I did have a child, and I was reading a lot of picture books to her, but at the same time writing a children's book was something that I'd been wanting to do for many years, pretty much since the start of my career.
When I wrote the eight fairy tales that appear in 'Horse, Flower, Bird' I was working toward a completely new form of artistic expression, trying to create a new kind of tale that also felt vintage: innocent and childlike, but haunted. I tried to wri...
My first favourite book was 'Are You My Mother?' A picture book about a lost bird. After that my favourites changed almost yearly. I loved everything by Roald Dahl, but my favourite was probably 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' A librarian gave m...
My father never put a book into my hands and never forbade a book. Instead, he let me roam and graze, making my own more or less appropriate selections. I read gory tales of historic heroism that nine-teenth century parents were suitable for children...
'What is the use of a book', thought Alice, 'without pictures or conversations?'
One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures.
Alice: In my world, the books would be nothing but pictures.
If anybody reads a story in a magazine or book, different pictures compete in their minds.
When you start writing a picture book, you have to write a manuscript that has enough language to prompt the illustrator to get his or her gears running, but then you end up having to cut it out because you don't want any of the language to be redund...
I wondered if that was true: if they were all really children wrapped up in adult bodies, like children's books hidden in the middle of dull, long adult books, the kind with no pictures or conversations.
When I was young, my favorite picture book was 'Fletcher and Zenobia,' written by Edward Gorey and illustrated by Victoria Chess. It's long out of print now, but its mix of macabre humor and 1960s psychedelia made it a perfect children's book for the...
The reason I call my book 'Irreverent' is because there were a lot of pictures that were very irreverent. Maybe I could call my book 'Forgiving' because maybe I made a lot of errors, too.
And if our book consumption remains as low as it has been, at least let us admit that it is because reading is a less exciting pastime than going to the dogs, the pictures or the pub, and not because books, whether bought or borrowed, are too expensi...
Jupiter Sharts: [seeing that Thomas is reading] Good book, brother? Cpl. Thomas Searles: Yes it is, actually. The name's Searles, Thomas Searles. Jupiter Sharts: Jupiter Sharts, sir. What it 'bout, that book? Cpl. Thomas Searles: It's a collection of...
I'm always taking pictures and travelling with a camera and have so many photos that I've done a book.
A life without books is a thirsty life, and one without poetry is...like a life without pictures.
I don't have an interest in any car that isn't good for the environment, other than maybe an aesthetic quality in a picture book.
I'll be left writing picture books and fairy tales.
Duke Forrest: What's this here? Frank Burns: This is Ho-Jon, one of our mess hall boys. I'm teaching him how to read. Duke Forrest: Oh, is that right? You reading the Bible, huh? That's nice. Look, I'll tell you what, I got a book here. It's got alot...
Siobhan said that when you are writing a book you have to include some descriptions of things. I said that I could take photographs and put them in the book. But she said the idea of a book was to describe things using words so that people could read...
With gift giving, if it’s the thought that counts, then a picture of a Mercedes is just as good as an actual Mercedes. With my new camera, I can’t wait to show you how much I love you!
