Topsy-Turvies: Pictures to Stretch the Imagination

by Mitsumasa Anno

Strange little men are busily engaged in tasks and activities that seem illogical or impossible

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Art

27 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

His name is written as 安野光雅 in Japanese.

Mitsumasa Anno (born March 20, 1926) was a Japanese illustrator and writer of children's books, known best for picture books with few or no words. He received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1984 for his "lasting contribution to children's literature".

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Lobstergirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wordless picture book. Elves walk on upside-down stairs, stand on ceilings, dive into swimming pools in hollowed-out books, follow mazes. In the manner of Escher, inside becomes outside, up becomes down, high is low, etc. Anno's detailed watercolors are great. Sample image detail, minus elves:

[Avis Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this book when I was a kid, and it was one of my all-time favorites. I used to study the drawings for hours on end.

[Thomas Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wordless except postscript. 1968 in Japanese, 1970 in English.

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love, love, loved this book when I was little. I poured over it for hours. Still think it's FAB.
Sort of Escher-lite? but not really cause it's great without needing to be compared to anything else.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wordless picture book about gnomes living in optical illusions. The one with the house, though, isn't really an optical illusion — just seem to be a reversal of gravity.

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[Yan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and attractive optical illusions with cute little men characters. Great for people of all ages and places!

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, wholly devoid of text, presents imaginative drawings of elf-like beings who populate a world that seems impossible in the style of M.C. Escher.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Optical illusions form structures in which curious little men can go up stairs to get to a lower place, hang pictures on the ceiling, and walk on walls. A really fun wordless picture book full of optical illusions.

[Shannon Green-Kingery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is strictly a picture book, but--oh--what pictures! Anno's drawings are on a par with those of M. C. Escher's. The book abounds with lovely and confounding tromp l'oeils that will capture the imagination and keep the reader searching for impossible solutions. Lots of fun!

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful lesson in imagination and "stretching the mind."

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I prefer Escher's works, with the added dimension of superior draftsmanship and the haunting vibe they give me. But these are more suitable for children, and popular among them, too, given all the checkout stamps in the book.

[Paige Albright Vanderpool]

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: a wordless picture book about elves building a miniature town? Strange.

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. Optical illusions with little men carrying on, topsy-turvy, and turvy-topsy.