Paul Rand and his wife Ann collaborated on a total of four children's book, including Sparkle and Spin, Little 1, Listen! Listen and this one, I Know a lot of Things (with Ann as author, Paul as illustrator).
Originally published by Harcourt, Brace & World in 1956, this edition is a 2009 re-issue by Chronicle Books. Illustrated in Rand's now iconic graphic cut paper style, this was their first children's book project. The rhythm and rhyme of the book reflect the Rands' short and direct writing for their future books, as well as Paul's future design volumes.
Rand's books have been widely talked about this year due to the brilliant foresight of Chronicle Books who've re-printed them, and quite rightly so.
Rand's style of design and illustration is along the lines of the Dick Bruna school of stripped down minimalism and everything perfectly placed.
I remember hearing someone say once that children's books used to be the medium in which children were first introduced to art. With books like this you can see that this would have been true and it's a shame that today the publishing industry is run strictly as a business to make money, which in turn means each book published needs to conform to tried and tested formats (killing spontaneity).
Thankfully with the advent of digital media and electronic files the publishing industry may once again be a place of artistic creation which children can benefit from.













