The Illustrator's Notebook [Hardcover]

Mohieddine Ellabbad (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Through simple words and gorgeous images, Mohieddin Ellabbad reflects on his childhood and on the cultural influences that led him to become one of Egypt’s finest illustrators. Using his own creative awakening as an example, he encourages young artists to find inspiration in the world around them, through the most ordinary sources: everyday objects, favorite books and magazines, even through explorations of their own feelings. Pages from Ellabbad’s exquisitely illustrated notebooks are reproduced in their entirety, offering readers of all ages rare insight into the history and traditions of Arabic literature.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up–Part children's book, part autobiography, part design treatise, this hard-to-categorize Egyptian import is full of wonders from start to finish. Ellabbad uses excerpts from his notebooks to discuss ways of seeing art from an artist's perspective and as someone from an Arabic culture. Printed like the Egyptian edition–read right to left–the pages are magnificently and surprisingly illustrated, juxtaposing Arabic script (English translations appear in the margins), watercolor paintings, pasted-in photos and pictures from comic books, and all manner of characters from Eastern and Western cultures. From the henna paintings on a woman's hands and feet, to a photograph of a village house decorated with a lifelike mural, to a reproduction of an Ottoman sultan's signature done in ornate calligraphy, Ellabbad contemplates different forms of expression and how these images spur the imagination and stimulate personal reflection. On a page featuring sketches of an Egyptian 10-pound note, he encourages readers to re-examine familiar things (…have you ever looked at the beautiful landscape that is drawn right in the palm of your hand?). Scrapbook memoirs are paired with a discussion of the importance of souvenirs (from ticket stubs to pyramids) for awakening memories and preserving the past. The warm and inviting prose goes beyond aesthetics and poses questions such as Who are our heroes? What is memory? Where do stories come from? The Illustrator's Notebook presents a revealing introduction to Arabic culture and will appeal particularly to visually oriented youngsters.–Steev Baker, Kewaskum Public Library, WI
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Groundwood Books (March 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0888997000
• ISBN-13: 978-0888997005
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #963,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, April 16, 2007

By 

Diana (virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Illustrator's Notebook (Hardcover)

What a beautiful book. I purchased this book for the illustrations but I like it even more for the writing. There is a short vignette on each page accompanied by an illustration or collages of some of the authors old pictures, postcards, and other items. Although this is a children's book, it's also appealing to adults. For those who know Arabic, the vignettes are all hand-written in Arabic and translated into English so you can pick up new words. Additionally, the author has a couple of very sweet vignettes describing how individuals from different countries perceive the world differently. Definitely a gem.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique & Delightful, April 24, 2008

By 

Tressa Mazhandu - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Illustrator's Notebook (Hardcover)

I heard about this book on NPR before Christmas. It took me 4 months to actually get it for my daughter. We ended up giving this as a birthday gift and I intend on ordering another for my 8 year old. The book will take you into another culture, yet is completely relevant to everyone.
I highly recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Marvelous! An AWAIR Pick!, May 18, 2011

By 

AWAIR Reviews (Berkeley, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Illustrator's Notebook (Hardcover)

This is a rich and unique book with many levels of meaning. It is an account of an artist's creative sources and of how he grew up to be a famous illustrator. It is an appeal to children to see the world and to find inspiration in the most ordinary visual sources. It is a testament to the value of diversity, exemplified by the fact that while some people read from left to right, others read the opposite way, which affects how they see and even dream. It is an introduction to Egypt and its extraordinary visual world and, finally, it is a demonstration of the beauty of written Arabic. A joyous and inventive melding of genres, this stereotype-smashing book is a remarkable study of memory and perspective.

Teachers: 6th grade to adult. Each of its pages would make a fabulous overhead transparency powerpoint visual - to be used for wonderful classroom sessions. It will be a required "text" for an online curriculum about the Timbuktu manuscripts: Legacy of the Written Word.

This review LOVES this book and is VERY excited about its possibilities in YOUR classroom!