Leonor Praça’s writing and illustration for children: an example of what images can do

Abstract

This article focuses on Portuguese illustration for children. It emphasis the work of Leonor Praça (1936-1971), particularly in her pioneering creation of the picturebook entitled Tucha e Bicó (1969) and in the visual composition she has signed for works by relevant authors of Portuguese Children’s Literature History, in particular Alves Redol, Lília da Fonseca, Manuel Ferreira, Isabel da Nóbrega and António Torrado. In the text analysis and interpretation of the selected books, we intended to highlight the main peculiarities of the illustrative composition of Leonor Praça, in line and in close connection with the literary speech which motivated it. The special conception of work / book / literature for childhood is also stressed, which is shown by the original and sensitive aesthetic work of the illustrator under study.