They are miniature, much smaller than a page of the picture book on which they appear. With all their detail I had expected them to be quite large but they weren’t. What surprised me most was the size of the collages. I was fortunate to attend an exhibition of Jeannie’s artwork for “ Window” as it toured the country in 1992. The carefully constructed collages give a sense of being able to almost step into the scene and experience the sights, sounds and smells of each landscape. Children and adults are enticed to study and compare the changes that take place in each successive picture. The intricate details in this textless picture book provide many opportunities for discussion. However, by understanding and changing the way we personally affect the environment, we can make a difference.” In her note at the end of the book, she says, Like many of Jeannie’s books, “Window” carries a strong environmental message. The changes are observed through a window by a boy as he celebrates alternate birthdays from birth to 24 years. “ Window” tells, in beautifully detailed collage, of the transformation of a landscape from natural bush to city-scape. Jeannie had already published a number of books prior to 1992 when I first became aware of her work through “ Window”, winner of the Australian Picture Book of the Year Award. Jeannie was born in the UK but has lived most of her adult life in Australia, and most of her books, though having universal themes, are set in Australia. In this post I introduce you to Jeannie Baker, a collage artist and author. If you missed earlier posts, please follow these links to the introduction, Mem Fox, Kim Michelle Toft and Narelle Oliver. This post is the fifth in a series celebrating picture books by Australian authors.
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