O dwu książkach Tiny Oziewicz

Abstract

In the paper the author discusses the topics, graphic design and literary as well as educational values of two contemporary books for young reader written by Tina Oziewicz and published by Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry. The first book titled „The story of a viaduct that wanted to be a bridge over a river” (O wiadukcie kolejowym, który chciał zostać mostem nad rzeką) is a set of eight short stories (contemporary fairy tales) about objects (a railway viaduct, a shell-shaped noodle, a shower hose), plants, mushrooms and animals (a leaf, a frog, a toadstool) and a grain of sand (that was looking for its mother). Fables by Oziewicz represent the typical features of a literary fairy tale (that was created for example by Hans Christian Andersen), namely: plot construction based on the speaking, reasoning and ability to feel of objects from our environment, giving the stories in a serious and melancholic tone (questions, problems, solitude, unfulfillment), humour and wit, combining the observation of the world (i.a. the elements of nature) with some fantasy motives, introducing dialogues into the narration. The other book, „Afterimages” (Powidoki; 2010), by a fictional narration telling about three sunbeams (afterimages) traveling through the Earth’s museums, popularizes the work of the 20th-century artist Władysław Strzemiński (his paintings, in particular three of them: Unist composition 14, Afterimage of the Sun, Sun — the heart of the day, as well as his theoretical conception of vision), by their dialogues and plot the reader learns how to face a work of visual art (abstract and non‑figurative) and in relation to literature the reader is encouraged to the pleasure of reading resulting from meeting with the literary convention of grotesque. The plot, scene and the characters make a young reader see in the their stories some family problems (an orphan’s longing for its mother) or school failures that one has to deal with alone. The book combines the features of an adventure, travel and science‑fiction story with a popular lecture on painting.