Watch out! Take care of Rats … and Others…
Author: Seyed Ali Shojaee
Illustrator: Nazanin Abbasi
Publisher: Neyestanbook
In this story, a village plagued by mice unsuccessfully tries various methods to get rid of them. The headman suggests bringing in cats to solve the problem, but the cats soon demand food like meat and milk in exchange for their help. The villagers, with no other choice, agree. Eventually, they realize that the cats and mice are secretly allied. When they report this to the headman, they discover that he, too, is in on the conspiracy. The headman orchestrated the entire situation to deceive and exploit the villagers.
My illustration experience in Watch out! was very different from my other books. Instead of simply following the main text, I sought to find a unique language both in content and technique. In this project, I tried to take control of the story and narrate a parallel tale that differs from the main text, like an independent storyteller.
Going beyond the text to create something inventive, portraying untold narratives, and using dynamic colors and compositions were key elements of this experience.
Techniques Used:
These works are created using acrylic painting on special paper, followed by image collaging and painting on cardboard.
IBBY:
Selected by the iranian selection department of illustration for the Book of Honor of the Intrnational 2018 Book Office for the Younger generation of IBBY(International Board on Books for Young People)
Published in Russia:
