Graphically Delicious

Charley Harper ABC's (AMMO 2008)

When it comes to capturing an image solely with line and color, Charley Harper was a master. I marvel at the way he's depicted pure "essence of nuthatch" on this alphabet book's cover. From the Harper Studio website:

In a style he called “minimal realism”, Charley Harper captures the essence of his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements.

You like?

I like.

Stylized images seem to lend themselves well to children's book illustration. Simple, representative, bold. Here are a few others, a feast for the eyes:

Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whelan
(S & S/ Paula Wiseman, April, 2011)
Middle grade fiction

Along a Long Road by Frank Viva
(Little, Brown, June 2011)
Picture book

Okay, this next one has some modeling with color, but there's still stylization, and anyway it's gorgeous:

The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings(1956 Newbery Honor winner)
Reissued with illustrations by Diane and Leo Dillon
(Atheneum, January, 2011)

A very nice review and description of this board book, Look Who's There, can be found at the 100 Scope Notes blog:

Look Who's There! by Martine Perrin
(Albert Whitman, March 2011)
Originally published in France
Board book

The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration
of Nature, Science, and Imagination
Poetry selected by Mary Ann Hoberman
and Linda Winston
Illustrated by Barbara Fortin
(Sourcebooks, October, 2009)

Too bad about the audio CD box in the corner, but whaddya gonna do?