Friday, December 23, 2011

BAM ZAM BOOM! A Building Book by Eve Merriam (1972)


I used to think Maira Kalman's style (in books like Roarr!) was pretty original, but after finding this book it's clear her style is pretty derivative of William Lightfoot's design and Eve Merriam's text in this book, right down to the rhythm of the poetry and way the text and pictures look.

This is not a book for parents who believe in historic preservation; Jane Jacobs must have hated it. Bam Zam Boom is a book about knocking down historic buildings and putting newer ones up in their place. And it's really beautiful.


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