Shapes and Things
Shapes and Things
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Tana Hoban's first children's book, "Shapes and Things," published by Macmillan in 1970, is a wordless picture book composed solely of photographs. Using the photogram technique, which involves placing objects directly onto photographic paper and exposing them to light without a camera, the book reveals the outlines and shapes of everyday objects in black and white.
Starting with simple shapes like circles, triangles, arches, and squares, the book progresses to various everyday items such as keys, combs, toothbrushes, sewing tools, kitchen utensils, and toys. By appearing as white silhouettes stripped of detail, familiar objects take on different forms, and the book's structure encourages readers to ponder what each item is as they turn the pages.
Hoban employed this method to encourage children to look closely at the objects around them anew. Following this book, she created numerous other wordless picture books that capture shapes, colors, sizes, and spaces through photography. "Shapes and Things" was the starting point for her subsequent work. It is also interesting that she connected the photogram, a primal photographic technique, to children's visual perception and discovery.
[Title] Shapes and Things
[Publisher] The Macmillan Company
[Publication Date] 1970 (First Printing)
[Page Count] 36 pages
[Size] Approx. 211×260×10mm / 355g
[Format] Hardcover
[Language] English
[Title Reading] SHEIPUSU ANDO SHINGUSU
[Author/Editor] Tana Hoban / Author, Photographer
[Printing/Binding] -
[ISBN] 0027440605
[Condition] Used【4】Good to Fair (Corner bumps, interior excellent)
[Accessories] -
[Featured Book] -
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Tana Hoban (1917–2006)
Born in Philadelphia, USA, in 1917. Photographer and children's book author. After graduating from Moore College of Art in 1938, she worked as a photographer, initially in advertising and magazines. In 1950, her work was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and in 1959, she was selected as one of the ten female photographers by Professional Photographers of America.
In the 1960s, she taught photography at the University of Pennsylvania and other institutions. In 1970, she published her first children's book, "Shapes and Things." Subsequently, she created numerous picture books, using few words, that dealt with shapes, colors, sizes, and visual perception through photography. She authored over 50 children's books throughout her career.
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