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The Magic Bookcase
Internationally acclaimed illustrator and author Robert Ingpen spins a fantastic spell in this imaginative book. The illustrations are taken from a massive mural he donated to the National Library of Australia in 2018. It depicts a bookshelf without books. Instead, the shelves are filled with characters from classical stories who, through the imagination of the illustrator, are borrowed from the pages of books where they traditionally belong.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2020
32 people want to read
About the author
Robert Ingpen
179 books44 followersRobert Roger Ingpen (AM) (born 13 October 1936) is an Australian graphic designer, illustrator, and author. He received the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration in 1986, recognizing his "lasting contribution to children's literature".
Ingpen was born in Geelong Australia and attended Geelong College to 1957. He graduated with a Diploma of Graphic Art from RMIT where he studied with Harold Freedman.
In 1958, Ingpen was appointed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) as an artist to interpret and communicate the results of scientific research. From 1968 Ingpen worked as a freelance designer, illustrator and author. He was also a member of a United Nations team in Mexico and Peru until 1975, where he designed pamphlets on fisheries and was involved in "a number of Australian conservation and environmental projects". He left the CSIRO to work full-time as a freelance writer in 1968. Ingpen's interest in conservation issues continued, and he was one of the founding members of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Ingpen has written and/or-illustrated more than 100 published books. These include children's picture books and fictional stories for all ages. His nonfiction books mostly relate to history, conservation, environment and health issues. He is a frequent collaborator with author and editor Michael Page.
Ingpen has designed many postage stamps for Australia. Ingpen designed the flag and coat of arms for the Northern Territory. Ingpen has created a number of public murals in Geelong, Melbourne, Canberra and the Gold Coast in Queensland. He also has designed bronze statues, which include the 'Poppykettle Fountain' in Geelong's Steam Packet Gardens (currently dry due to drought restrictions) and the bronze doors to the Melbourne Cricket Club. His most recent work is the design and working drawings for a tapestry, which was woven by The Victorian Tapestry Workshop, to celebrate the 150 years of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In 1982 Ingpen designed the Dromkeen Medal for the Governors of the Courtney Oldmeadow Children’s Literature Foundation. This medal is awarded annually to Australians in recognition of contributions to children's literature. He was awarded the medal in 1989 for his own work in the field.
Ingpen was illustrator for the centenary editions of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy and Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows for which he bases characterisations on contemporary figures and personalities.
In 2007 Ingpen illustrated a picture book by Liz Lofthouse called Ziba Came on a Boat, which was nominated for many Australian awards including the Australian Children's Book Council Awards and the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards.
Ingpen was born in Geelong Australia and attended Geelong College to 1957. He graduated with a Diploma of Graphic Art from RMIT where he studied with Harold Freedman.
In 1958, Ingpen was appointed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) as an artist to interpret and communicate the results of scientific research. From 1968 Ingpen worked as a freelance designer, illustrator and author. He was also a member of a United Nations team in Mexico and Peru until 1975, where he designed pamphlets on fisheries and was involved in "a number of Australian conservation and environmental projects". He left the CSIRO to work full-time as a freelance writer in 1968. Ingpen's interest in conservation issues continued, and he was one of the founding members of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Ingpen has written and/or-illustrated more than 100 published books. These include children's picture books and fictional stories for all ages. His nonfiction books mostly relate to history, conservation, environment and health issues. He is a frequent collaborator with author and editor Michael Page.
Ingpen has designed many postage stamps for Australia. Ingpen designed the flag and coat of arms for the Northern Territory. Ingpen has created a number of public murals in Geelong, Melbourne, Canberra and the Gold Coast in Queensland. He also has designed bronze statues, which include the 'Poppykettle Fountain' in Geelong's Steam Packet Gardens (currently dry due to drought restrictions) and the bronze doors to the Melbourne Cricket Club. His most recent work is the design and working drawings for a tapestry, which was woven by The Victorian Tapestry Workshop, to celebrate the 150 years of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In 1982 Ingpen designed the Dromkeen Medal for the Governors of the Courtney Oldmeadow Children’s Literature Foundation. This medal is awarded annually to Australians in recognition of contributions to children's literature. He was awarded the medal in 1989 for his own work in the field.
Ingpen was illustrator for the centenary editions of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and Wendy and Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows for which he bases characterisations on contemporary figures and personalities.
In 2007 Ingpen illustrated a picture book by Liz Lofthouse called Ziba Came on a Boat, which was nominated for many Australian awards including the Australian Children's Book Council Awards and the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 17, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from mineditionUS through Edelweiss+.
It's hard to categorize this book. I placed it on my classics shelf as Ingpen pulls classic characters and stories from his mural - The Magic Bookcase. By having Tally, the goblin guide pull characters from the bookshelf, he provides brief portions of each book to introduce readers to their magic. The print is a bit small and difficult to read at times but the illustrations are gorgeous.
It's hard to categorize this book. I placed it on my classics shelf as Ingpen pulls classic characters and stories from his mural - The Magic Bookcase. By having Tally, the goblin guide pull characters from the bookshelf, he provides brief portions of each book to introduce readers to their magic. The print is a bit small and difficult to read at times but the illustrations are gorgeous.
October 3, 2020
I can't wait to see this in person. Even on Kindle it's amazing, with sections of the mural reproduced with quotes from the relevant books, and a full reproduction of the mural at the end. I've always loved Robert Ingpen's slightly dreamy illustrations, and this is a lovely sample.
It's not a story at all, though, so be aware of that if it matters to you; it's literally just parts of the mural with book quotes. Beautiful to look at, but probably not a goodnight read. It's great to have all the best quotes in one place, too, including a couple I didn't know at all! I'm ashamed of myself for it.
I'm going to spend a lot more time with this book, both on Kindle and in real life, because these pictures absolutely deserve to be pored over.
It's not a story at all, though, so be aware of that if it matters to you; it's literally just parts of the mural with book quotes. Beautiful to look at, but probably not a goodnight read. It's great to have all the best quotes in one place, too, including a couple I didn't know at all! I'm ashamed of myself for it.
I'm going to spend a lot more time with this book, both on Kindle and in real life, because these pictures absolutely deserve to be pored over.
January 18, 2024
A goblin takes the reader through the book which is mainly comprised of quotes from various children's books. It was kind of interesting. I didn't care for the whole "belief" aspect. I enjoy a very well-with fantasy book because it's good, not because I believe it's true. The fold out at the end was interesting. I didn't super like the artistic style, but I've seen that idea before at my library.
Read
February 27, 2021I can’t rate this because I do not understand it... lots of snippets about famous book characters leading to this gorgeous giant multi-page foldout bookcase! What is this book? I’m not sure, but I’m still charmed by it.
Want to read
June 22, 2020Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews