That's a looooooongwinded way of saying that I realized that I hadn't profiled 'The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum' by Kate Bernheimer and Nicoletta Ceccoli yet and I'm horrified. I've had it since Julia was four.
It's one of the most beautiful, coolest, haunting, COOLEST, most amazing picture books I've ever seen. Reading this story is like jumping into someone's fantastic dream.
Let's back up and look at that statement again, yes?
One of the most beautiful and amazing picture books I have ever seen. Ever.
I know I've been on a HUGE Nicoletta Ceccoli kick, and I make no apologies. Let's just let me get it all out of my system! I've been throwing her name out here and there for the past month. Her art brings new life to the fairy tale artwork realm.
Oh and let's give me a little high five for extra creativity points today, ok? Because I took some recent photos of Julia in her new spring dress and a couple of them really struck me as being very 'Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum-ish'.
And always, I must share my husband Andrew's comment: "those doll people look creepy."
(Nicoletta's illustrations in this book about magical creatures was one of Julia's all time top favorite books for a solid two years when she was 4 and 5. Well, and 6. She still loves it!)
I think my fascination stems from the fact that I've always been obsessed with miniatures. And tiny worlds. I love the idea of a secret (and tiny!) society happening right under our noses. Which is why I find the whole idea of fairies, pixies, elves, and leprechauns endlessly appealing.
True story - I STILL BELIEVE IN FAIRIES. I'll go to my grave with the notion that....no one has proven to me that they don't exist. So until that happens, I'm going to believe that they do.
Have you ever envisioned a world within a snowglobe? Or imagined walking past a dollhouse and catching a glimpse of a tiny dress fluttering past the corner of a doorway? You need to see this book.
I totally agree - having whimsical, beautiful, dark and magical books in the house is SO important!
ReplyDeleteYes Lucy, yes! I know you're on board with this. #bookcomrades :)
DeleteI agree as well.....and we have this book and absolutely love it!
ReplyDeleteThat makes me SO happy, I can't tell you! I guess I just did. :)
DeleteYou know me, I like all the books! There's room for everything! Although lately, I am probably the whimsy queen around here. Sigh. And we loved this book. I never bought a copy for home, but it was on our Amazon wish list (and it probably still is) and we checked it out from the library a few times. I love Ceccoli, too.
ReplyDeleteI LIKE ALL THE BOOKS! that's my new catchphrase!
DeleteOrdering it now. You sold it, sister. And, yea, I have imagined the world from inside a snowglobe and I believe in fairies, too.
ReplyDeleteHurray! In my last life, maybe I was a used car salesperson. Now Amazon will send me a whole nickel! ha ha ha. Anyhoo, you'll LOVE the book. While you're at it, you should order that Once Upon A Cloud book I mentioned a couple weeks ago - finally saw it in person and my jaw dropped on the floor - flipping incredible. So cute you just can't even believe it.
DeleteO I love it. So pretty!
ReplyDelete