BalBo deBra

BalBo deBra

piatok 30. decembra 2016

Back to the childhood memories and blue blue tales

Dovolím si tvrdiť, že tento rok vyšlo neuveriteľne veľa tematicky podnetných, ale aj graficky originálne spracovaných kníh pre deti. Alebo sa mýlim a vždy ich vychádzalo tak veľa, len som to doteraz nevnímala? Myslím, že sa nemýlim. No pravdou je, že odkedy sa mi narodila neter a jej mamina (moja sestra Kristína) sa sama venuje písaniu knižiek pre deti a mládež, tento druh literatúry sledujem akosi viac pozorne. A okrem pôsobivých ilustrácií ma, samozrejme, zaujímajú aj texty.
I must say that many original books for children (of really good quality in thematic, as well as graphical way) were published this year. Or am I wrong and there have been always so many of them, I just did not see them? I hope I'm not wrong. But to be honest: I’ve been watching this kind of literature more carefully since my niece was born and her mom (my sister Kristina) has devoted herself into writing books for children and youth. I am interested in textual part besides all these impressive illustrations.

Asi 300 metrov od nášho aucklandského bytu sídli kníhkupectvo „Heroes for sale“, zamerané na pop kultúru, najmä komiksy. Prvé a najväčšie v meste, už dve dekády. Tam som objavila novú vášeň pre kreslené príbehy hrdinov a zadovážila si tam: knihu o detstve malej super-hrdinky („Wonder Woman: Pravá Amazonka“), novinku o potrebe hľadania otca („Prekliate pirátske dievča“), ale aj 20 rokov starú maorskú komiksovú legendu o víťazstvách nebojácneho Mauiho („Maui: Legendy zavrhnutého syna”). Každá z nich dokáže zaujať (nielen tínejdžerov) svojimi originálnymi ilustráciami, ale aj textom – zážitkami naprieč moriami aj ostrovmi za dovtedy nepoznaným: pokorou, novými kultúrami, rodičovskou láskou, tajomstvom predkov, pokorením zla. 
Very unique bookstore “Heroes For Sale" is located about 300 meters from our Auckland's apartment. More than two decades it’s been focusing on pop culture, especially comics. I discovered a new passion for the comic strips about heroes there. Therefore I got few books in a row: a book about the childhood of little super-heroines: "Wonder Woman: Right Amazon"; brand new book about the need for father search: "Cursed Pirate Girl"; and also 20 years old Maori comics legend about the battles of fearless Maui: "Maui Legends of the Outcast". Each of them can impress teenagers and adults at the same time with their original illustrations, as well as written stories about the experiences (previously undiscovered) across the sea and islands, such as: modesty, unknown cultures, parental love, ancestors secrets, defeating the evil.

Každý, kto býva v Oceánii (teda aj ja) by mal spoznať históriu povodného obyvateľstva. Pričom netreba skončiť pri rodinnom výjazde do multiplexu za disneyovskou verziou rozprávky "Moana". Keby som sa toľko nebála morskej nemoci a hrozby tropických cyklónov, už by som sa plavila loďou napríklad na Cookove ostrovy. Možno je načase: prekonať sa a tešiť sa na pozorovanie všetkých tých odtieňov modrej na oceánskej hladine i na oblohe! 
Everyone who lives in Oceania (including myself) should know the history of indigenous people there. This cannot end up with the family trip to the nearest multiplex ready to watch Disney version of “Moana” fairy tale. If I were not so much afraid of seasickness and all these threats of tropical cyclones, I would have already sailed a boat towards the Cook Islands. Maybe it's time to take an action, push my fear away and look forward to observing all the shades of blue ocean and even more blue sky!

Nedávno som čítala o ľuďoch, ktorí si svoje knižnice zariaďujú podľa toho, akej farby majú nábytok, koberec či tapety. Pochybujem teda, že to, čo majú v policiach (úhľadne zoradené v pastelových tónoch či v čierno-bielej striedmosti), aj reálne čítali. Mojej detskej zbierke verneoviek či kolekcii Troch pátračov, ktoré hýrili všetkými farbami a rôzne veľkými fontami, by sa bytoví dizajnéri asi nepotešili. Napriek tomu som sa v jeden deň prichytila pri tom, ako si na fotenie sýto modrých celonožiek s ručne potlačeným bielym motívom podvedome vyberám modrú knihu s bielym nápisom. Keby som už v tom čase mala v rukách čerstvý výtlačok sestrinej knihy o dobrodružstve Kapitána Padáka, siahla by som po ňom. No keďže dielko meralo v balíku cestu z Bratislavy do Aucklandu takmer mesiac, siahla som po inej (tiež modrej) knihe. 
Recently I read about people who arrange their library depending on what color their furniture, carpet or wallpaper is. Can you believe it? I doubt that they actually read what they have in their bookcase (neatly arranged in pastel tones or black and white simplicity). I also think that interior designers would not be probably pleased by my collections of Jules Verne’s adventures or Robert Arthur’s stories of Three Investigators – designed and published in all varieties of colors and fonts, :). However, one day I caught myself matching particular book to the color of stylish blue stockings during the preparation of photo-shooting for my blog. Let’s say it was unconscious selection... If I already had a copy of my sister's new book about the adventures of Captain Parachute at that time, I would take it, of course. But because it took more than a month to reach me in Auckland, I had to choose another one (also in blue color).

Nakoniec počas fotenia krásnych dvojfarebných pančúch z dielne slovenskej dvojice Poko Loko všetko dokonalo ladilo. Na pančuchách plávajúce lodičky, v knižke kopec hviezd, putujúcich po oblohe a plniacich želania. Ak ste zaťažení na typografiu a knižný dizajn, príbeh o líške a hviezde „The Fox and the Star” vás určite osloví. Je z dielne Coralie Bickford-Smith, dvornej dizajnérky obalov pre vydavateľstvo Penguin books. Podoba s Malým princom vcelku výrazná, len tu je viac obrazov, ako textu. Akú múdru (možno i modrú) detskú knihu ste v poslednom čase objavili vy?
Finally, during a photo shooting of myself in colorful stockings with originally printed story (made by Slovak duo Poko Loko) everything fit in perfectly. Floating boats on tights, as well as beautiful stars inside the book – wandering through the sky and fulfilling your wishes. If you are passionate about typography and book design, the story of the fox and the star: "The Fox and the Star" will amaze you. It’s made by Coralie Bickford-Smith – Penguin Books covers’ designer. It can remind you of “Little Prince” quite strong, but this one is more about images than words. What wise (maybe blue too) children's book have you recently discovered at your local bookstore or library? 

Text / Written by: Boba Markovič Baluchová, Foto / Photo: Palo Markovič