Through the Window by Charles Keeping (1970-01-01) Hardcover

by Charles Keeping

While standing at the window of his house, a little boy watches a drama involving the people on his street.

Genres: Picture Books, Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Charles William James Keeping was an English illustrator, children's book author and lithographer, born in Lambeth, South London. This childhood background of markets and docks influenced much of his work. At fourteen he became an apprentice in the printing trade before working as an engineer. Later he served in the Royal Navy. On leaving the Navy he changed careers yet again and worked for a while as a rent collector before starting on a three year course at the Regent Street Polytechnic studying drawing, etching, and lithography. (He later took up a teaching position here).

Charles Keeping had his work exhibited all over the world and throughout his career illustrated over 100 books. He received many awards, including the 1967 Kate Greenaway Medal for his picture book Charley, Charlotte and the Golden Canary, and the 1981 Kate Greenaway Medal for The Highwayman.

Reviews

[Patrick Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that made me fall in love with Charles Keeping. A hard-hitting story told through the eyes of a child who doesn't understand what he's seeing, with rich illustrations that beautifully depict the colours of urban night, full of movement and even, when the horse-drawn dray rattles across a double page spread, virtual sound. The quality of work being done in children's picture books in the late 60s by artists like Keeping, Brian Wildsmith, and a handful of others, was amazing - and sadly overlooked.