I just adore the variety of art to be found in picture books (and I think this is perhaps what has always drawn me to them).

I especially love cut paper art.  The variety even within that form is astonishing, but today’s artist is exceptional at it.  Giles Laroche has illustrated several books of poetry with his cut paper art (some of which I’m still looking forward to reading).  And David L. Harrison has been lucky enough to have a few of his poetry picture book texts illustrated by him.  Incredible work!

Today’s example, “Now You See Them, Now You Don’t: Poems about Creatures that Hide,” is about animals that can easily camouflage themselves in their surroundings.  You know my love of all things related to the sea?  Well, that meant I couldn’t choose between two of the poems in his book (especially as one is about a flatfish and I researched and wrote a story about a Hawaiian flatfish at one point).  Here they are: