Andy and the Lion
Author and Illustrator James Daugherty
Bio from: http://www.recess.ufl.edu/transcripts/2004/0607.shtml
James Daugherty was already an accomplished artist when he brought his talents to children's literature. He had studied Baroque art in Europe, painted camouflage on ships in cubist shapes for the Navy during World War I, designed posters and painted murals in post offices, high schools and movie theaters. His experience with the ships and murals led him to an expansive style with large figures and sweeping forms which was simplified and transformed in his book illustrations into lively almost animated drawings filled with humor and gusto.
His first picture book, Andy and the Lion, is a wonderful example of this. The pictures, full of lively detail and brimming with life and energy, could carry the tale alone and in fact that is the way Daugherty originally designed it. He took the 36 drawings for the book into an editor who loved them and agreed to make them into a book. The book went into production with no text at all. In 1937 the wordless picture book was not the accepted format it is today and it bothered some of the editorial staff who felt that people were not used to reading pictures without text.
They asked Daugherty to write a story to go with the pictures, but, since he had never written anything in his life except for some personal letters, he declined. One of the editors had a go at writing the story, but Daugherty didn't like it. He thought the words were superfluous. Finally, the editor called him into her office. "What are we going to do" she asked. "Here are your splendid pictures, but no story to go with them. And the rest of the staff feel that we must have a story." They were at an impasse. Finally she held up the first picture and asked Daughtery what he could say about it. "Well," he responded, "how about ...'It was a bright day with just enough wind to float a flag. Andy started down to the library'..." The editor wrote this down and held up the second one, "Okay," she said, "How about this one?" And in this fashion they worked through all 36 pictures. In a half hour they had their text and the book was complete.
Book Summary
A young boy with a love for lions begins a fabulous lion filled adventure be checking out a book from the Library about, what else, Lions! There is a great mix of realism and fantasy thru the entire book!
Illustrations: Finding out that the pictures were done before the text was very eye opening to me! Usually the pictures are made after the text is written. These pictures truly display the story in a way that the words do not. The first picture of the book is Andy, a young boy, curled up in a large chair with his nose stuck in a book. For a foot rest there is a sleeping lion! The dedication page is spectacular! It depicts the two lions that sit outside the library in New York, you know, Lady Astor and Lord Lenox. The tails of the two lions are crossed as if they were a gate. You must get thru the lions in order to enter! Love it!
The majority of the rest of the book is filled with snapshot images. The text is on the left hand side and illustrations on the right. With a few exceptions. They are lines, sketches with black and light brown/mustard colors. They are simple yet very thought out! We see lions on the paper that the father is reading, for example! Love it! To fully appreciate the story you MUST look at the illustrations!
Art Medium: black and white line drawings
Final Thoughts:1. Would this be a book I would pick up again? Maybe
2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? Sure
3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book? For a small price yes!
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