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The Happy Lion by Fatio and Duvoisin
The Happy Lion picture books were written by Swiss author Louise Fatio (1904-1993) and illustrated by Swiss-born American artist Roger Duvoisin (1900-1980).
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Petunia’s Christmas by Roger Duvoisin
The first of Duvoisin’s Petunia series was published in 1951. Petunia’s Christmas came along the following year.
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Pigeons In Art and Storytelling
I couldn’t tell you the name of most birds in the world. In fact, I know just a tiny proportion of them. But everyone knows the pigeon. Pigeons proliferate in our cities. Why? Long story short because humans brought them there, just like they brought rabbits to Australia and so on. Pigeons in cities thrive. […]
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The Swan by Roald Dahl Short Story Analysis
Roald Dahl did his level best to ruin swans for us. Personally, I didn’t need Dahl’s input in that regard. None of this is the poor mother swan’s fault. This story ruins swans by association. If you haven’t read it yet, be warned. The story features animal cruelty and bullying.
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Poison by Roald Dahl Short Story Analysis
“Poison” is a short story by Roald Dahl. Find it in Someone Like You, first published in 1953. A man discovers a poisonous snake asleep in his bed.
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How to Read an Animal Encyclopedia Together
If your animal loving kid wants to read an animal encyclopedia together, how to approach it? Here are some fun and light-hearted questions.
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What do butterflies symbolize in literature?
If you grew up in the West, butterfly symbolism may seem obvious: Butterflies symbolize transition and transformation. This isn’t always so.
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The Seven Ravens Fairytale Analysis
“The Seven Ravens” is a fairytale collected by the Grimm Brothers. In an earlier time, this tale would emphasise the importance of family, with a moral lesson of obedience and respect towards parents.
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Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski Analysis
Meg and Mog is a super long-running series of picture books written by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski. As is often the case with popular picture book series, there is also a TV series. There’s a massive gap between the first book and the first TV show, which was broadcast in 2003, when the original […]
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Hairy Maclary’s Bone by Lynley Dodd
I look at the structure of Hairy Maclary’s Bone by Lynley Dodd (1984), which reminds me a little of Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins (1967).
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Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd Analysis
Hairy Maclary From Donaldson’s Dairy is a cumulative rhyming picture book written and illustrated by New Zealand storyteller Lynley Dodd.
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Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack by Lynley Dodd Analysis
Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack (1999) is a picture book written and illustrated by New Zealand storyteller Lynley Dodd. A duckling saves Hairy’s life. Although many of the Hairy Maclary stories are written with the carnivalesque picture book structure, this one is not. Hairy is not on a fun adventure this time; it is summer, and he wants to sleep.…
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Schnitzel von Krumm Forget-Me-Not by Lynley Dodd Picture Book Analysis
Schnitzel Von Krumm Forget Me Not is the tenth book in Lynley Dodd’s Hairy Maclary series, and was published in 1998. Many of Lynley Dodd’s picture books are told with a carnivalesque structure. Schnitzel von Krumm, Forget-me-not is different. This one is told using classic structure and, in my opinion, is one of the most […]
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Veronica by Roger Duvoisin
Veronica is a 1961 picture book by Swiss-American author and illustrator Roger Duvoisin. Some of the illustrations are full colour, others in black marker pen.
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Slinky Malinki, Open The Door by Lynley Dodd
Slinky Malinki (1993) is a rhyming carnivalesque picture book written and illustrated New Zealander Lynley Dodd. This book is an excellent case study in how writers and illustrators might encourage young readers to turn the page. LETTERBOXING AS PAGE TURNER Slinky Malinkiand Stickybeak Sydwere a troublesome pair;do you know what they did?Alone in the houseone […]