Coppernickel Goes Mondrian

(Board book)

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Description

Winner of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava Golden Apple 2011, Coppernickel Goes Mondrian is a graphically sophisticated march into modernity.Mr. Quickstep, accompanied by his dog Foxtrot, is looking for the future. On the way, they meet up with Coppernickel and his dog Tungsten. Coppernickel says there's no need to look for the future, as it will arrive anyway. Mr. Quickstep disagrees, for the future he's after hasn't even been thought of yet. Left behind, Coppernickel worries that he will miss out if he doesn't follow Mr. Quickstep, so he sets off with Tungsten. Naturally, Coppernickel and Mr. Quickstep bump into each other again, which allows Mr.Quickstep to fling open the door to the future by showing Coppernickel his last, most modern work. What stands out here is how Mr. Quickstep's attempt to find an abstract essence in the very stuff of reality is woven right into the illustrations of this graphically distinguished work, giving children the sense that the future is theirs to create as they see it. Dreams can become reality and in the process we too will be transformed.

Reviews

"Mondrian's geometric canvasses are part of our visual landscape now, but Dutch artist van Reek attempts to imagine the process by which they came to be. He doesn't tell the story of the artist's move toward modernism with words; instead, he portrays the transformation of Mondrian's sight and perceptions entirely through the artwork. [...] Van Reek's gentle progression toward abstraction is a striking visual record of a new way of seeing." -- Publishers Weekly "Gorgeous tiny rectangles tile the subway as Mondrian's famous primary colors and grid patterns begin to dominate. Composition varies dynamically; the scene moves from city blocks to Mondrian's spare 1940s apartment. Music emerges from a turntable in lively primary-colored rectangles, becoming Mondrian's famous painting Victory Boogie Woogie, and even the four characters end up geometrically stylized." -- Kirkus Reviews "...as a visual experience it works brilliantly. It is a quest, an immigration story, and an exploration of artistic vision." -- The Horn Book Magazine, July/August 2012 "Some sophisticated themes and concepts, conveyed in text and pictures simple enough to draw fledgling readers." -- Booklist Review Online

Author Bio

Wouter van Reek went to art school, which was way too easy, so he changed to mathematics, but that was way too hard, so he changed back to art. After art school, he created an animated cartoon series for TV, introducing Keepvogel (Coppernickel in English) and Tungsten, a super bird plus dog team. So far Wouter has created about six books based on these characters.