SPIRALS, CURVES, FANSHAPES AND LINES
by Tana Hoban & photographed by Tana Hoban
Another fascinating collection of Hoban's provocative color photos. While still primarily visual, the pleasures here are even more intellectual than usual; Hoban's takes on the commonplace (a worn broom; an array of carrots), her sharp focus on beautiful objects, or even the enigmatic first entry (clothesline tangled in a blanket, soaking in a public fountain?) induce pondering on just how the photos may illustrate the title, meanings of the words, and principles of composition. There's less play with shadows here, and more photos with the simple appeal of cute kids or animals; there are also many subtle inferences that can be made: one sea lion's body is curled up, the other straight, yet both embody curves—and fans, in their flippers and whiskers; together, they form a spiral that echoes the shape of a ram's horn. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 3+)