Characters from children's books often take on legendary status in the popular imagination. Peter Pan inspired his own pathological syndrome (and maybe R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly"); Willy Wonka led to a real–world candy company; and hundreds of wannabe Hobbits live in commercially manufactured Hobbit holes in Shire–like lands. "Picture This," a new exhibition at the British Library, presents a canon of illustrations from famous storybooks, from Paddington Bear to The Borrowers to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Sometimes even more than the written stories, it's the detail and enchantment of the illustrations that transport children into these fantasy worlds. But are ingeniously illustrated kids' books in danger of extinction in this Kindle–fied time? Curator Matthew Eve tells Co.Design, "Like anything else, children's books come in and out of fashion and popularity. But there will always be a place for them in children's lives if teachers, parents, and families keep them as firm family favorites to be cherished and (cerebrally) enjoyed."Read Full Story Continue reading at 'Fast Company'
[ Fast Company | 2013-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]