Leanne’s first joint illustration exhibition was held last year. She is currently working on a series of illustrations featuring chickens that like to do adventurous thrill seeking activities.
Which children’s book are you currently reading?
The Old Man by Sarah V. and Claude K. Dubois, translated into English by Daniel
Hahn.
Can you tell us in two sentences what the book is
about?
The story follows the day of a man who sleeps on the street; he is a
tired, cold and hungry man, who is ignored by many people. When the old man
receives an unexpected gift from a small child he discovers hope in his heart.
How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?
I’m not sure. Yes, I think I do like it. Some books grow on you the more
you think about them. The story is both dark and light. I felt sorry for the
homeless man who is struggling to live and yet so many people are bustling
past, too busy and too uncaring. Yet the story shows hope and light in a child.
A child who only sees a man wrapped up in a blanket and offers him her
sandwich. As an adult it is confronting and makes me wonder how many tired,
cold and hungry people I have walked past. The story reminds us that children
have no prejudices until they are taught them.
Each time I select a book it has to call to me; size, texture, colour or
the title. Sometimes I don’t read a book before I take it home. I want time
alone to truly experience the book without interruptions.
On this day I was
browsing in a bookstore to see what books were new or different. The book cover
of The Old Man was facing outwards on the shelf and its unusual size
caught my eye. Its size reminded me of the story Leaf by Stephen Michael
King. I noticed the subdued colours on the front cover and I thought, ‘this
book is different.’ The book’s image and title on the cover made me intrigued
enough to know more, so I picked it up. I flipped through the pages. I did not
read it but I was interested enough to buy it.
What other titles are on your bedside table /To
Read Pile?
The pile is huge. The children’s books range from picture books,
activity books, board books to a few information books. Some books are ones
waiting to be reviewed for KBR like Kookaburras Love to Laugh by Laura
and Philip Bunting or Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty and David
Roberts. Other books called to me while browsing in the bookshop. Some of these
include Book by David Miles and Natalie Hoopes, Green by Laura
Vaccaro Seeger and Where’s Halmoni? by Julie Kim. I also have a
few adult book titles in my pile by Richard Fiddler, Monica McInerney, Michelle
de Kretser and Liefe Shallcross.
How did you come by these titles: personal
choice/request, publisher’s review copy, or other?
The books choose me. I choose books from publisher release lists,
browsing bookstores and sometimes I see books on author/illustrator’s online
posts. The books need to touch me artistically, emotionally, or are of a topic
that interests me.
Do you have a favourite genre? If so, what is it,
and why do you prefer it?
Picture Books are my most favourite kind of book. The books touch me
artistically and emotionally. I am in awe of the artistic ability of
illustrators and wish there was an art gallery of illustrations.
I also like information
books, especially ones about science. I think I choose the science books
because I loved biology, geology and astronomy at school and I want to pass
this love onto children. The other reason I choose the science books to read is
because I have an interest in the natural world having worked for a local
Landcare Group for 10 years while living on a rural property.
I always read children’s books in the printed format. For me the
illustrations need to be touched. The pages need to be turned, as that movement
it is part of the story’s pacing. Some picture and board books are textural or
have holes and flaps; this doesn’t translate the same in an e-book. For a child
the printed format teaches them about reading kinetically, by having the book
up the right way, locating the front of the book and turning the pages. The
physicality of reading a printed book is so important.
I read a mixture of formats for adult books. I mostly read e-books
because they are easier to read in a waiting room, in bed or while on holiday.
Sometimes I purchase the printed format of an adult book but generally only
when I go to a book launch or discover something while browsing.
