One Morning by Yohji Izawa, Canna Funakoshi

This first effort by a Japanese artist was awarded first prize in graphics at the Bologna Book Fair. It is a study in simplicity, with paper collages offset by a minimal text. Inspired by the phrase, "Morning sunshine comes in through the small space under the door," the pictures show a cat and its owner starting their day. The reader may wonder which has the preferred routine, as the cat's owner rushes through coffee and forgets an umbrella, while the cat lounges cozily indoors watching the rain. The cat's viewpoint could just as easily be a child's, newly aware of getting-up-in-the-morning habits. Izawa's stark imagery and understated humor will appeal to both beginning readers and adults. 

This is top-flight graphic design exploiting the untextured colors and sharp edges of collage to chronicle a mundane experience: getting up and going to work. The "text" is almost unnecessary because of the explicit visual narrative. The blacks and steel blues of the first page tell us of the lingering of the night without needing the words, "Not yet." The pastel purplish horizontals broadcast the "Beginning" of a new day. There is a suggestion of M. B. Goffstein in scale and sparsity of detail, but her sense of humanity is missing in this very cool presentation. Even the cat upon whose perceptions the book is based becomes mainly an element in the overall design. This book is more a series of exquisitely visualized posters that should be valued for its sophisticated insights and the craft of making them visible.

Hardcover: 34 pages 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 20, 1991) 

Language: English 

Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6.5 x 0.2 inches 

Condition:  Used - Good  

Condition comments:  Hardcover in dust jacket with mylar cover. Ex-lib. edition. Book shows moderate overall wear. One torn page was taped.  Binding is tight.