Kozo Yokoi9 September 2022 | 6:08 pm
Here's a real find (for me at least): an illustration from a 1925 issue of Kodomonotomo. I had never seen work by this person (I think I'd remember!): Kozo Yokoi (1889–1965), who went on to a career as a painter (dubbed "the Japanese Rousseau"). I scanned these from a 2017 book on Kodomonotomo. I'll see what else I can dig up.
A Tiger in the Land of Dreams29 August 2022 | 7:37 pm
A look inside the 50 Watts Books edition of Tiger Tateishi's incredible A Tiger in the Land of Dreams
A Tiger in the Land of Dreams
by Tiger Tateishi
Translated by Yosuke Kitazawa
ISBN 9781957625003
32 pages, 7.5 x 10.25 inches, full color, hardcover
Publication date: Fall 2022 (now shipping!)
A Tiger in the Land of Dreams is the first English-language edition of a legendary picture book from 1984. Tiger Tateishi, well-known in the worlds of art and comics, takes us on a journey through a surreal land with Torakichi, a constantly-morphing green tiger. The artist saw this strange tiger as a combination of an animal and a plant. Suitable for all ages, but this is the type of book you buy for the dreamy artwork.
from A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishi
from A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishi
from A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishi
A Tiger in the Land of Dreams
by Tiger Tateishi
Translated by Yosuke Kitazawa
ISBN 9781957625003
32 pages, 7.5 x 10.25 inches, full color, hardcover
Publication date: Fall 2022 (now shipping!)
A Tiger in the Land of Dreams is the first English-language edition of a legendary picture book from 1984. Tiger Tateishi, well-known in the worlds of art and comics, takes us on a journey through a surreal land with Torakichi, a constantly-morphing green tiger. The artist saw this strange tiger as a combination of an animal and a plant. Suitable for all ages, but this is the type of book you buy for the dreamy artwork.
from A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishifrom A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishifrom A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishi
50 Watts Books - Our First Publications12 April 2022 | 10:05 pm
While running the bookstore over the last year, I've been working on four books at the top of my list of dream projects. These books have fascinated (and confused) me for years -- longtime followers of the blog might recognize some -- and I'm excited to put them into the world.
To follow their progress and be alerted when preorders begin, sign up for the 50 Watts Books email list. I'll also keep this page up-to-date. Booksellers, please get in touch!
I will be selling some rare books by Tiger Tateishi and Kiyoshi Awazu to raise printing funds.
Animal Land Where There Are No People
by Sybil and Katharine Corbet
A 50 Watts Production (which has been in the works for 10 years): we've given a colorful twist to a book originally published in Scotland in 1897 (when it was popular enough to inspire parody versions). It was written by a very imaginative 4-year-old (Sybil) and illustrated by her mother. Suitable for all ages.
"With art reminiscent of Mervyn Peake and nonsense reminiscent of Edward Lear, this gorgeous, crazy Victorian bestiary is a reminder that the best taxonomies are written by kids."--Carson Ellis
"A professional wit would be in labor to create these animals and these words, which Sybil has only to open her eyes and see, to open her lips and utter. In the field of pure Nonsense this is genius."-—from the introduction by Andrew Lang
64-page paperback, 6 x 6 inches, full color
Publication date: summer 2022 -- now shipping! / e-book also available on Apple Books
from Animal Land by Sybil and Katharine Corbet / e-book available now on Apple Books
from Animal Land by Sybil and Katharine Corbet / e-book available now on Apple Books
from Animal Land by Sybil and Katharine Corbet / e-book available now on Apple Books
_______
A Tiger in the Land of Dreams
by Tiger Tateishi
Translated by Yosuke Kitazawa
ISBN 9781957625003
32 pages, 7.5 x 10.25 inches, full color, hardcover
Publication date: Fall 2022 (now shipping!)
A Tiger in the Land of Dreams is the first English-language edition of a legendary picture book from 1984. Tiger Tateishi, well-known in the worlds of art and comics, takes us on a journey through a surreal land with Torakichi, a constantly-morphing green tiger. The artist saw this strange tiger as a combination of an animal and a plant. Suitable for all ages, but this is the type of book you buy for the dreamy artwork.
from A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishi
from A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishi
_______
Panga-Rehe Stories
Text and illustrations by Jüri Arrak
Translated by Adam Cullen
20 pages, 8 x 9.5 inches, full color, published December 2022
The first English-language edition of a surreal 1975 book by the Estonian artist Jüri Arrak (perhaps best known in the US for his work on the legendary animation Suur Tõll). "Panga-Rehe Farmstead" is an old house where the artist and his family spent the summer. "The days passed as wonderful summer days always do: we sunbathed, swam in the sea, hiked in the forest, and all helped to cook in the big kitchen. But every night, I had strange dreams. I believe you probably haven't had some of them yet, and that's why I wrote this book."
Jüri Arrak (1936-2022) was an Estonian painter and graphic artist. His works are displayed in the Estonian Museum of Art, the New York Museum of Modern Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Ludwig Art Museum in Cologne, Germany.
_______
The King of Circles
by Shuntarō Tanikawa
Designed and illustrated by Kiyoshi Awazu
Translated by Yosuke Kitazawa
The first English-language edition of a 1971 Japanese picture book. Suitable for all ages, but of particular interest to followers of the legendary graphic designer Kiyoshi Awazu.
24 pages, 9 x 9.25 inches, full color, hardback
Publication in Spring 2023
To follow their progress and be alerted when preorders begin, sign up for the 50 Watts Books email list. I'll also keep this page up-to-date. Booksellers, please get in touch!
I will be selling some rare books by Tiger Tateishi and Kiyoshi Awazu to raise printing funds.
Animal Land Where There Are No Peopleby Sybil and Katharine Corbet
A 50 Watts Production (which has been in the works for 10 years): we've given a colorful twist to a book originally published in Scotland in 1897 (when it was popular enough to inspire parody versions). It was written by a very imaginative 4-year-old (Sybil) and illustrated by her mother. Suitable for all ages.
"With art reminiscent of Mervyn Peake and nonsense reminiscent of Edward Lear, this gorgeous, crazy Victorian bestiary is a reminder that the best taxonomies are written by kids."--Carson Ellis
"A professional wit would be in labor to create these animals and these words, which Sybil has only to open her eyes and see, to open her lips and utter. In the field of pure Nonsense this is genius."-—from the introduction by Andrew Lang
64-page paperback, 6 x 6 inches, full color
Publication date: summer 2022 -- now shipping! / e-book also available on Apple Books
from Animal Land by Sybil and Katharine Corbet / e-book available now on Apple Booksfrom Animal Land by Sybil and Katharine Corbet / e-book available now on Apple Booksfrom Animal Land by Sybil and Katharine Corbet / e-book available now on Apple Books_______
A Tiger in the Land of Dreamsby Tiger Tateishi
Translated by Yosuke Kitazawa
ISBN 9781957625003
32 pages, 7.5 x 10.25 inches, full color, hardcover
Publication date: Fall 2022 (now shipping!)
A Tiger in the Land of Dreams is the first English-language edition of a legendary picture book from 1984. Tiger Tateishi, well-known in the worlds of art and comics, takes us on a journey through a surreal land with Torakichi, a constantly-morphing green tiger. The artist saw this strange tiger as a combination of an animal and a plant. Suitable for all ages, but this is the type of book you buy for the dreamy artwork.
from A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishifrom A Tiger in the Land of Dreams by Tiger Tateishi_______
Panga-Rehe Stories Text and illustrations by Jüri Arrak
Translated by Adam Cullen
20 pages, 8 x 9.5 inches, full color, published December 2022
The first English-language edition of a surreal 1975 book by the Estonian artist Jüri Arrak (perhaps best known in the US for his work on the legendary animation Suur Tõll). "Panga-Rehe Farmstead" is an old house where the artist and his family spent the summer. "The days passed as wonderful summer days always do: we sunbathed, swam in the sea, hiked in the forest, and all helped to cook in the big kitchen. But every night, I had strange dreams. I believe you probably haven't had some of them yet, and that's why I wrote this book."
Jüri Arrak (1936-2022) was an Estonian painter and graphic artist. His works are displayed in the Estonian Museum of Art, the New York Museum of Modern Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Ludwig Art Museum in Cologne, Germany.
_______
The King of Circlesby Shuntarō Tanikawa
Designed and illustrated by Kiyoshi Awazu
Translated by Yosuke Kitazawa
The first English-language edition of a 1971 Japanese picture book. Suitable for all ages, but of particular interest to followers of the legendary graphic designer Kiyoshi Awazu.
24 pages, 9 x 9.25 inches, full color, hardback
Publication in Spring 2023