Layerd Pages

Uggg!

When these little book's pages are finally assembled, it is fun to look at the layering effect when different size and shape pages are used.  Even when the boys were young, I was always intrigued by small board books, and cut-away page books (like the Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar pages.) I like the way they invite the reader into the storyline by providing a sneak-peek of what's to come and I love the planning and design elements that have to go in to the creation, development and assembly of these books to make them work in the way they are intended. 

Orange triggerfish on left-hand pocket page.  Note purple tag included in pocked.

On the page above, for example, the pocket serves a couple of different functions, inviting the book user to interact.  The tag can easily be slipped out, and the cut-out in the center of the front of the pocket encouraged interaction, as does the attached ribbon teasing the user.  I deliberately color coordinated the fish with the tag to make the overall image on the page more aesthetically appealing.  Human nature draws most people's attention immediately to the eye of the fish, but there is something about the contrast between the texture of the surface of the fish (thanks to bristol paper absorption) and the solid orange craft paper used to create the tag.

Close-up of pocket-guarding triggerfish

Yep, this is still one ugly fish, but seems to look better small!!!

If you compare and contrast the aesthetic effect of the color combinations on the left and right hand sides of this page spread, notice how much more cohesive the left is than the right; the right is almost unsettling.  In fact, I think of of the few things that allows the fish image on the right hand side of the page to be tolerable is the fact that the green ribbon, attached to a tag on the page that follows, helps anchor the color palette.  The orange ribbon probably does much the same anchoring with both of the pages in this spread, AND also the peek we have at the orange page (with the snout of the hogfish,) that is coming.  The consistency of all of the fish swimming from right to left is helpful for this cohesive feel, as well. 

Full page spread + additional page created by cut-away page

Once again, the orange triggerfish peeking out on the left hand side of the pocket-page below, helps the secondary color palette gel.  It does help, and was quite by accident, that the most visible part we can see in the peek is the eye.  We humans are drawn to eyes, eye-contact, and the "window of the psyche" notion that the lore about the eye provides. 

You probably noticed that both of the orange pages on the right hand side of the spread cited above, are pocket pages. I am not sure what I was thinking when I assembled this minibook, but it must have been linked to a plan for heavy-duty shopping, note-production, or receipt storage!

Hog fish emerging from the pocket envelope folder page.