The Pikaland Gift Guide for All Seasons: part 5
In this edition of our gift guide, I turn to a mixed bag of books – while most of them are mainly for kids, I think we can all agree we’re all basically kids at heart; so it’s a double win for everyone! I hope you enjoy the picks of these books by indie publishers! For the rest of the gift guide, click here to see the rest!
The Monsters of Tasmania by Rachel Tribout
From the book’s description:
Captain Blueberry is a mighty adventurer who sails the oceans searching for the unknown and unseen things of the world. People think she is crazy because she believes in monsters.
Can Captain Blueberry and First Mate Albert prove to all that monsters do exist?
The Monsters of Tasmania brings folk tales and sea creatures to life and looks at the landscape in a whole new, monstrous way.
The 72-page book is available here.
Let Your Fish Swim Away by Ella Goodwin
From the book’s description:
“Let your fish swim away” houses illustration based on the idea of letting go of your anxieties. (and strongly influenced by Ruth Ozeki’s book “A Tale for the Time Being.
Available to purchase here.
Journal Doodles “The Works” by Marloes De Vries
Marloes has been keeping a doodle journal and this is the complete collection of all her drawings – all 115 of them, bounded together in a hardcover book.
Available to purchase here.
Ghost Pirate: The Legend of Juana La Loca by Juliana Coles
From the description:
Ghost Pirate: the Legend of Juana La Loca, is the first published collection of the avant garde visual journal pages, paintings and figure drawings of Juliana Coles. Each intricate page is layered with journal writings, narrative and provocative imagery.
This non-traditional non-linear visual narrative of the perils of piracy begins with the burial at sea of the legendary free spirited Juana La Loca. But death is never final, as the Black Swan Pirate returns from the depths with a message for our illustrious hero, Captain Morgan La Fey…
Available from Juliana’s Etsy shop.
Hand/Made: Lisa Solomon, published by MIEL
From the publisher:
Hand/Made, a monograph of Bay-area artist Lisa Solomon’s mixed-media work, showcases Solomon’s attention to the detail and texture of the everyday, and to the feminine as it erupts into that dailyness. Invoking histories both personal and wider, Solomon demonstrates the effect that the smallest things can have. Solomon incorporates thread (alone and as crochet) into drawings and installations, materially bridging craft and fine art, and bringing concerns with domesticity and women’s stories to the fore.
70 pages in an edition 0f 300, available at MIEL Books.
Bill Bear’s Peloton by Wijtze Valkema
From the book’s description:
Meet Bill Bear, the manager of a small group of animal cyclists. Among the peloton you’ll find Elly Fant, who is a very strong elephant, but unfortunately too heavy for her bike. Wally Nut, who brings food from the manager’s car to the animals up front. King Of the Mountain Maus, Super sprinter Chiita, Chick Ann, they all share life on the road.
The 8-panel booklet is available at BlueOn.
Soundimals by James Chapman
From the book’s description:
In English, dogs go woof, cats go meow and mice go squeak. But what about in Hungarian? Or Japanese?
There’s a wide variety of animal sounds you may not have known, and this is a bright and fun way to learn about them all!
32 pages and available at James’ Etsy shop.
The Colourblind Chameleon by Laura Kantor & Sarah Ray
From the book’s description:
The Colourblind Chameleon is the debut title from up and coming author/illustrator duo Laura Kantor and Sarah Ray.
This is a colourful and imaginative tale of a chameleon who doesn’t fit in with the rest. He realises that it’s not just good to be different… it’s a lot more fun!
Delight in the rhyming verses, vibrant colours and hilarious drawings as you are taken on a wonderful journey with a special little chameleon (wearing fabulous pants).
Available here.
Brockley Foxtrot by Katriona Chapman
From the description:
Brockley Foxtrot is a 24-page book, illustrated and designed by me, and saddle-stitched by hand. It’s an account of my love affair with the urban foxes that shared my garden in London for many years! The illustrations are in pencil with some watercolour elements, and 75% of them are actually recreated from my own photographs of the foxes. It’s beautifully printed on textured creamy paper, with a colour cover and end-papers.
“For about six years I lived in an area of London called Brockley. For most of those years I shared my back garden with several generations of a family of foxes. When I moved house I decided to make this book to mark the end of this phase of my life… it’s a chronicle of my observations of the Brockley foxes, and what they meant to me.”
Available here.
We’re almost done with the gift guide – stay tuned for a few more of our recommendations!
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