Today
is the birthday of one of my favorite illustrators of children's
books, Mitsumasa Anno.
I
love his detailed illustration style, but I especially love Topsy
Turvies,
Anno's wordless picture book that was inspired by art by M.C. Escher.
I even made a model of one of this book's illustrations, with little
clay people walking upside down and sideways in defiance of common
sense and gravity, for a college children's literature class.(Yes, I
really am that geeky.)
Actually,
it was Anno who first turned me on to Escher—and I love Esher's
art! So I owe Anno big thanks for his wonderful books AND for
introducing me to yet another marvelous artist!
Mitsumasa
Anno was born on this date in 1926 in Tsuwano, Japan. The world is
very lucky that Anno didn't die when he was drafted into the army
during World War II!
Celebrate
Anno today by reading (or, rather, poring over the illustrations in)
one of his many books. Whether you explore math through books like
Anno's
Mysterious Multiplying Jar
or Anno's
Math Games,
history and cultures through puzzle-like books like Anno's
Spain or
Anno's
Journey,
or the intersection of art and reality in books like Topsy
Turvies
and Upside
Downers,
Anno has a great variety of books to explore!
Also
on this date:
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