[Hundred Dao Editor's Note] Published by Anhui Children's Publishing House, "An Ant Crawls and Crawls", which takes the journey of an ant as the clue to unfold the story, the book contains infinite philosophical charm, and is quite ingenious in story, narrative and production. How do text writers, illustrators and editors work together in the process of publishing such a clever picture book, and what will the picture book bring to children? Picture book editor Lu Lili told this.
"An Ant Crawls and Crawls"
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Publisher: Anhui Children's Publishing House
Author: Zhao Xia, Huang Yi Tu
Publication date: June 2020
As a picture book editor, I used to think that the ideal state of a picture book is the unity of text and picture, that is, the text writer and the picture author are the same person. In this way, the fit of text and pictures will be very high, eliminating the time of running-in and avoiding the possibility of incongruity. However, this idea gradually changed during my deep involvement in the publication of "An Ant Crawls and Crawls". Watching it change from a small seed of a story into a wonderful book, I deeply felt the great power of the combination of writers and painters, and truly understood what is the high-level artistic pursuit.
At first, I was amazed at the story itself. Teacher Zhao Xia's words are like a rhythmic poem that moves lightly and flexibly, with a catchy sense of fluency and a lingering aftertaste that can withstand repeated chewing. Word for word, word for word, is just right, laying out an ant's journey to find itself. With the feeling of the text and the intuition of the heart, we found the painter who is highly compatible with this story - the famous domestic painter Huang Yan teacher. Soon, Teacher Huang's wonderful drawings came pouring in, and this sincere cooperation also kicked off. For two years, authors, painters and editors formed a small creative group around the book "An Ant Crawls and Crawls". From the sketches of the first edition to the detailed revisions of the last draft, all three parties have dedicated their enthusiasm and worked together to make the next possibility better.
Because the story involves many different animals, the tone of the picture is also realistic, to the real animal form in nature as the basis, so we look for picture information through various channels, and strive for the rigor of animal form, so that the picture has the most real and natural appeal; at the same time, it must also fully meet the situation in which the character is in the development of the story, every subtle line, every tiny action, have been carefully considered and dialectically explored. In one of the pictures, in order to accurately show the action of the ant grasping the branch, we even "caught" the ant in the documentary "Earth Pulse" in the sub-shot. Based on this, Teacher Huang tirelessly tried various shapes, and finally perfectly captured the dynamics of ants in this moment. There are also fish cruising in the water, frogs jumping on the shore, birds soaring in the blue sky, lions galloping in the grassland... These seemingly ordinary pictures are full of spirit and texture in Huang Miao's pen, and at the same time, they cleverly conceal the mysteries of the story and create wave after wave of page-turning surprises.
In terms of composition, Teacher Huang is also ingenious and dictatorial, and has invested a lot of effort. A squirrel jump map in the forest was modified several times, and finally finalized as a vertical bleed map that runs through the entire harmony surface. The full scene display from top to bottom greatly enhances the visual impact and the richness of the picture. Another scene where a lion falls off a cliff uses a similar composition, with multiple gestures of storyboarding to represent the climactic part of the story, and the strong sense of shock brought by it is difficult to describe in words. In addition, the space left by the picture for the reader to guess and interpret is very subtle, the real body of the ant and the "imaginary body" are confused and intertwined, the transformation of light and shadow is like a dream, the close-up and the vast and distant shots reflect each other, virtual and real, urgent and slow, light and heavy, all slowly unfold in this frame of the pastoral picture scroll, which is both idyllic and tranquil, making people feel comfortable in silence; and the passion is surging, giving people the power to transform life. The fresh and unworldly beauty and mood highlight the degree of meticulous polishing of this book.
I had the privilege of participating in the editing of this book and witnessing its progress to perfection, and my heart was full of harvest and gratitude. Unforgettable Teacher Zhao Xia's extremely keen analysis and grasp of every detail, unforgettable Teacher Huang Yan's firm and powerful care for the artistic style of the whole book, unforgettable my leadership Bai Lifeng Deputy Editor-in-Chief's dedication to excellence and perfection, and unforgettable experience of every discussion, consideration, attempt, overthrow, and then continue to explore... All of this has become a unique treasure in my career.
Classic picture books can transcend the age of the reader and push the boundaries of the group. Different people can read different feelings. An Ant Crawls is such a special book: it is not only suitable for young children, but also for adults, and everyone can receive unique messages from it. For children at different stages, it has different values and meanings.
For preschoolers, this book helps to develop their logical thinking skills and observation skills. When reading together, parents and friends can carry out just the right guidance, such as guiding children to pay attention to interesting details in the book, through the discovery of the "ontology" and "variation" of ants, immersed in the world where fantasy and reality are intertwined; they can also guide children to boldly imagine according to the existing storyline, predict the next plot, and make their own interpretation of the story. Don't underestimate children, their observational acumen is often beyond the imagination of adults, and they will surely enjoy such a reading game.
Older children, such as the first and second grades of primary school, are just in the budding stage of critical thinking and philosophical awareness, and reading this book can inspire them to have a new understanding of their life conditions and social roles. Some curiosities and questions may begin, and some changes and growth will also occur. Give them some space to let their minds go, believing that the child will find his own precious "treasure".
All in all, "An Ant Crawls and Crawls" is a picture book suitable for children and adults to read carefully together. The ants in the story have a never-ending pursuit, and the world outside the story has no rigid standard answers. Whether it is for the ants in the story or for you and me outside the story, the journey of life will bloom infinitely wonderful. Whether you are a child with teeth and teeth, or an old man with great wisdom in life, the real secrets and answers are hidden in your heart.
(Editor-in-charge: Xiao Ge; Editor-in-Charge: Su Yi)