Image: Apartment Therapy
Perhaps you’ve heard of “fuzzy math”—now there’s fuzzy literature, as well. Literally. A new series of picture books illustrates works like Moby Dick with adorable felted figures. Brothers Jack and Holman Wang have teamed up to create “Cozy Classics,” explains Tandem Magazine:
Holman made wool figures of Elizabeth and Jane Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Bingley for Pride and Prejudice as well as figures of Captain Ahab, Moby Dick, and the Pequod for Moby Dick. […]
Each image is accompanied by one of the twelve words, previously selected by Dr. Wang, that make up each book of the Cozy Classics collection. The images portray a scene from each novel and each word describes the corresponding scene. For example, an image of Elizabeth comforting Jane is paired with the word “sisters.” The images give the narrative arch of the story and the words help build vocabulary for children reading the book.
Lest you roll your eyes, I should tell you that Jack Wang has an MFA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in English—with a focus on the history of the novel—with an emphasis in creative writing. Oh, and he’s chair of the Department of Writing at Ithaca College.
Does introducing classics in this way, to children at such a young age, influence their feelings about literature? I don’t know, but these books sure are pretty. You can find out more about Cozy Classics – Moby Dick and Cozy Classics – Pride and Prejudice at the Simply Read Books website. (Via.)
Further Reading:
- How to make great literature more appealing to children? BabyLit translated classics like Romeo and Juliet and Jane Eyre into counting board books. Not into it? We suggest some other great books for writerly offspring.
- Would you give ebooks to your kid?
