CHILDREN'S LAUREATE

On June 9, 2009 Anthony Browne was named Children's Laureate in the UK. Children's Laureate is a position awarded bi-annually to a person who has significantly contributed to the world of children's books, whether they are a writer or an illustrator. I had seen the book Little Beauty in the bookstores and wanted to read it. My interest was sparked again and I am so thankful! My 3, 6 and 9 year old all enjoyed this book together.

Little Beauty

by Anthony Browne

Candlewick Press 2008

Ages 3 and up

This simply told story is sophisticated in so many ways. The main character, a gorilla, uses sign language to communicate. He is sad because he does not have a friend. The zoo keepers take care of this by giving him a small little cat named Beauty. From this point, we are shown what true friendship means. The reader experiences humour, excitement and even a touch of sadness before the book ends. A child can relate to the friends watching television together and laugh when they each go to the bathroom. Browne's outstanding drawings can be fully appreciated in several wordless pages. Some illustrations show the gorilla or cat drawn with simple pencil lines combined with complex patterned backgrounds, while others show a very detailed color gorilla and cat on plain white backgrounds. In this book, each word counts and each picture delights.

As a side note, I loved the patterns that are drawn as upholstery and wallpaper. They are quintessential English Arts & Crafts. After a little research, I was able to find the wallpaper confirming that it is "Pink and Rose" by William Morris.

On June 9, 2009 The Guardian featured an article by Alison Flood announcing Browne's appointment. I particularly liked Browne's statement:

"Sometimes I hear parents encouraging their children to read what they call proper books (books without pictures), at an earlier and earlier age. This makes me sad, as picture books are perfect for sharing, and not just with the youngest children."

I look forward to seeing and hearing more from this talented man.