Blooming Books - Tapa dura

Beginning with his first published illustration in 1958 and continuing through to the work he continues to produce today, Blooming Books is a stunning and diverse exploration of the work of this unique and brilliant artist. Commentaries by the journalist Nicolette Jones accompany extracts and, in some cases, complete picture books, reviewing the background to Briggs's work and its underlying themes. Following a foreword from Raymond Briggs and Nicolette Jones's introduction, the book is divided into four main sections: The Early Years (including, among many others, The Elephant and the Bad Baby); The Nursery Classics (e.g. Father Christmas, The Snowman, The Bear); A Gallery of Characters (e.g. Fungus, The Man, Ug) and The Social Issues (When the Wind Blows, The Tin-Pot Foreign General and the Old Iron Woman, Ethel and Ernest). All of Briggs's work is here, from his captivating work for children through to the sharp and satirical works found in The Social Issues. Familiar favourites are also accompanied by some previously unseen material, including preparatory drawings for published titles and work from several planned sequels to Fungus the Bogeyman.

Blooming Books is an exploration of Raymond Briggs's work from the time he left art school and began illustrating other people's texts, right up to his most recent publications. Always extraordinary and unpredictable, often controversial, he is one of our most distinguished and best-loved artists working today and has created characters that are now icons for more than one generation of children. He has been honoured twice with the Kate Greenaway Medal as well as winning many other prestigious awards. Illustrations and extracts from his work - and in some cases complete picture books - are accompanied by commentaries from the well-known journalist, Nicolette Jones, reviewing Raymond's intentions and indicating the underlying philosophy of his themes. This stunning and diverse book makes for a fascinating read.