Zbirka slikanic Kje rastejo bonboni? Ide Mlakar in Ane Razpotnik Donati

• Published in: Šolsko polje 2013-05, Vol.24 (3/4), p.41
• Main Authors: Batic, Janja, Haramija, Dragica
• Format: Article
• Language: Slovenian
• Subjects: Child development; Childrens picture books; Linguistics; Morphology
• ISSN: 1581-6036; 1581-6044

A picture book is a special book format where verbal narrative and illustration play equal roles, or, in other words, it is the combination of the linguistic and the visual codes that gives that extra quality to such a book. Due to particular linguistic features which are expressed in the narrative (these correspond to morphological features of literary texts) and visual features (simultaneous consideration of the visual language and the particularities of the picture book in terms of its form) the foundations of a good picture book rely on the interaction between the two codes of expression. This article introduces four picture books in the collection entitled Kje rastejo bonboni?, which were written by Ida Mlakar and illustrated by Ana Razpotnik Donati, namely, Carmelada (2008), Ciper coper medenjaki (2008a), Zafuclana prejica (2009), and Kodrlajsa in treskbum trobenta (2009a). The respective picture books are presented by means of an analysis. Furthermore, a synthesis and a comparison between picture books reveal the literary and the artistic poetics of both authors. Generalisation method is used to summarise familiar facts on picture book theory and some specific findings resulting from the presentation of selected picture books. The collection Kje rastejo bonboni? classifies among quality reading material in the pre-reading period of a child's development, whereby it is the role of the mediator (professional or non-professional) to point to both codes incorporated in a picture book. Two main characters in all four picture books are Kustra and Stumfa who live in an unnamed city. The narrative focuses on a single event that is the main topic of each book: hatred vs. friendship, arguing vs. understanding among people, haste and carelessness vs. "fairy tale-ness" and calm, greyness and boredom vs. colourful beauty of life. The two literary characters are always positive, which in fact represents also the ethical value of all people. The writer accentuates the latter in the endings of her stories, in which the narrator turns to the reader, giving advice on tolerance and understanding among all. The illustrator, on the other hand, portrays the negativity and the positivity through her careful selection of colours as well as through depiction and placement of figures and space. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]