This meme was started by Books by Proxy, whose fabulous idea was to compare UK and US book covers and decide which is we prefer. This week the theme is Easter, so I’ve chosen The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones.
This cover, produced by HarperCollins Children’s Books in April 2007 is a delight. It is stylish and quirky with an attractive colour palette and filled with images directly attributable to the book. As for the font – I think it is wonderful. Diana Wynne Jones wrote books unlike any other and this twirling font manages to evoke the sheer difference of her writing. A wonderful effort and my favourite by a whisker.
This Finnish edition, produced by WSOY in May 2011 is another beautiful design that runs the above offering a very, very close second. It is so cleverly done, with all sorts of allusions to the magical story popping up around the main font and a lovely ethereal landscape as the background. These are both two outstanding covers and do full justice to the book, in my opinion.
This cover, once again, is closely aligned to the book and its content – the main protagonists feature right in the forefront and the artwork is well done. The egg looks amazing and I don’t think you could look at this book and have any doubt that it is a fantasy story about a magical egg. The cover design is also very well balanced – the main reason why this one isn’t my favourite is because I envisaged Chrestomanci looking just a little less saturnine and a little more kind, which is an entirely personal reaction.
This is the cover design, produced by Harper Collins in 2006, that features on the book we own. Again, it’s a solidly good design – featuring Diana Wynne Jones name so prominently is a good marketing ploy as catching sight of that had me swooping down on this one from across the bookshop and plucking it off the shelves. But while it is far simpler than the other offerings, it still makes it quite clear this is a book featuring a magical egg.
All these eggy covers are well designed, with thought and care for the book’s genre and all are attractive, but which is your favourite?
Brainfluff 
YAY, Diana Wynne Jones!
While I don’t think this is her A-game, I do agree with you that the first two covers are awesome. There’s always that potential for disappointment when an illustrator confines characters to his/her lines and colors–you saw Chrestomanci having a kinder touch, while I wanted to see him in the fanciest of dress possible, because this dude LOVES his schnazzy attire.
Still, those first two covers add just the right touches of quick and fun that promises some whimsy and intrigue, all while giving both Jones and the title prominence. The font makes a difference, too–it reminds me of curious flowers you can’t name, and it puts me in a fantasy mood!
A blessed Easter to you!
Oh, you’re right about Chrestomanci liking his flashy outfits:). Glad you loved these first two covers and many thanks for your kind good wishes – I hope you have a wonderful Easter, too!
Wabbits! I actually like all the covers on offer for the book, not a bad one amongst them.😀
I agree Drew:). This makes a very nice change, doesn’t it? Have a great Easter week-end!
It certainly does, thank you, you too. 🙂
Oh I actually like all of these, they all seems to fit the book well. And most of them feature the egg in some way and have a bit of that whimsical fantasy feel. I like how that third one features the characters, but I also like the one who focus more on the font as the font really steal the attention on those covers.
They are all delightful, aren’t they? Have you read any of the Chrestomanci books at all, Lola? Have a great Easter week-end:)
i love em all , but the first one is really the best as per me 🙂
Beautiful choice
Thank you, Rash. Glad you liked them so much:)
This was a tough one… But I have to go with the last one. The whimsicality of the others is neat, but something about the simplicity of the last cover appeals more to me.
Yes – if you like your covers uncluttered and classy I can see exactly why you’d prefer this one:)). Happy Easter, Sara!
Yes, Hoppy Easter to you too, Sarah! 😉
:)).
I’m such a sucker for curlicues in lettering. And that Finish version! So pretty.
It’s a gem, isn’t it?
It is!
I like both the top two covers. I’m torn to choose really – although the first one really does shout DWJ to me so it probably has a slight edge.
Lynn 😀
It is a close-run thing, isn’t it?
I like the first design, but the Finnish one is beautiful too. I am particularly attracted by the lettering on both. Both covers are works of art!
Oh, they are, aren’t they? Happy Easter, Rae:).
Rightbackatcha!
I think the second one is the most stunning one, though the first one is also eye-catching. They both breathe originality. In comparison, the third one seems bland and dull, don’t you think?
I certainly prefer the first two by a long country mile – but given some of the dreadful efforts I’ve recently encountered, at least the cover related to the content of the book and it is reasonably attractive and genre-specific…
Agreed. People say “don’t judge the book by the cover”, but on the other hand, the “wrapping” is everything: we don’t give gifts wrapped in a greasy, torn newspaper. We make them look attractive to show “care”, and the same is with books – a beautiful cover shows the publisher’s “care”.
Exactly! Because if the publisher can’t be bothered to take care to craft a lovely cover depicting the contents of the book, then why should we bother reading it?