1,000 words per picture

The French love their graphic novels, collectively known as BDs, bandes dessinées.    I indulge occasionally, but it's not an addiction for me.   However I do like illustrated books, perhaps it goes back to a childhood thing; I had many as a kid.

Here's a couple of books I like.   "Santa - My Life and Times, an illustrated Biography", I bought because I liked the artwork done by its artist (Bill Sienkiewicz) in another book of mine on Jimi Hendrix.  The one on the right I bought at a car boot sale today (€5).

The fables of Jean de la Fontaine were originally known to me through their english variants: The Hare and the Tortoise, The Ant and the Grasshopper, The Fox and Grapes, number among them.  In the french version, the tales are in verse, and I believe young french children still learn (some of) them off by heart in early school.  Their rhythm and cadence are a foundation for the spoken language.

I can't show you the illustrations in the Santa book, because they're under copyright.  Here's a couple from the Fables.  I think they're just charming.