The wordy book by Julie Paschkis

The Wordy Book is an intriguing and surprising publication, both in its simplicity and complexity. Author/illustrator Julie Paschkis has created striking art works, some containing collages of words, or words used creatively as a response to deeper questioning. Each double page spread of vibrant and decorative paintings offers a glimpse into a world of words or thoughts of where words might take the reader. Words, both familiar and unfamiliar, are spread randomly over some pages, are shaped in the form of the artwork or act as stand-alone cryptic questions. Two thought-provoking examples are: ‘Is the word in the world or is the world in the word?’ and ‘What tells me more - an if or an or?’

The colourful and diverse art works will provide endless stimulation and discussion. Art enthusiasts, and teachers and students of art, will be drawn to the possibilities of reflecting on the images in this book. The final dramatic circular artwork, in hues of blue and green, asks the question: ‘When does the end turn into a beginning?’ There are so many ways this imaginative book could be used in a classroom. The possibilities are limitless.

Themes: Art, Painting, Words, Imagination, Language.

Kathryn Beilby