Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!
***Late Edition***
This is my weekly feature
showcasing beautiful covers!
It also provides information,
if available, on their
very talented creators!
if available, on their
very talented creators!
Here's my choice for this week!
Dream A Little Dream
Kerstin Gier
(Anthea Bell, Translator)
Hardcover, 322 pages
Henry Holt and Co.
April 14, 2015
Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal Romance,
Young Adult Fiction
Kerstin Gier
(Anthea Bell, Translator)
Hardcover, 322 pages
Henry Holt and Co.
April 14, 2015
Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal Romance,
Young Adult Fiction
I discovered this GORGEOUS cover on the blog A Belle's Tales, created and staffed by the incredible mother-daughter team of Michele and Mckenzie! As soon as I saw this image, I fell totally in love with it! Right then and there, I decided to feature it on my Saturday (and sometimes Sunday, lol) book cover meme. (Click on the link above to see Michele's post.)
This looks like a powerful dream image, so it's PERFECT for the book's title! I love the overall impression I get -- that of walking into a fantasy land through a "keyhole" that's also a tunnel cut into a tree. The texture around this "keyhole" is that of tree bark, and very well depicted, too. I think this is a digitally manipulated photographic image.
The pathway into the fantasy land is strewn with red rose petals, creating a lovely effect. Also, the entire shape of the "keyhole" and path remind me of some exotic perfume bottle. This is fascinating! This image can thus be seen alternately as one or the other, which adds to the cover's appeal.
The young girl in the image looks as if she's delighted to start off on a great fantasy adventure. I can tell from the way she's walking happily along, with not a care in the world!
The contrasting textures of the tree bark and flower petals make this a powerful visual image! The tree bark might have a hint of something sinister hidden within the tree, while the rose petals hint at possible love. So there's a contrast of symbolism, as well.
Another hint in this cover is the overall feeling of anticipation. This points to the fact that there's a mystery involved here, as well.
The font is a classic one, but has been enhanced with very graceful flourishes that reinforce the dreamlike feel of the entire cover. I like that the title is all in caps, too.
I was happy to discover the brilliant designer of this cover! Her name is April Ward, and she's a native of the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from the very prestigious Pratt Institute in NYC, and has designed books for such publishers as HarperCollins, North South Books, Flashkids Books, and Harcourt Trade Publishers. She's currently the Art Director of Square Fish Books at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.
What do you think of this
week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!
week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!
Hey maria. I hope that you are having a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteThis is a visually striking cover for all the reasons that you said.
I like that tunnel. It reminds me of several walking tunnels that I have seen on old estates that are now parks. The atmosphere that I felt in those tunnels is conveyed to me in the picture.
The effect of emerging in to sunlight after walking through such a tunnel is also very well conveyed.
Hi, Brian!
DeleteOh, I ADORE this cover!! I've just ordered the book from Amazon, BTW.
I'm glad you agree with my thoughts about this cover! And I will soon have this book in my hands!!!! YAAAAAY!!!!
How interesting that you've been in actual, rural tunnels in real life!
I also agree that the effect of coming out of the tunnel into sunlight is very well conveyed.
Thanks for the GREAT comment!!!! ššš
Ahhh, I am giddy with happiness to see this cover here! I love that you adore this cover as much as I do. The keyhole is my favorite part, and like you always do - you have me looking deeper into the rest of the cover, and wow do I like what I see! At first glance, I was sure the tunnel was stone; but now I can definitely see that it could be tree bark. I love the rose petals, as well. It has such a dream quality to it. Thank you for the research you did and finding the cover artist's name. And thank you for the link and sweet words -- you are so wonderful! Love you to pieces! Beautiful post, my friend!
ReplyDeleteAnd HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Check your email ;) <3 <3 <3
Hi, Michele!
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with this cover the minute I saw it on your blog!! Now, thanks to your very thoughtful birthday gift, I will soon have this book in my hands!!!!! YAAAAAAY!!!!! THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH!!!! There's no better birthday present for a bookworm than a book!!!! ššš
The area surrounding the keyhole tunnel always looked like tree bark to me, but different people can have different interpretations of the same image, so yours is equally valid.
As for the research, I greatly enjoy doing it, as I love to include information about the cover artist in my SCS posts!
You're very welcomw for the shout out!! I think it's very important to give credit to other bloggers whose ideas I present on my blog. You posted about this book on your blog, and I wouldn't have known about it if it hadn't been for YOU!! Also, this is obviously a book with an OUTSTANDING plot and GORGEOUS cover, so I just HAD to feature it!! Thanks for your post!!!!!
Thank you once more as well for the surprise gift card for my birthday!! And thank you most of all for the gift of your WONDERFUL friendship!!!! MUAH!!!! Last but DEFINITELY NOT least, THANK YOU for such a WONDERFUL, LOVELY comment!!! SUPER SQUISHY TACKLE HUGS FOR YOU AND MCKENZIE!!!!! šššššššš
I've never read a Kerstin Gier but I agree the cover is nice and she does look happy to be stepping on through! I like a good portal fantasy.
ReplyDeleteHi, Greg!
DeleteYou know, I was not at first aware that Gier was also the author of the YA novel "Ruby Red", which, ironically, I featured on this blog over a year ago. That book has a beautiful cover, as well. I haven't read either of these books, though.
I agree that books featuring portals into fantasy lands are totally fascinating!!
Thanks for leaving such a nice comment!! ššš