The Book of Perception

Lucie Lučanská

This book takes us on a sensory journey of discovery. A separate chapter is dedicated to each of our five senses and, although each differs from the others in its artistic and printing techniques, the overall result retains consistency and balance. A less mainstream, more alternative illustration style creates a melancholic and subtle feel throughout. This book aims to encourage children to focus on individual sensory perceptions and to investigate things thoroughly and in depth. On a walk through the forest, they learn that colour can change depending on the light, that dogs can detect smells better than humans, and that fallen apples can be sweet while pears hanging from trees can be sour.

Readers can not only explore the sensory world in words, however, but with their fingers too. That’s true not only of the linen cover but also of the chapter on touch. Here, a special varnish was used in the printing that invites the reader to feel the illustrations. Even smell can be experienced in this book. In the relevant chapter, rubbing one of the illustrations brings forth a forest scent. Three different types of paper and spot colors complement the different sensory impressions, making the book a special tactile and visual experience – and not just for children.

 

Awards

Jury statement, Stiftung Buchkunst (German foundation for book design), Best Book Design from all over the World, Honorary Appreciation 2024

The Most Beautiful Czech Book of the Year 2022, 1st place

BIB’23 Plaque

Golden Ribbon (Zlatá stuha) – Artistic Achievement of the Year, nomination

Best Books for Children (Nejlepší knihy detem) catalogue 2022/2023

Selected for White Ravens 2024, with the motivation:

“the book is a marvellous journey through the world of the senses in five walking tours that focus on seeing, hearing, smelling, touch or taste, respectively. Short, poetic and philosophical sentences point out the colouring of a passing dog, the rustling of paper when a page is turned, or the smell of a compost heap or of mushrooms. The separate chapters are each designed differently to match how each particular sense can be experienced. While »Seeing« is presented with colours, the chapter »Hearing« is in grey-andblack, but highly expressive illustrations. The pages about »Touch« feature, fittingly, relief printing. All this functions amazingly well and makes »Kniha vnímání« a genuinely pleasing reading experience.”