel. Es kommt, wie es kommen muss, die Begierde ist groß; ein jeder will den Apfel haben – meint, er stehe ihm zu. Eine Reihe von Tieren zankt sich um den Apfel ...

Die Heilige Nacht: Zum Abschluss wird die Weihnachtsgeschichte präsentiert.

Neben den feinen Erzählungen sticht natürlich auf jeder Seite die Grafik heraus. Ein Augenschmaus nicht nur für Kinder. Piatti hat seinen einzigartigen Stil. Die Natur ist sein Thema und er ist ein sehr genauer Beobachter. Kräftige, leuchtende Farben zeichnen ihn aus und er ist ein Meister der Reduktion. In seinen ersten Werken arbeitet er mit extrem dicken, schwarzen Konturen. In späteren Werken, wie dem Krebs und dem Siebenschläfer wird er fragiler, benutzt Mischtechniken mit Aquarell und Zeichenfeder. Der Nord Süd Verlag gibt eine Altersempfehlung ab 5 Jahren für dieses Kinderbuch, was nicht falsch ist für die längeren Geschichten. Anschauen kann man die Bücher ab drei Jahren – die Texte fügt man später hinzu. Denn die sind auch in verschiedenen Altersstufen zu bewerten, die komplexeste ist die Weihnachtsgeschichte. Ein Buch, das sicher auch ein Erwachsener immer wieder zur Hand nimmt. Für Piatti ist man niemals zu alt. Ein Buch, das mit dem Kind mitwächst ... Als Geschenkidee die absolute Empfehlung!

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having only seen one instance of Piatti's books before now, here is a welcome gift of seven of them in one – making this a lot for design fans and for children alike. I can't take to his overtly naive-seeming, splodgy-woodcut-imitating visuals, however, meaning some of these pieces weren't to my taste. Luckily, he doesn't stick to that one trope – a girl and her pet dormouse is done much more traditionally, for want of a better word, and if anything when a crayfish leads a parade of the disgruntled animals through the forest the style is almost the happy medium between the routine and the thicker-lined work elsewhere.

If you think I should not be concentrating so much on the visual side of things, then there are clues galore that I should be. The title is one, as is the fact that the introduction lists the authors involved, without telling who to credit for each one. (And anyway, the one with the circus visit is rather boring, so perhaps ignorance is bliss.) Some might say that leaving the authorship right to the last is doing writers a disservice, but as his wife-that-was gets three of the credits, we have to let it slide.

Ultimately, the volume is a little haphazard – a fine and rhyming animal-based ABC, a bit of the Christmas story, and a great moralistic piece concerning a singular golden apple all clash somewhat in how different they are. They might only work within the same covers because they've been illustrated by the same man, but would the young reader worry about that? Well, as s/he'll care for some of this and not all, I think three stars is the going rate.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A colorful collection of seven children's stories written and illustrated by former husband-wife duo Ursula and Celestino Piatti. A fanciful read for young children either as read aloud of for self-read. The Piattis' distinctive art style and narration kindles the imagination in young and old alike.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy to have all these stories and the AMAZING art in one place! Beautiful art accompanies fantastic stories, rhymes, and poems for children. And, while this may be a children's book, it is delightful for all ages.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of seven picture books illustrated by Swiss artist Celestino Piatti.

Included in this collection are:
• Celestino Piatti's Animal ABC
• Barbara and the Dormouse
• Happy Owls
• The Little Crayfish
• The Nock Family Circus
• The golden apple
• The Holy Night

There is also information about how Piatti began making picture books, a short biography, and a bibliography of Piatti's picture books.

The illustrations, done with Piatti's signature thick black lines, are always enjoyable, but text-wise, some stories are better than others. The artwork reminds me of the 1970s illustrations in the language arts text books at my old elementary school.

[Uri Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piatti for Children is a collection in one hefty volume of seven picture books illustrated by Celestino Piatti, with texts written by several other people between 1963 and 1976, and translated by Alistair Beaton & Jon Reid (2022). I wasn't familiar with Celestino Piatti, but two afterwords explain who he was – a Swiss artist/designer who worked for forty years at a publishing house, producing over 500 posters and over 6,300 book covers! On the side, he illustrated seven picture books and had other people (including his wife Ursula Piatti) write the text. The books are reminiscent of Leo Lionni's, through Piatti used at least three different illustration styles.

My favorite of the seven is Circus Nock (which was published separately under the title The Nock Family Circus). Based on a real family-run traveling circus where Ursula Piatti tutored in the 1960s, it's a charming description of circus life. For more on the circus book, including some of the art, see here.

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the North South Books Inc and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of this book. I didn’t know anything about Celestino Piatti before reading this book. I also didn’t realize that this book is a little anthology with 7 of his stories and illustrations, so that was a nice surprise. I also enjoyed the variations on the drawing style with woodblock-like style in some stories and more traditional one in others (the dormouse and the crayfish stories). The selection of stories felt a little disjointed, however, as it combines an animal-based ABC story with a moral filled story about the crayfish and the golden apple.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NorthSouth Books and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of stories illustrated by well-known Swiss artist Celestino Piatti (from the '60s and '70s) is a gem as far as the illustrations go. They are so evocative and colorful. At the same time, the stories are a bit disjointed, with an animal alphabet included, as well as several short moralistic tales by different authors. The illustrations tie eveything together, and the kids I shared this with loved them too.

[Jj · Rating 5 out of 5]

IF you're a Piatti fan, you will love this; I'm not sure about the rest of the world. But it sure is nice to have all of his picture books collected here in one place, with some great back matter and a winning photo of the man himself. The loveliest shade of green is used for endpapers, and the trim size is perfect: large, but not TOO BIG. NorthSouth did a lovely job with this one!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for simply gathering all of Piatti's fine children's books into one volume.

[Rebecca Plaza · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of stellar picture-based books full of iconic animal imagery. Loved the owls especially and the deep nostalgia for the golden age of art in children's books.