During a NYC adventure a few weeks ago, my friend and I walked past Biography Bookshop. My friend noticed copies of This Is New York and This Is London in the store window. I hadn’t even heard of Miroslav Sasek before, and I felt pretty pathetic! A Czech author and illustrator, Miroslav is most well known for his This Is… series: a collection of city guides for children. Each book takes the reader on an amusing tour throughout the city, and highlights both the landmarks and uniqueness of each location. During the past few years, more than half of the This Is series has been reissued. I adore the illustrations, and think it’s fascinating to see each city from a 1960s perspective.
Now for FIVE SILLY FACTS ON MIROSLAV SASEK:
1. He was born in Prague!
2. He wanted to be a painter, but his parents pressured him to become an architect.
3. Although he lived in Munich, he considered Paris his home.
4. There are 18 books in the This Is series. Four of these books were adapted into movies.
5. After returning from a book adventure, he would pick mushrooms in the woods.
I think Miroslav Sasek has become one of my favorite children’s book illustrators. Who are some of your favorite illustrators?
Note! All of the pictures above are from the lovely site This is M. Sasek, the most comprehensive website on Miroslav Sasek.
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10 Responses for "Five Quick Facts on Miroslav Sasek!"
Don’t feel bad — I hadn’t heard of him either until now! I just did an amazon search so I could do “look inside the book” for NY.
I really love the illustrations in Eloise and Olivia — kind of sketchy and wild, like the characters themselves. I am also a an of the more realistic illustrations, ie Jan Brett, Graeme Base (sp?).
Angelica is the super hip one, who knows everything about children’s literature. I love Eloise (and Olivia). Sometimes, my apartment building makes me feel like Eloise, since it looks too much like a hotel. I also wish I could wear a cool jumper like her, all the time!
You really should read This Is New York! It’s great, and I should have bought it as a NYC souvenier. I think if I had read the series as a child, I would have demanded travelling to all those places! Well! Afterthought! I still want to travel like M. Sasek. With two suitcases (just like him)! I’d fill one with a notebook, a sharpie, and a camera, and I’d leave the other empty for my acquisitions.
I better go get This is Texas to prepare for my move to Austin.
Also, I really like these books because they are very honest. The one about San Francisco talks about their prison, and it think this is quite commendable because it doesn’t hide anything from children or adults alike. It keeps the cities as is- representing them in their most honest light.
I would say Shel Silverstein is my absolute favorite. His line drawings and water color usage drive me wild!
Also, Anthro just came out with these jumper suits – shorts & pants. You must get the shorts Tricia! (The pants are for super long ladies).
6th silly fact – “This is San Francisco” is David’s favorite book of all time
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Ben, I think you win the best silly fact award.
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