A picture book has a lot in common with a movie, in that the “scenes” have to fit together with visual as well a content logic. I do work out a series of events that follow a sort of simple picaresque plot, which I then sketch to see how they will flow. Mentally… well, that’s where the fantasy comes in.

For that reason, I keep the angle of observation very low, at child and dog level, and do not ask them to do anything they physically could not do. It approaches everything from the level and point of view of the two protagonists. My world in the Carl books postulates a real dog, but one with extra mental capabilities, and a very young child with a very intimate bond with him. Q: Was there ever text or narration in your head for Carl’s Christmas or did it always perform silently?ĪD: The answer to this is related to the first question. It’s very important when you create a world, that you obey your own rules. Question: What motivated you to create a (mostly) wordless picture book as opposed to a traditional text + illustration book?Īlexandra Day: The answer to that one is easy: I am a painter by profession and more importantly, there was no one to talk, except the mother at the beginning and the end and the occasional adult who happens along. There is something about the realism with a touch of whimsy that makes Carl’s Christmas a great holiday read. There are so many spreads that I just absolutely adore (most of which I pictured here, because how could I not show my favorites?). On the surface that may not seem too interesting, but we are talking about realistic illustrations of a ridiculous concept. This is baby’s best friend.īut secondly, this book works so well because the illustrations are beautiful, and remarkably realistic. But wait, a dog takes care of a baby?! And yes, Carl really takes care of the baby – carrying it around, helping it with things, and adventuring with the baby.

A dog takes care of a baby, finding unique ways to entertain themselves, and then they go to sleep. First off, the concept is so incredibly ridiculous that it is humorously endearing. There are two main reasons why I think Carl’s Christmas (and all the Carl books, really) remains a favorite and works fascinatingly well.

Carl the rottweiler alexandra day