After making a mix-and-match book for a prompt challenge a few weeks ago, I wanted to explore how to do such a book with just text or words. The other day I found someone who had done just that — Yuka Petz in her book Noun. Below a picture of one of the spreads and her description of the book
Noun is a playful artist’s book about words and their definitions. It is like an exquisite corpse with words.
Starting with 27 real English words, each word and its definition has been divided into two parts. By turning the pages, you get to mix and match the word halves to create humorous and nonsensical new words and meanings.
With over 700 different combinations, this book is the perfect item for bibiophiles, lexicographers, writers, and any lover of words.
Here are a few examples of words and definitions you can put together:
whisper + umbrella = whisbrella: A low sibilant utterance for sheltering one from rain and sun.
muffin + tyrant = muffrant: A quick bread made of batter unrestrained by law or constitution.
See more pictures and more of Yuka’s work on her website and in her Etsy store.
There was a mix-and-match children’s book years ago called Lore and Disorder that had both text and pictures. I have a German translation of it and put pictures of it on my blog a while back, if you’re interested. It really is a delightful book.