The Photobook: A History

Book Description

Much Anticipated Second Volume of the Story of Photographythrough the History of the Photobook; Compiled by Martin Parr and Gerry Badger "The Photobook: A History, Volume I, by Martin Parr and Gerry Badger, isthe most important contribution to the field since modern histories ofphotography began to appear in the early twentieth century.We can be surethat this book, and its forthcoming second volume, will lead the way torevitalization of thinking and publishing in the field.It dwarfs previouspublications in both its scope and the information it provides."(Photo-Eye, December 2004) More photobooks are being published now than ever.For most photographers,this format is the ideal vehicle to present their work and communicatetheir vision to a mass audience.While the history of photography is awell-established canon, much less critical attention has been devoted tothis alternative history of the medium through the pages of the photobookFollowing the critically acclaimed first volume, THE PHOTOBOOK: A HISTORY:VOLUME II, co-edited by Martin Parr and Gerry Badger, brings the mostcomprehensive illustrated history of the photobook fully up to date. Featuring over 200 photobooks, this lush survey offers a fresh approach tophotographic history and is a celebration of the medium's diversity. Broadly thematic in structure, each chapter features an introductory easyfollowed by detailed discussion of the individual photobooks alongsideimages of the book covers and spreads. While the first volume stressed the subjective nature of the history of themedium and how that history was molded by the influences of curators andhistorians, the second volume brings a new perspective from the viewpointof the photographer and the editor.A secret web of influences andinterconnections between photographers and photographic movements aroundthe world is revealed producing a global network of ideas.Spanning from Edouard Baldus's magnificent book for the Paris-Lyons RailwayCompany of 1861 to Stephen Shore's American Surfaces of 2005, thedevelopment of photography in its published form is the main focus.THEPHOTOBOOK: A HISTORY: VOLUME II is a chronicle of contemporary life,covering key artistic genres, including The American Photobook, TheEuropean Photobook, The Artist's Photobook and The Company Photobook. Gerry Badger explains the narrative function this unique format provides,"The photobook has become a worldwide phenomenon as practitioners of allcultures look to photography as a means of understanding the world aroundthem."The books that fill the pages of this magnificent volume havedefined photography, telling us just as much about the history of themedium as the history of the world.THE PHOTOBOOK: A HISTORY: VOLUME II isan indispensable resource.

Customer Reviews:

Through the lens with print: part two.......2006-12-27

As I wrote in my review of the first edition, both will surely become the standard reference about photobooks. This second one is mostly concerned with contemporary photography and the coverage is really impressive which raises an important point: both books regard their subject as a lively and energetic creative medium and not a dry academic one reflecting an elitist point-of-view.

Just over two hundred photobooks are considered in nine chapters and like book one each has a technical caption (publisher, size, pages, date etc) and an excellent analysis of the photos and the book. The coverage, as I mentioned is very comprehensive. There is a chapter devoted to books that are not commercially available (The Company Photobook) and the twenty-five covered include a high school yearbook, or chapter six: Looking at Photographs, where the theme is the picture editor as author with twenty-two books. Controversy is not avoided either, chapter eight looks at the work of the New Topographic photographers with their stark takes on blast furnaces, prisons and other potential visual failures of society.

This second book is the same design, with excellent printing and paper, as the first (and to my mind) has the same fault in that there are not enough spreads shown from all the books looked at despite plenty of white space on each page. This does seem an odd editorial oversight when the purpose of the book is to show pages from books full of photographs. The first book had a few examples of many pages from a particular book but I could only find one in this book: a 1957 Norfolk and Western brochure where seventeen pages are shown (out of eighteen) using Winston Link's wonderful train photos

Look through the 656 pages of these two books and you'll soon realise that Badger and Parr have achieved a remarkably lively study. Surely the photobook gold standard.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

An excellent sequel..........2006-10-29

Just where Volume 1 left off, Volume 2 takes off. Very thorough and well organized, be reminded this is not an all inclusive book of books. You may agree with some of the entries and you may also disagree, but, most important, you'll end up learning on new possible entries for your library as well as discarding considered ones.

All in all an exquisite reference book. Enjoy...T

Twilight (Warriors: The New Prophecy, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

Twilight : Why It Is Thrilling...Yet Annoying
Warrior: Twilight
Not as good as previous books but still read it!
My[..]LOVED this
You can't skip this book in The New Prophecy!

Twilight (Warriors: The New Prophecy, Book 5)
Erin Hunter
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0060827645
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Book Description

Before there is peace, blood will spill blood...

New territory brings new troubles for the fierce cats of the warrior Clans, who are still uncovering the secrets of their new home around the lake. Dangers they have never faced before are lurking in the twilight shadows, and former allies are acting strangely hostile.

As divisions between the Clans grow deeper, Firestar's daughters face troubling decisions. One is torn between loyalty to her calling and a forbidden love, while the other struggles with her best friend's betrayal and the surprising perils of the forest. The choices they make now could affect ThunderClan for generations to come . . . and with an unexpected enemy preparing to attack, their courage and strength will be needed more than ever if the Clan is to survive.

Customer Reviews:

Twilight : Why It Is Thrilling...Yet Annoying.......2007-07-03

Twilight was a good addition to the Warriors series. The action is pulsing, the tension is building, the mystery is pumping...what could go wrong? Oh, not too much...just a few little things that shouldn't be over looked.

The Clans are (!SPOILERS!) settling into their new lake home, but Leafpool's messages about 'Blood will spill blood and the lake will run red' are becoming very numerous...pretty annoying for her, I would imagine. But there are a number of things that I find annoying. One of my biggest pet peeves involves Leafpool as well. How could she possibly love Crowfeather? Why is Crowfeather such a darn playa? Why is Feathertail not mad? I think that the entire Crowfeather *hearts* Leafpool thing is very out of place in this book. I don't understand what they see in each other. I used to like Leafpool until she starts ignoring Cinderpelt and her Clan and eventually runs away with Crowfeather. Good ridiance...but NOOOO...she has to come back at the last minute and appear the hero. Crowfeather has always been clueless, but you just hate him after he loves Leafpool when his mate died only about a moon before!

What also annoys me is that Brambleclaw is so dumb! He can't see that his brother and his father (whom he already knows is evil and says that he hates ol' Tigerstar) are using him to gain control of the forest. He used to be one of my favorite characters, yet he is now very very dumb. He continues to unceremoniously push Squirrelflight away in his monstrosity that he calls his life.

Now for the good! The ending scene with the badgers was very well written and quite nerve racking and sad, like when Sootfur died such a proud death full of dedication to his Clan. The birth of Honeykit, Cinderkit, Poppykit and Molekit was a pleasant surprise, even though I hated the fact that Cinderpelt died. At least Cinderkit is the reincarnated form of her! As always, the battle sequences were top-notch and very well planned and thought out.

The introduction of Daisy and her kits was an added bonus. You can feel the rage building inside of you when Daisy tries to shimmy closer to Cloudtail, her mentor. Mousekit, Berrykit, and Hazelkit are great additions to the Clan and I'm happy they decided to stay and that Cloudtail and Brightheart mended their broken relationship.

You stay at the edge of your seat as each event unfolds and unfurls before you. The action is packed and there is hardly ever a dry moment, which adds to the wonders of this series. Some very odd things happen, such as Onestar acting hostile towards Firestar for unknown reasons, but everything goes back to normal at the end of the book. The big surprise appearance of Stormfur and Brook was an added surprise!

All in all, Twilight is a good book, even though there are some rough patches. I would give it 4 stars and an A- / A grade. Happy reading, but look out for the two-timing Crowfeather!

Sincerely,

~Dapplewing~

Warrior: Twilight.......2007-06-24

Squirrelflight and Leafpool, daughters of Firestar, the great ThunderClan leader cat, has some problems going on in their lives. Squirrelflight finds it hard that her best friend, Brambleclaw is betraying her so she concentrates on a friendship with another, better cat called Ashfur. Leafpool is in a stage called forbidden love. She's falling for a WindClan cat called Crowfeather when she knows that she can't. Leafpool's a medicine cat which means she heals cats with herbs and recieves signs from StarClan. Medicine cats do not fall in love and if they do, they broke the Warrior Code and sent to exile. Also, cats can not fall in love with another cat in another Clan. So that means Leafpool broke 2 warrior codes.

Now, Leafpool thinks that she's usless now. Her mentor has found a new cat who could do some jobs for her. Leafpool aruged with Squrrielflight and they never argue. Will Leafpool run away from home with Crowfeather so they can be together and live happily ever after and would Squrrielflight abadon Brambleclaw forever and go with Ashfur; so that their memory is nothing but history?

This book is really good with many twist and turns. It may also be really sad to some people.

Not as good as previous books but still read it!.......2007-06-08

I think this book was great but not that eventful. Leafpool runs away with Crowfeather and Cinderpelt dies. At the end of the book ThunderClan get attacked by badgers. Also at the end of the book Stormfur and Brook return! YAY! Anyway I think that Erin H. is a very good at clif hangers but the end kind of annoys me because now I HAVE to get the 6th book by this week to find out what happened to Stormfur and Brook. I love Graystripe (who doesn't?) and i have heard he is coming back! YAY!There is not much more to say except Leafpool isnt as nice as she used to be and Squrrilflight and Brambleclaw keep on treding "on each others tails". I have always thought that Brambleclaw was bad and i wont change my mind!I always will like the previous series more because I miss Rusty, Firepaw, Fireheart, Firestar because Erin H. doesnt talk about him that much anymore. My favorite characters are Graystripe,Stormfur, Feathertail, Ashfur, and, Silverstream! YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!

My[..]LOVED this.......2007-05-17

These books have been incredible for [..]. This is the second series that he's read in the Warriors group by Erin Hunter. He uses the language that the cats in the book use, and he often comes to tell me about some exciting twist that has happened, or a new character that he's falling in love with. These have been great for his reading speed, he's reading much faster and with greater recall since starting these books a few months ago. I highly recommend them.

You can't skip this book in The New Prophecy!.......2007-05-17

In the books of The New Prophecy it expresses the thoughts of two cats (switching off) and this book contains the thoughts of Squierrelflight and of course Leafpool. In this book Squierrelflight and Brambleclaw start to trouble with their relationship concerning trust. Squierrelflight can't stand the thought that Brambleclaw can even think about his halfbrother Hawkfrost, she says there is something about him she just can't trust. While Leafpool is having trouble with her own admirrer Crowfeather from Windclan! That's right even though she is a medicine cat she can't ignore her love for him! Meanwhile all the medicine cats keep having terifying dreams of disaster, claws and darkness, while Leafpool has her on vision of claws, darkness and pain then it ends. What do all of these things mean? Meanwhile for some reason that Hunter never seemed to put in the book is that Windclan is hating Thunderclan and wants nothing to do with them, until the end of the book when they come to help Thunderclan in their time of HORROR! Something sad about this book is the cat who dies in the end. I'm not saying who it is, but is a cat who you have know a long time and will feel pain to see the end come to this cat's life. Read the Book for more! It's GR8!

Average customer rating:

a delicious lesson
Frances Books
Kids love it.
Mother and Father Badger handle another Frances crisis
Very cute book

Bread and Jam for Frances
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0064430960

Book Description

Frances, one of children's best-loved characters for over 30 years, now springs to life even more in Bread and Jam for Frances,beautifully reillustrated in sparkling full color by Lillian Hoban. In this memorable story, Frances decides that bread and jam are all she wants to eat, and her understanding parents grant her wish'at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacktime. Can there ever be too much bread and jam?

Customer Reviews:

a delicious lesson.......2007-09-20

I love this book! The drawings are charming and the text is just as wonderful. Parents can give in to their picky eaters or be too heavy-handed in dealing with them. Frances's parents wisely choose to allow Frances to only eat bread and jam for several days, until she realizes that she is missing out on many other foods. They are gentle but firm with her, and in the end, we are all glad to see her enjoying a variety of foods again. We started making poached eggs on toast for breakfast after reading this book-- yum!

Frances Books.......2007-09-05

Russell Hoban's Frances series is a must read for all small children. The illustrations are delightful and the text shares common problems small children face. My 32 year old son loved these books and now his 3 year old son is enjoying them.

Kids love it........2007-08-24

Mine, that is. I read the Frances books when I was young and was delighted to rediscover them for/with my own children. The illustrations are great, and the little songs Frances invents are priceless. The kids are going around the house now, singing to their food.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I'm not shocked or horrified that only Mother is seen cooking and Father has a job. Maybe Mother is a better cook; I'm sure she's a better mom. My kids are homeschooled, but I'm not even offended that Frances goes off to a traditional school on a school bus. Can't we all just get over ourselves already?

Mother and Father Badger handle another Frances crisis.......2006-07-18

The irrepressible badger Frances, now an older sister to baby Gloria, decides that she likes the predictability of her favorite meal, bread and jam, and refuses to eat anything else. In a gentle way, Mother Badger shows Frances just how boring life is when you always eat the same thing. For fans of Frances, it is as much of a treat as the other books. For example, Frances's thoughts on the drawbacks of eggs is laugh-out-loud funny. However, do be forewarned that the gender roles in this book are even more traditional than usual with Mother Badger whipping up every meal and Father Badger praising her for it. It actually doesn't bother me because at least the father is appreciative, but I thought readers should know what to expect.

Very cute book.......2006-04-06

My 4 year old daughter loves this book. She loves reading about all of the foods Frances' family and friend Albert try.

Average customer rating:

Creating a Canon For Selling Collectible Books
Superb undertaking, despite some conceptual flaws
Through the lens with print

The Photobook: A History, Vol. 1
Martin Parr , and Gerry Badger
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

History | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Photo Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Books | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Home & Garden | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0714842850

Amazon.com

In the 19th century, the object was to collect and to classify, whether the subject was a foreign landscape, a war, the surface of the moon or the manufacture of bread. Conversely, 20th-century photobooks are often frankly subjective, drawing on movements ranging from surrealism to the Beats. Yet a quasi-scientific approach could result in poignant imagery (as in Facies Dolorosa, a study of the faces of seriously ill people), and artistic subjectivity could yield bitter truths (Helen Levitt's A Way of Seeing, images of poor children in New York). Describing photobooks of the polemical 1930s as "the great persuaders," Parr and Badger remark that the best documentary work demonstrates an awareness of the ambiguities and contradictions inherent in the medium. Although we tend to think of propaganda solely as the product of totalitarian regimes (see "Long Live the Bright Instruction," a Chinese tract featuring unnervingly happy workers), the authors remind us that photobooks celebrating the American way of life often naively ignored the complex socio-political forces that underlie a sentimental or cheerful scene. The final chapter, devoted to postwar Japanese photobooks, vividly illuminates the cocktail of hedonism, rage and despair that makes these volumes extraordinary visual documents. --Cathy Curtis

Book Description

From Street Life in London to Hiroshima, from The Royal Mummies to Perspective of Nudes and The Sweet Flypaper of Life, photobooks encompass a tremendous diversity of subjects and styles. While some of these illustrated volumes are famous (Eadweard Muybridge's Animal Locomotion, Robert Frank's The Americans), many others are known only to specialists. The Photobook: A History offers an engrossing survey of this art form, beginning with early experiments in photography in mid-19yh-century England and ending with raucous Japanese photo-diaries of the 1990s. The scope of this handsomely designed book#151;the first of two volumes#151;is so broad that only a few pages of each photobook could be illustrated, and some of the 750 color and black-and-white reproductions are quite small. But the incisive commentary by British photographer Martin Parr and photo critic Gerry Badger opens up new worlds of visual information. The authors provide essential grounding, not only in the history of photography, but also in the artistic and social movements that influenced the look and content of photobooks. In the 19th century, the object was to collect and to classify, whether the subject was a foreign landscape, a war, the surface of the moon or the manufacture of bread. Conversely, 20th-century photobooks are often frankly subjective, drawing on movements ranging from surrealism to the Beats. Yet a quasi-scientific approach could result in poignant imagery (as in Facies Dolorosa, a study of the faces of seriously ill people), and artistic subjectivity could yield bitter truths (Helen Levitt's A Way of Seeing, images of poor children in New York). Describing photobooks of the polemical 1930s as "the great persuaders," Parr and Badger remark that the best documentary work demonstrates an awareness of the ambiguities and contradictions inherent in the medium. Although we tend to think of propaganda solely as the product of totalitarian regimes (see "Long Live the Bright Instruction," a Chinese tract featuring unnervingly happy workers), the authors remind us that photobooks celebrating the American way of life often naively ignored the complex socio-political forces that underlie a sentimental or cheerful scene. The final chapter, devoted to postwar Japanese photobooks, vividly illuminates the cocktail of hedonism, rage and despair that makes these volumes extraordinary visual documents. --Cathy Curtis

Customer Reviews:

Creating a Canon For Selling Collectible Books.......2007-03-16

This volume, along with its companion volume, offer little in the way of useful or intelligent commentary (it is otherwise recycled pabulum wasted on a body of books that, for the most part, were treated to celebrity status by Roth). Instead, we're treated to an obscure and incomprehensibly limited canon which is sold as if it were created in a vaccuum with only the purest of intellectual and aesthetic intentions and aspirations (please look at Parr's actual photographs before buying this book--you can get a better appreciation of his specific photographic style). The reality--both of these volumes (and the books contained therein) seem to have been selected primarily for their price in the rare book world (Roth is guilty of basing his selection process on the market as well, but at least he's tranparently a rare book dealer). This wouldn't bother me so much except that there are glaring omissions from both Parr/badger volumes (Misrach's Bravo 20, anything from John Pfahl, anything from Helmut Newton, Frank Horvat, Andres Serrano, Jan Dibbets, Ken Schles, James Van Der Zee, Jerry Uelsmann, Richard Prince, etc...) It is also troubling because up until perhaps even a year ago the rare photobook market was dominated by a handful of collectors (whose ability to judge photography, as far as I can tell, is somewhat suspect). The general proposed intent of the project is noble (cataloging the important photobooks of the world), but I don't think that these authors are qualified in any way to be the critics of what photobooks have actually been important (can we get Irving Penn, William Klein, Araki,and a panel of actual legends to make some selections?). And so, we are treated to a very strange mixture of blue chip photobooks, some of which are obviously important, and some of which are just expensive cult favorites with the collectors. Buyer beware--most of the books within have catapulted even higher in value almost exclusively based off of the premise that they were included in these books. There are plenty of photobooks worth collecting (perhaps even more worthy than most of the books included herein) and there are lots of little-known volumes from the greats (also not treated here) worth pursuing and, more importantly, viewing and enjoying. Photobooks were being produced before this list was assembled and will continue to be created long after these forgettable volumes are replaced with more academic and more interesting attempts. These books are not a terrible point of departure for the neophyte collector but be advised that these books repeatedly confuse monetary and artistic merit without apparently being aware of their own confusion. If you are interested in serious collecting, I'd advise either finding a copy of Roth (if you are interested in collecting a canon of well-established books that are unlikely to shift in value significantly) or, more simply and elegantly, spend some time at your local library learning who Mapplethorpe, Lartgiue, Saudek and rest really are (you can find the names on the internet fairly simply and looking through the actual books beats reading these surveys any day). It's free and you'll be able to craft your own tastes before you begin the process of investing in your won photobook collection.

Superb undertaking, despite some conceptual flaws.......2005-12-21

This is a marvelous volume that can be enjoyed by book and photography lovers alike. As an object in its own right it exhibits a level of refinement in conception and execution that has become rare in our age of mass-produced books. Of course, there are many specialist photobook publishers but they seem to focus exclusively on print quality to increase the perceived value of their publications, whilst neglecting the vital contribution of design in a book's overall appearance (and desirability). In the Phaidon-volume, the exquisitely judged rhythm of layout and typography complement the vivid reproductions of vintage photobook material into a very exciting whole.

To be sure, the care spent on the production of this book is not gratuitous. To the contrary, it is a statement that reinforces the basic conceptual tenets held by Badger and Parr. From the introductory pages we learn that not every and any book that has been conceived around a collection of photographs merits to be included in the class of "photobooks". A photobook - as Badger and Parr understand it - is more than just the sum of its parts: pictures, words, design, and choice of subject all contribute to something which transcends the meaning of a photographic portfolio. This is all illuminating and one could certainly say that the "Photobook" is an instructive example of this synergy between various elements.

However, I wished that the editorial team would have left it at that. I think Badger and Parr are moving onto much more controversial ground when they hold forth that the emblematic photobook is a kind of dramatic event, "comparable with a piece of sculpture, a play or a film" in which the individual photographs lose their own character as things in themselves. Apart from being theoretically doubtful, I believe this criterion is simply too stringent and many vintage photobooks featured in this survey do not comply with it. For example, many of the early books were photo albums in the true sense of the word: bound collections of original prints glued onto white pages. Similarly, it is difficult to see in some of the modernist books - such as Erhardt "Das Watt" or Mendelsohn's "Amerika" - anything more than an expertly produced photographic portfolio. In each of these examples there is coherence, but it does not derive from some kind of dramatic or narrative logic. It can simply be a unity of style which holds a photobook together. Positioning the photobook "between the novel and film", therefore, raises more questions than it provides us with answers. It doesn't really help to make sense of "a ragged and sprawling subject, with more than its fair share of anomalies".

It is perhaps more useful to investigate how Badger and Parr have tried to organise their material within the confines of this volume (and the next). They seem to have relied on three different lines of thought. The first is chronological (it's a history after all). The survey starts with the very first publications, early on in the history of photography and will end with a section on "The Photobook and Modern Life". In this sense, the book can be studied as a remarkably lively and varied panorama of how photographers have engaged with their craft over the last 150 years.

The second organising principle is geographical: some of the individual chapters focus on a distinct area of cultural production (the US, Europe and Japan; the next volume features a chapter on "The Worldwide Photobook"). Finally, there is "intention" as a structuring element. Photobooks have been produced to serve a variety of purposes: to tell a story, to tell a non-story (stream-of-consciousness-like books), to non-tell a story (to deconstruct), to document, to persuade, etc. Indeed, a valuable photobook can even limit itself to simply showing. Most of the chapters in the two volumes put some kind of "intention" at the center of the discussion.

I think Badger and Parr's conception of their own book is to a certain extent at odds with their conceptual emphasis on the dramatic nature of photobooks. If there is drama in "The Photobook", it is mediated by the words that accompany the various chapters, not by the visuals. In other words: it is a conceptual not a photographic narrative that unfolds. As regards the visuals, curiously enough the daring use of white space and drop shadows around the book and page reproductions really make them stand out as preciously unique. Leafing through the book is akin to walking between carefully presented museum exhibits. In this sense, "The Photobook" clearly `shows' and, therefore pulls us away from the dramatic sweep of history.

Despite these theoretical misgivings there is not a shade of doubt in my mind that this book deserves five stars. It is a fabulous book and I look forward with keen anticipation to the second and final volume.

Through the lens with print.......2005-02-19

This book (and the next volume) will surely become the standard reference for anyone wanting to know about photobooks and in creating a new word for photographs in a book perhaps this will create a new publishing genre too. The author's rightly point out that photography is a printed-page medium and the four hundred and fifty titles examined, with just over two hundred in this first book, probably represent the best (or most interesting) titles ever published.

The nine chapters give a lucid in depth review of photobooks to the 1970s with Anna Atkins 1843 'Photographs of British Algae' taking the first photobook prize. I particularly enjoyed chapter six, Medium and Message: the photobook as propaganda, basically dealing with Soviet books in the Thirties and the examples shown are quite extraordinary in their use of images and design. Reproducing the pages from these books would easily make a separate title. The other fascinating chapter was nine, dealing with postwar Japanese books, again the reproduced jackets and spreads show amazing creativity and vision, not only in the choice of photos but also in the use of printing and binding techniques.

Stunning though this book is I thought there was one particular weakness, in so many of the books there are not enough pages shown. Many of them have two pages, for instance 'An American Exodus' by Lange and Taylor, there are fifteen spreads so it is possible to follow the flow of images or Avery Brodovitch's 'Ballet' with eighteen spreads to capture the feel of the subject. Most of the titles though are two or three to a spread allowing mostly a cover plus four or six pages from inside the book but annoyingly there is easily room for more pages had there been a slight adjustment to the book detail text that accompanies each photobook. The excess white space really should have been put to better use. Despite this the paper and printing of the book is first class, the images are reproduced in a fine screen as cut-outs with a drop shadow and run of varnish to really make them sparkle.

Parr and Badger have almost created a unique book but Andrew Roth's 'The book of 101 books: Seminal photographic books of the twentieth century' (ISBN 0967077443) published in 2001 must be regarded as the first attempt to capture the essence of photobooks and in both titles the editorial concept is the same, reproduce the covers and pages rather than show individual photographs. As a designer this makes both books come alive for me but I prefer 'The Photobook' for its exhilarating coverage in both words and images.

Bedtime for Frances (Trophy Picture Books)

Average customer rating:

Cake and Spankings for Frances at Bedtime?!
Frances Series
Lots of skinny legs in the dark
My Two Year Old Demands This Story Before Bed
Francis is such an adorable character.

Bedtime for Frances (Trophy Picture Books)
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0064434516

Amazon.com

It's bedtime for young Frances--an adorable and irrepressible little badger--and everyone is ready but her. At 7:00 p.m. Frances is wide awake and bursting with youthful excitement. She tries every delay tactic she can muster--from demanding extra hugs and kisses to volleying a series of urgent last-minute questions ("May I sleep with my teddy bear?" "May I have my door open?"). She's almost positive there are spiders, giants, and tigers in her room.

Any parent will quickly identify with this phenomenon--how the last minutes of the day suddenly become the most action-packed. Garth Williams's illustrations complement Russell Hoban's sweet story perfectly, capturing the endless energy and overactive imagination of Frances, and the waning patience of her exhausted parents. Bedtime for Frances is the perfect goodnight story to tell your wide-eyed children. And never fear, like Frances, they too will eventually, contentedly, drift off to sleep. (Ages 4 to 8)

Book Description

Famed for her many adventures, Frances made her debut with this title over thirty years ago. In this first Frances book, the little badger adroitly delays her bedtime with requests for kisses and milk, and concerns over tigers and giants and things going bump in the night. Long a favorite for the gentle humor of its familiar going to bed ritual, Bedtime for Frances is at last available with the warmth of full color enriching Garth Williams's original nuanced and touching art. `Here is the coziest, most beguiling bedtime story in many a day.'—Kirkus Reviews (pointer).

Customer Reviews:

Cake and Spankings for Frances at Bedtime?!.......2007-09-28

I wish I had read the reviews before I bought this book! If I had bought it at Borders I would have returned it by now because I'll never read it to my kids again. Are the people who wrote reviews applauding this book actually parents? This story portrays a little badger who can't get to sleep and keeps coming out to see her parents for some reassurance. Did anyone read her a book to help her off to sleep? Apparently not. Did anyone lie with her to help her get to sleep. No. So she gets up because she feels lonely and afraid. She asks for a piece of cake, which she gets, no problem. After bedtime! My son will never forget that one. After a few more times of leaving her bedroom and seeking reassurance from her parents, she is threatened with a spanking, for not being able to get to sleep. And so she returns to her bed alone, while her parents lie snuggled up close in bed together. A moth begins to bump against her window and it frightens her, but the 'whack and smack' of the moth against the window pane remind her of the spanking so she stays in bed and eventually falls asleep. Ahhh, sweet dreams Frances! What an adorable tale, full of good morals. Just the ticket for sending my two little boys off to sleep.....

Frances Series.......2007-09-05

Another great book in Russell Hoban's Frances series. The illustrations and text related to young children and a reluctance to go to bed.

Lots of skinny legs in the dark.......2007-08-24

This book was my favorite Frances, so well illustrated, so quotable. I grew up on these things, and was much like Frances going to bed, and it brings back such fun memories to read it now with my own children. I also like that this book teaches a moral lesson without forcing your mouth open and shoving it down your throat.

It saddens me a bit to think that some children must be protected from the thought of a giant in the room, being afraid of the dark, or even a little loving discipline to encourage the right behavior. When Frances learned to confront her fears, she was the stronger for it, and got a good night's sleep as well. What my kids learned from it was the alphabet song, and they occasionally get to bed before midnight anyway.

My Two Year Old Demands This Story Before Bed.......2007-01-24

My Dad used to read this story to me before bed and it was very special for me. I was thrilled when he dug it out of his basement and mailed it to me to read to my two year old. I laughed out loud when I noticed the spanking and smoking and told my husband (bc you know they would never dare to put that in a book now )and he inquired why I would read that to our daughter. He then read it upon my urging an agreed it is a wonderfully warm story. Yes, the father smokes a pipe and softly threatens a spanking at one point but he also takes the time all night long to address each of Frances'fears and sends her back to bed each time. Since introducing my daughter to this story she has requested it every night and runs to bed to hear it read. She used to tantrum about going to bed. Better yet, she does not get out of bed anymore once she goes in... not because we spank her or because she fears a spanking(we don't spank), but because she realized that the reason Frances might get spanked was because getting out of bed was against the rules. I think this book is great for helping a child to understand that there are rules they must live by and consequences for their actions. I wish more children would learn that lesson early in life. Another great lesson of this book is that the bedroom is a safe place, even if it looks a little scary in the dark.

Francis is such an adorable character........2006-12-11

I was raised on the Francis books and have started gathering as many as I can for my children one day. The imagination of little Francis knows no bounds. Her songs are adorable and her fears, in her mind, are well-founded. I know how exasperating it can be when your child won't go to bed and this book illustrates that. However, so many people and reviews are feeding the "controversy" surrounding this book. Brace yourself.....

Back in the day, people used to spank their kids! Oh my God, someone get the smelling salts. This was before the "time-out" that has been responsible for children running around supermarkets like unruly heathens. But I digress....

Francis is a cute character and I will collect these books and read them to my children. I highly recommend them if you enjoy a cute touch to your children's reading.

Average customer rating:

Great collection of stories
We love Frances!
Frances Audio Collection
Frances Audio Collection
Frances Rocks!!!!!!!!!

Frances Audio Collection CD
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperChildrensAudio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 006085281X
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Book Description

This collection includes four endearing favorites, Bedtime for Frances; A Baby Sister for Frances; Bread and Jam for Frances; and A Birthday for Frances. Children will cheer for Frances as she cleverly avoids her bedtime, stubbornly refuses to eat anything but bread and jam, and struggles not to eat the tempting, chocolatey birthday present she has just bought for her younger sister, Gloria. These reassuring and funny stories are just right for those amazing days of childhood!

Customer Reviews:

Great collection of stories.......2007-10-05

I remember this from my childhood, and it was a joy to be able to purchase it for my child. It has held up well over time.

We love Frances!.......2007-01-12

My husband's family grew up on the recordings of the Frances stories, read by Glynis Johns (sp). Entertaining for children and adults alike!

Frances Audio Collection.......2007-01-09

I was delighted to see this offered for sale. My daughters loved the Frances stories when they were young and I bought the CDs before a vacation trip we all took. The girls and their children enjoyed the stories in the car and this led to some great discussions. We shared the CDs among the cars as we drove to the beach. They loved listening to the recording and still borrow the CDs to keep at their house to listen to while falling asleep. What a great collection. It was a big hit with the grandkids.

Frances Audio Collection.......2006-06-28

My 6 year old son loves the Francis stories, even though he is usually more attracted to stories like Henry Huggins, or Mouse Tales; etc. However, he was a bit put off by the change in narrators between the Francis audio collection and a different Francis tape and book. The audio collection employs an older English lady with a rather coarse voice for it's narration.
He wrinkled his nose and said "who's that"? when listening for the first time. I think he prefers the pleasant voice narration on "A Bargain for Francis", and some other Francis selections.

Frances Rocks!!!!!!!!!.......2006-04-27

My four year old has loved the Frances books since she was two; this CD is absolutely perfect and she asks for it at least once a week, and finally we have a sort-of tune for all of wonderful Frances' songs. PS if you are a real Frances fan as a parent, check out Mr. Hoban's "Riddley Walker" adult novel. Trust me, you will love it, and in 10 or 15 years, your current Frances fan will too.

Average customer rating:

A wonderfully whimsical read, hilarious sub-text, great for kids
We love the book
TG Wright, Grandmother and Proud of It
Classic Frances!
Excellent ! !

A Birthday for Frances
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0064430073

Book Description

s her little sister Gloria's birthday approaches, Frances wavers between being generous'and being jealous. `[Frances] is every youngster who chafes at being the un-birthday child.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderfully whimsical read, hilarious sub-text, great for kids.......2007-02-17

This is a wonderful story, I love Hoban's books as they work well on both the adult and the child levels. This is bascially the story of Frances, a badger who is struggling with the fact that her little sister Gloria is having a birthday. Frances does not say it out loud, but rather through her actions and her little rhymes we realise that she is unhappy about it, that her sister seems to have all the birthdays and she doesn't have as many. Something which almost all children struggle with at some stage or another.

The lovely hting about this book is that the parents are so lovely and patient, and the sub-text is really fun for adults reading it. What Frances does makes for great fun. She borrows two weeks pocket money from her mother to buy Gloria a present, but then she ends up 'accidentally eating half of it - and the other half looks distinctly threatened by her justification.

I will guarantee your family will enjoy this story, and the other Frances stories as well - they are highly recommended as great good fun.

We love the book.......2007-01-19

Our daughter is planning to be an elementary school teacher, so we are building her a children's book "library"

A Birthday for Frances by the Hobans is a magnificent addition to that collection!

TG Wright, Grandmother and Proud of It.......2007-01-10

Is there anyone who doesn't love Frances and all her antics? I have been reading Frances books to children for 35 years. Every time they delight me as much as the children listening. All Frances books are wonderful.

Classic Frances!.......2006-05-13

This is my daughter's favorite Frances book. It has some great Frances moments, such as the "spelling" of various words, the "riding" of her broom, Champ, and Frances's and Albert's discourse of the uselessness of younger sisters. It also captures with such truth the complicated feelings siblings have for one another, such as the moment where Frances announces that she is not getting her sister Gloria a birthday present and then dissolves into tears because she is the only one not getting Gloria a present. As always, Mother and Father Badger are gentle and wise in their handling of their imaginative and precocious offspring. It is no surprise that children have been continuously reading these books since they were published. As an aside, the portrayal of the simple, homemade birthday party is very refreshing in these days of elaborate, over-the-top children's parties.

Excellent ! !.......2005-09-21

This story brings back wonderful memories of when my mom read the Frances books to me. It's a great story with wonderful illustrations. If you've never read this story, you and your child will surely love it and if you have read it, it is sure to bring back fond memories.

B is for Badger: A Wisconsin Alphabet Edition 1. (Discover America State By State. Alphabet Series)

Average customer rating:

Great Book
GREAT BOOK.

B is for Badger: A Wisconsin Alphabet Edition 1. (Discover America State By State. Alphabet Series)
Kathy-jo Wargin
Manufacturer: Sleeping Bear Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1585361356

Book Description

The intriguing facts and faces, history and places of Wisconsin are revealed to readers young and old in B is for Badger: A Wisconsin Alphabet. From its leaders in fine arts and architecture (Georgia O'Keefe and Frank Lloyd Wright) to its pioneers in nature conservation (John Muir and Aldo Leopold), Wisconsin has been an influence on major movements in education, industry, and use of natural resources. Brought to life with lyric rhymes and expressive, original artwork, B is for Badger showcases for natives and visitors alike the splendors of Wisconsin.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2006-08-20

This book is one of a kind. Great illustrations and well written!
A must have for children in WI!

GREAT BOOK........2004-07-01

This is a beautifully done book. It is good for little children and their older siblings (and parents) as it is written on two levels. The illustrations are wonderful.

Average customer rating:

Nostalgic entertainment
Frances Rocks
Fun for any age reader
Wonderful book for older siblings
Classic

A Baby Sister for Frances
Russell Hoban
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0064430065

Amazon.com

One quiet evening, Frances the badger is sitting under the kitchen sink, singing a little song, "Here are the buckets and brushes and me, / Plinketty, plinketty, plinketty, plee." When she stops singing to listen for parental coos of approval, she hears nothing. Frances is sure it's all her new baby sister's fault. It's why she has no raisins for her cereal, and it's why her new dress isn't ready for her to wear to school. She thinks she may run away after dinner. And she does! She takes her carefully packed knapsack and settles in under the dining-room table.

As she sits sulking and eating cookies, her mother and father, fully aware of her presence, begin talking about how much they miss her, and how much they love her little songs, and how a family is everybody all together, not just a baby. Frances can't stand it anymore. She calls them from her imaginary telephone and tells them she'll be home soon. Russell Hoban and illustrator Lillian Hoban succeed again with a tender, comical, heartwarming story that will make any big brother or sister feel better about a new sibling in the house. For more adventures of this endearing, enduring badger family, don't miss Bedtime for Frances (with illustrations by Garth Williams); Bread and Jam for Frances; Best Friends for Frances; A Birthday for Frances; and A Bargain for Frances. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

When a baby sister arrives, Frances the badger finds a charming way to prove her own importance.

Customer Reviews:

Nostalgic entertainment.......2007-09-15

The Francis series is a wonderful reminder of how parents "used" to parent! It's love, unsullied by the current trend to spoil our kids to death. I loved these books as a kid, and now my daughter loves them, too!

Frances Rocks.......2007-05-18

Who wouldn't love Frances. We still enjoy this book afer a break of 30 years.

Fun for any age reader.......2007-02-03

My son, now almost three, is finally able to listen along to books that are actually interesting. In the last couple of weeks, we have taken the next step in picture books into books that have paragraphs on each page instead of just a sentence or a word or two. And in celebration of that, I pulled out the Frances books by Russell and Lillian Hoban. These books are just a treat, full of subtle situational humor that any parent can relate to. I'm sure many people are already familiar with these books, but you might consider picking them up again if you'd like a smile.

Frances, a little badger who likes to make up her own songs, is so quintessentially child-like. She's clever and funny, but like with all children before a certain age (and what age is it? I'd like to know), it's really all about Frances. She has a little sister, Gloria, with whom she shares some natural sibling rivalry. And she has a lovely, patient, very understanding set of Badger parents, Mother and Father, who always seem to know what to say and do to support Frances but not encourage her natural, but more selfish urges.

In A Baby Sister for Frances, Gloria is just a tiny bundle. Frances's nose is clearly out of joint at all the attention newborn Gloria is getting:

"In the morning Frances got up and washed and began to dress for school.

'Is my blue dress ready for me to wear?' said Frances.

'Oh, dear,' said Mother, 'I was so busy with Gloria that I did not have time to iron it, so you'll have to wear the yellow one.' Mother buttoned Frances up the back. Then she brushed her hair and put a new ribbon in it and put her breakfast on the table.

'Why did you put sliced bananas in the oatmeal?' said Frances. 'Did you forget that I like raisins?'

'No, I did not forget,' said Mother, 'but you finished up the raisins yesterday and I have not been out shopping yet.'

'Well,' said Frances, 'things are not very good around her anymore. No clothes to wear. No raisins for the oatmeal. I think maybe I'll run away.'

'Finish your breakfast,' said Mother. 'It is almost time for the school bus.'

'What time will dinner be tonight?' said Frances.

'Half past six,' said Mother.

'Then I will have plenty of time to run away after dinner,' said Frances, and she kissed her mother good-bye and went to school."

The story goes on, Frances does run away to under the dining room table, and eventually Mother and Father have a loud conversation about how necessary Frances is to their family which, of course, Frances overhears. The whole book is just lovely - clever and funny, with some parental patterning snuck in for the adult reader to learn from. And, remarkably, no matter how many times I read these books, Frances's adventures continue to ring true and amuse. Two thumbs up from me.

Wonderful book for older siblings.......2007-01-14

Our boys loved this book, and we loved reading it to them, even though its protagonist is a girl (more or less).

Classic.......2007-01-04

This is a classic book, and series, that is always worth a tenth, eleventh, etc. read!

The Killings at Badger's Drift (Inspector Barnaby Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

A classic
A Quintessential British Mystery
Excellent Series!
Best writer of English "village" mysteries since Christie, IMO
A Mystery for English mystery lovers

The Killings at Badger's Drift (Inspector Barnaby Mysteries)
Caroline Graham
Manufacturer: Felony & Mayhem Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

British Detectives | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Police Procedurals | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1933397047

Product Description

Badgers Drift is the ideal English village, complete with vicar, bumbling local doctor, and kindly spinster with a nice line in homemade cookies. But when the spinster dies suddenly, her best friend kicks up an unseemly fuss, loud enough to attract the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby. And when Barnaby and his eager-beaver deputy start poking around, they uncover a swamp of ugly scandals and long-suppressed resentments seething below the picture-postcard prettiness. In the grand English tradition of the quietly intelligent copper, Barnaby has both an irresistibly dry sense of humor and a keen insight into what makes people tick. Badgers Drift marks Barnabys debut.

Customer Reviews:

A classic.......2007-07-26

The traditional mystery, through a glass darkly. Her Death of a Hollow Man is also superb. Come to think of it, all her books are superb.

A Quintessential British Mystery.......2006-11-11

The Killings at Badger's Drift is an excellently written, well-plotted British mystery. The setting is quaint, the characters are colorful, and the ending was a surprise. I personally love reading the musings of Sergeant Troy, Barnaby's unlikely assistant. His overly critical, insecure thoughts contrasts nicely with Barnaby's rational style, although Barnaby himself has his interesting quirks as well. If you are a fan of British mysteries, this is a must read!

Excellent Series!.......2006-08-23

I first "met" the characters in this series by happening upon them in the Midsomer Murders mystery series on TV (I'm not much of a TV watcher, so I found them accidentally!). I was so impressed with the TV series that I decided to try the books. I'm very glad I did. While I found I liked the characters a bit more in the TV series (they are somewhat toned down for TV - Troy especially!), I throughly enjoyed this book and rank Caroline Graham right up there with Agatha Christie and the other top British mystery writers. The characterizations are great for even the more minor actors in the story, her wit and humor are wonderful and the vocabulary is fantastic (finally! an author who isn't afraid to use "big words"!). The plot for this novel kept me guessing right up to the end. A well-paced, well-plotted mystery. I was equally impressed with a subsequent foray into the series - Death of a Hollow Man. If you like the cozy British mystery genre, get these books!

Best writer of English "village" mysteries since Christie, IMO.......2006-03-15

This was the debut of the Inspector Barnaby & Troy series, and--with the possible exception of "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd"--I don't think a better mystery of this genre has ever been written and I could say the same of most-if-not-all of the subsequent additions to the series.

Wonderfully atmospheric, grittier than Christie but no less philosophically insightful, without Rendell's darkness or Martha Grimes' often-intrusive humor or Elizabeth George's excessive atttention to the private lives of some boring principals, I believe Caroline Graham's books are the most completely satisfying English mysteries I've ever read--and I've read more than a few.

Barnaby & Troy are a delightfully unlikely duo, and it's from their cultural clash that most of the delicious subtle humor comes. "Talisa Leanne's dictionary" cracks me up every time.

All I could wish is that Graham were more prolific. It's a long wait between books.

A Mystery for English mystery lovers.......2002-11-03

Good characters, great story...this is one I will read again. Having not heard of Caroline Graham, I now want to read all of her books. Reminisent of Martha Grimes, but better. Able to sit on the shelf with Barbara Vine. She is a great storyteller, and you will feel satisfied at the end.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books