#73 of 1001 · October 12, 2020

Today I’d like to introduce you to one of the true oddities of the picture book world: @claudeponti’s Hīznobyūtī. The title character is fundamentally misunderstood and rejected from the moment of his birth. His very identity is defined by his family‘s cutting remark, “He’s no beauty!” which they repeat so often that he comes to understand the phrase as his name (in the original French, both book and protagonist are called “Okilélé”, derived from the equivalent expression, “Oh, qu’il est laid!” or “My, but he’s ugly!”). Hīznobyūtī eventually wriggles free of his family’s outrageous maltreatment and meanders off into the world, encountering a succession of bizarre characters and tableaux. He builds strength and resilience, improving his physical and mental health along the way, until at last he is ready to discover his place in the universe. Ponti’s cartoon-style illustrations inject the narrative with an affectionate silliness, even as they unflinchingly depict moments of deep trauma and the difficult process of healing. #claudeponti #france #french #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbook #beautifulbooks #beautifulbookcover #beautifulbookcovers #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #classicchildrensbooks #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks