December 14th, 2020
The Power of NatureWeek Two: Patrick Benson and Philip Gross
Continuing with our theme of Nature, we are celebrating the work of two marvellous artists this week: illustrator Patrick Benson and poet Philip Gross. The connection between them? The snow leopard!
Patrick Benson’s first appearance in The Children’s Bookshow was at the Bluecoat Theatre in Liverpool in 2011, where the children were absolutely rapt in listening to his performance, most especially, how you cover up a drawing when you've made a mistake! We have never forgotten that first one, but all of them have been really good, he absolutely explains his craft. The latest book that Patrick has illustrated, Snow Leopard: Grey Ghost of the Mountain conveys such a sense of quietness and mystery through the exquisite, detailed illustrations - it is a pleasure to look at.
Patrick Benson

Patrick's latest book is Snow Leopard: Grey Ghost of the Mountain written by Justin Anderson published by Walker in 2019.
Snow Leopard: Grey Ghost of the Mountain

Enjoy looking at these images from inside the book:
Philip Gross
During the last month, over our second lockdown, we have been enjoying exploring the world vicariously through Philip Gross's brilliant poems that take us to the extremes of landscape and nature and explore all the weird and wonderful creatures that populate the earth.

Snow Leopard by Philip Gross, from his collection of poems Dark Sky Park
...not white like the snow,
more moon-panther or silvery cloud-cat
with her ripple-patterns melting as (oh,
but she’s beautiful) you stare
while valley mist whirls up and blows
between the boulders, or the sun breaks through
and all the edges are a smattering of shadows,
a glint on wet rock. Now she’s still,
crouched. Now… sprung. There she goes
ledge to ledge, bound by bound,
as stones go rattling to the scree below
and wild goats scatter. She has one
marked. That one. (Play the chase scene slow
as films do, as if this might be for ever,
these last moments the poor prey will know.)
But it’s off, the scraggy old big-bottomed
tahr - stumbling, you’d think, falling - no,
think again, as with rubbery fantastic
poise it leaps (there is a half mile drop below)
and catches itself, teeters like a tightrope
clown… leaps, snatching inch-wide footholds
with clattery hooves, down - leaving leopard
stranded, panting, stumped. Why are we so
in love with beauty, with its claws and teeth,
as though this is its story, not our own
and the goat’s - that plucky comedy
played out through centuries
between the sheer drop and the killing snow?
Dark Sky Park Poems from the Edge of Nature
