Vintage Children's Picture Books: The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshoppers' Feast Part Two

Here we are with Part Two of The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshopper's Feast

by Alan Aldridge and William Plomer. Aldridge received the Whitbread Children's Book Award for this book in 1973. The Whitbread awards, started in 1971, are given to authors based in Great Britain or Ireland. (Since 2005 they have been called the Costa Book Awards, when Costa Coffee, a subsidary of Whitbread, took over the sponsorship.) These awards, given in five different categories, are for high literary merit but also for works that are enjoyable reading to the widest possible audience. 

More illustrations from the book: 

"Punchinello"

"Toad in Bed"

"Miss Money Spider"

"Froggy"

Alan Aldridge (1943 -) like William Roscoe also hails from England. He started his career working for The Sunday Times Magazine as an illustrator. Aldridge was hired by Penguin Books in 1965 as an art director after doing some freelance book covers for them. There he developed his style and created over 100 modern book covers that were in sync with the time. 

In 1968 Aldridge started his own graphic design firm, INK. He became a graphic design star to iconic rock bands such as the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Elton John, designing many album covers that set the pace for graphic style in the 60's and 70's. He was referred to as the "Graphic Entertainer" and a contemporary Aubrey Beardsley.  John Lennon called him "His Royal Master of Images." Aldridge nicknamed himself "The Man With Kaleidoscope Eyes" after a song by the Beatles. In 2008 his book of this title was published, to view it: Thames & Hudson

To read more about Alan Aldridge: 

MR MUSICHEAD

HI FRUCTOSE

ALAN ALDRIDGE

Captain Fantastic Album Cover

Image via Chart Stats

Album Cover, A Quick One, for The Who

Image via super groovy delicious bite

The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics,

Image via debut art

Stay tuned for Part Three!