Illustrating Gianni Rodari Between 1965 and 1976 in the UK. A Playful Narrative Between Text and Illustration

Abstract

Between 1960 and 1980 in the UK, a new vision of childhood stemmed from the aftermath of World War II (Cunningham 1991). Text and illustrations in children’s literature revolved around this vision and welcomed translations although with an eye to protect child readers from texts that could undermine the values accepted in society (Lathey 2010). This research explores the dialogue between translation and illustrations in the works by Gianni Rodari translated for the British public. The methodology follows the paratextual analysis (Genette 1989) in five volumes by Rodari published between 1965 and 1976, in a parabolic trajectory that peaked in 1970 with The Befana’s Toyshop, to fall into oblivion with Tales Told by a Machine (1976). Five books for six illustrators, who insinuate in the folds of the translated text, offering readers further levels of interpretation of the source text (Campagnaro 2019). Through the specific characteristics of each artist (Dick de Wilde, Anne and Janet Grahame Johnstone, A.R. Whitear, Jan Brychta, Fulvio Testa) it is possible to trace an evolution of the aesthetic eye in children’s literature in the UK from a visual experience that intertwines illustrations and text in a balancing act on the page. The aim is to highlight the dissemination strategies that allowed for Rodari’s work to reach the British public in a particularly successful period for children’s literature in the UK, focusing on the dialogue between illustrations and translated text as springboard to stimulate the aesthetic pleasure of young readers.