Synopses & Reviews
In this stunningly illustrated introduction to the world's most beautiful birds, Jean Roussen and Emmanuelle Walker pay homage to an alphabet of birds in all their feathery fancies. From Warblers to Blue-tits and Kakapos to Owls, Roussen's playful, melodic poem is complemented beautifully by Walker's delicate illustrations.
Jean Roussen is a Swiss French graphic designer and writer who dabbles in publishing from time to time.
Emmanuelle Walker is an animation director and illustrator from Montreal, Quebec. As well as contributing to Nobrow magazine (Nobrow 8: Hysteria), she has worked with international animation studios across the world (Walt Disney Ltd., Sherbert and Nexus). She lives and works in London, England.
Review
"From albatross to and#147;zos-ter-o-pi-dae,and#8221; the images in this slightly oversized import consistently stun with their composition and use of color. [and#133;] readersand#8217; eyes glide over the luscious pages. The image of a nightingale, framed in an open, circular window beneath a crescent moon, is alone worth the purchase price. With pages that beg to be sliced out and framed, a positive feast for the eyes."
-Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Beautiful Birds is an elegant and unpatronising alphabet of birds. The language is sophisticated [...] but children and parents will breeze through the book because the rhymes have momentum and the illustrations have poise and wit and the colours are entrancing."
-The Guardian
"From albatross to and#147;zos-ter-o-pi-dae,and#8221; the images in this slightly oversized import consistently stun with their composition and use of color. [and#133;] readersand#8217; eyes glide over the luscious pages. The image of a nightingale, framed in an open, circular window beneath a crescent moon, is alone worth the purchase price. With pages that beg to be sliced out and framed, a positive feast for the eyes."
-Kirkus Reviews
"The spreads are as opulent as a peacockand#8217;s tail, and theyand#8217;ll send many back for long second looks."
-Publishers Weekly
"Most kids-and adults-will enjoy flipping through the vivid, beautiful pages, each of which would look at home framed on a wall."
-Booklist
"Walkerand#8217;s illustrations deserve repeated viewings and can serve as a starting point for art and design projects for students in elementary school and above."
-School Library Journal
"Some of the most beautiful design I've seen in a picture book. ...every single page looks like it could be ripped out and framed."
-The Busy Librarian
"Its elegant avians swoop, flutter and spread their plumage in alphabetical formations, accompanied by rhyming couplets. It will encourage anyone of four-plus to greet the spring with knowledge as well as delight."
-New Statesman
"The rhyming couplets create a book that has a jaunty swing to it, moving swiftly from one bird to the next. The rhymes are well done, neither filled with sing-song tones or too forced. Instead they add a touch of humor to the book, a feeling of not taking themselves too seriously. The result is a light-hearted mix of silliness and feathers. The illustrations by Walker form the heart of this book...Done with a modern feel, the illustrations are stylized and strong. Stylish, jaunty and fun, this alphabet bird book is no feather weight."
-Waking Brain Cells
Synopsis
An alphabet book that serves as a lyrical introduction to a rainbow of plumages from the Bird Kingdom.
About the Author
Jean Roussen is a Swiss-French graphic designer and writer, who dabbles in publishing from time to time.
Emmanuelle Walker is an animation director and illustrator from Montreal, Quebec. As well as contributing to Nobrow magazine (Nobrow 8: Hysteria), she has worked with international animation studios across the world (Walt Disney Ltd., Sherbert). She lives and works in London.