The accordion format in the design of children’s books: a close reading of a Portuguese collection

Abstract

This text aims to analyse accordion books in general and more specifically the collection of four accordion picturebooks titled “Desconcertina” [“Disconcerting”], published in Portugal between 2011 and 2015 by the designer André Letria. This article is divided into five parts and deals with a particular type of book object, namely accordion books. It starts by explaining the general format of an accordion picturebook and then goes on to discuss a selection of contemporary accordion picturebooks published between 2009 and 2016 in Europe and around the world. Finally, it presents a close reading of a Portuguese collection of accordion picturebooks by André Letria and discusses the importance of the materiality of accordion books in the promotion of interactivity in the reading process, challenging the readers’ competences.