Biblical Books by Brian Wildsmith

And Jesus said to the wind and rain, "Be still" and it was calm. (From Jesus by Brian Wildsmith)

TITLE: Exodus
AUTHOR + ILLUSTRATOR: Brian Wildsmith
PUBLISHED BY: Eerdmans, 1998
ISBN: 978-0802851758

TITLE: Joseph
AUTHOR + ILLUSTRATOR: Brian Wildsmith
PUBLISHED BY: Oxford University Press, 1998
ISBN: 978-0192723659

TITLE: Jesus
AUTHOR + ILLUSTRATOR: Brian Wildsmith
PUBLISHED BY: Eerdmans, 2000
ISBN: 978-0802852120

TITLE: The Easter Story
AUTHOR + ILLUSTRATOR: Brian Wildsmith
PUBLISHED BY: Eerdmans, 2000
ISBN: 978-0802851895

The blurb on the inside flap of all of all of Brian Wildsmith's books says: "He believes that picture books are vitally important in developing a child's appreciation of beauty." This statement struck me in its profound simplicity. It's absolutely true, and obviously the guiding principle of Wildsmith's life and work. But it is also so simple that we often forget it.

Wildsmith was an art teacher and illustrator before he turned full time to creating picture books. His energetic detailed style was popular in the 70s and 80s (especially the wordless and wondrous Circus). In the 90s, he turned his attention to Biblical and religious subjects, including a life of St. Francis, and the four biblical books listed here (as well as a Christmas Story which I'll review later this year).

If all his books "develop a child's appreciation of beauty" (and they do!) then these books do even more. They make manifest for a child's imagination the greatest and most beautiful story of all, the story of God's providential plan for all of us. It's pretty exciting stuff. Wildsmith makes these stories immediate and accessible--even using some childish drawing techniques to allow the images to enter more fully into the child's mind. (The fish in the parting of the red sea, for example, are drawn the way a five year old would draw them: with little detail and flat, without dimension--in all sorts of fantastic shapes and colors.)

His Old Testament subject matter, Exodus and Joseph, was probably picked as an excuse to draw lots of Egyptian palaces and monuments. Indeed, the iconographic ornamentation of Ancient Egypt is perfectly suited to his pen, ink, and paint, for he loves lots of little detail, color, and geometry. His New Testament books do not shy away from the hard moments of the Gospel: Christ throwing out the money-changers in the temple, being tempted in the desert or dying on the Cross.

My only complaint with these books, and it is a very minor one, is that they don't use actually biblical texts. However, his adaptations of these stories are very good and there are only a few minor quibbles I have with the text, not even worth mentioning.

Joseph is currently out of stock, and Exodus is out of print--but they are not terribly difficult to find at used book stores or online. Should Eerdman's republish these, be assured, I'll let you know! Needless to say, you can purchase them all at the Little Lamb Bookshop.


They all had enough to drink. (From Exodus by Brian Wildsmith)

I have seen you face and know that you are still alive. (From Joseph by Brian Wildsmith)