Illustrations from ‘The Story of Ferdinand’, by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson.
There are some overused words out there. ‘Hero’ and ‘perfect’ being a couple I can think of right off. (Puhl-eeze! Someone who chucks a ball around is NOT a hero.)
But I’m gonna commit my own misdemeanor: There ARE at least two perfect things out there.
‘Where the Wild Things Are’ is a perfectly written book.
‘The Story of Ferdinand’ is a perfectly illustrated book.
Even as a runny-nosed kid, I knew it was perfect. I used to spend hours gazing at those rich blacks, the lovely hatchings, marveling at Lawson’s absolute skill in drawing. Every inch of ink semed perfect to me.
That line from the Beatles song: “She’s the kind of girl you want so much it makes you sorry,” was exactly how I felt about those drawings.
Perfect. Except for the cover, the cover design sucks.
Sigh.
