The Line

h1 December 10th, 2013 by jules


(Click to enlarge)

Here’s a really quick post (because work calls) to show some artwork from Paula Bossio, who has also worked as a graphic designer and art director and who currently lives in Spain. In fact, this wordless title was originally published in Spain in 2011 as El lápiz.

This book is called The Line, and this English edition was released by Kids Can Press in September. It’s the tale of a young girl who finds—you guessed it—a line, and she immediately picks it up to play with it. I don’t want to give a lot of the story away (especially the ending, which is probably a love-it or hate-it kind of closing for many readers), but the line becomes many things to her, as you can see in the illustrations below. Is it her imagination at work or something else?

Bossio’s pencil lines are very loose (well, those lines that aren’t the line itself, that is, which is of course super loose), and things get dramatic in this tale. The girl goes from glee to fear to tears in the span of several spreads. It’s a simple tale, stripped down to its basics in these uncluttered spreads, with Bossio showing that a lot can be done with a little.

Told you this would be brief. Back to work.

Enjoy the illustrations.


(Click to enlarge)


(Click to enlarge)


(Click to enlarge)

* * * * * * *

THE LINE. English edition published in 2013 by Kids Can Press, Toronto. Copyright © 2011 by Paula Bossio. Illustrations reproduced by permission of the publisher.





4 comments to “The Line

  1. This book and The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds should be displayed side-by-side!


  2. Jules, thanks so much for posting this. Immediately ordered it from the library! 😀


  3. Have you ever seen this old advertising?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KNiT1_l-0I
    this artwork reminded me of it.


  4. HA! No, have never seen that, Cris. Neat.


Leave a Comment


Should you have trouble posting, please contact sevenimp_blaine@blaine.org. Thanks.