Gentleman Jim was originally published in 1980, well before there was much interest in graphic novels, but was reissued last year. Written and illustrated by Raymond Briggs, this book is full of intricate drawings that represent both reality and fantasy. A humble toilet cleaner, Jim Bloggs, aspires to greater things and takes inspiration from the boys' adventures books he is fond of reading. In time, Jim realizes that a drastic career change may be more out of reach than he thought. In his endeavours to become a highwayman, Jim encounters much opposition from all official sides and certainly lives out more adventure than he had been used to. This a charming story, albeit sad, that is beautifully illustrated.

Hardcover, 40 pages. Drawn and Quarterly, reissued 2008. $11.66 at Amazon.

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Baloney by Pascal Blanchet is the tragic tale of a butcher in a cold, cliffside village. Beautifully illustrated in a retro graphic style, the story's musical references add another dimension of art to the mix (it is sub-titled A Tale in 3 Symphonic Acts). Blanchet's restrained palette provides a dignified backdrop to this tale of bad luck and evil doing. It's too difficult to pick a favourite page of illustrations, but the butcher's daughter certainly does steal many a scene. An added bonus is a playlist at the end, with an emphasis on Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

Paperback, 80 pages. Drawn and Quarterly, 2009. $13.22 at Amazon.

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Chaff 'n' Skaffs: Mai and the lost Moskivvy by Amanda Chin and Luke Feldman is a picture book aimed at children aged 4-8, but Feldman's illustrations will ensure the book finds its way into older hands. Feldman is a well-known artist and animator on the California scene whose work appears on a variety of platforms, including decks and stickers and as vinyl toys. The story of a pretty girl, an unidentifiable faithful friend and a dapper lost mosquito is easy to follow, but the colourful, detailed illustrations are what makes this book a page-turner. Feldman makes mosquitos seem almost tolerable.

Hardcover, 36 pages. Immedium, 2009. $12.44 at Amazon.

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Hi-Fructose Collected Edition by editors Annie Owens and Attaboy is a compilation of the best of the first four volumes of Hi-Fructose magazine, long since sold out as individual editions. Hi-Fructose is a showcase for contemporary art that flies just under the general radar. The Ray Caesar cover is an eye-catcher, and this volume, which will hopefully be the first of a series, contains the work of artists such as Tim Biskup, Junko Mizuno, Gary Baseman, Alex Pardee, Gary Taxali, Scott Musgrove, Jeff Soto, Ray Ceasar, JennyBird, Joe Ledbetter, Longo Land, , Fawn Gehweiler Kurt Halsey, , Ron English, Wilfrid Wood, Jim Woodring, Leslie Reppetaux, Brian McCarty, Attaboy and PShaw!

Hardcover, 256 pages. Last Gasp, 2009. $23.10 at Amazon.

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"My work is a support system for people to feel good about themselves." Taschen's Jeff Koons, with essays by Eckhard Schneider, Ingrid Sischy and Katy Siegel and edited by Hans Werner Holzwarth, is an in-depth study of Koons' oeuvre to date. This volume, a trilingual edition in English, German and French, starts with Koons' inflatable flowers and takes the viewer/reader through Pre-New, The New, Equilibrium, Luxury and Degradation, Statuary, Kiepenkerl, Banality, Made in Heaven, Puppy, Celebration, Easyfun, Easyfun Ethereal, Popeye and Hulk Elvis. This book is almost 600 pages of the life, times and work of Jeff Koons. If you are a fan, this book is for you.

Hardcover, 592 pages. Taschen, 2009. $44.10 at Amazon.

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Satchmo: The Wonderful World and Art of Louis Armstrong by Steven Brower is a collection of collages made by Satchmo himself, mostly when he was on the road. Armstrong would cut out pictures of himself, quotes, headlines and photos, and incorporate other bits of ephemera to create hobby collages that served as both creative outlet and journal. The odd thing about Armstrong's craft was that he used copious amounts of adhesive tape rather than glue, and his canvases were usually the boxes that held his reel-to-reel tapes of which he had 500. Covering both front and back, there were 1000 collages of this nature.

Hardcover, 256 pages. Abrams, 2009. $23.10 at Amazon.

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Le Corbusier and the Maisons Jaoul by Caroline Maniaque Benton is a detailed examination of the two vaulted houses in Neuilly-sur-Seine that Le Corbusier designed for two generations of the Jaoul family. These Jaoul houses were a departure from Le Corbusier's signature modernist style, as they exhibit a rawness about them, almost crude and craftlike. The author has included a wide variety of documents and ephemera (letters, umpteen sketches, drawings and photos), as well as fragments of conversation that make this book a fascinating window into architectural and social history. This will be a hit with fans of Le Corbusier and anyone with a passion for architectural detail.

Hardcover, 175 pages. Princeton Architectural Press, 2009. $26.40 at Amazon.

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The Find by Stan Williams is sub-titled The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details, which pretty much says it all. Or almost. What is doesn't say is that even if you have never considered your own scavenger hunt before, you will begin to wonder how to make space for all the finds that will soon be yours. This beautiful book is full of inspiration on how to create your own installations out of the most unlikely pieces. All it takes is a little imagination, a lot of patience and some good luck. The five chapters cover furniture, accessories, dining and entertaining, sensational small spaces and escapes. This is the type of book that will make you wish you had an empty house that you could decorate from scratch with all the goodies you will soon unearth. Or at least an empty room.

Hardcover, 240 pages. Clarkson Potter 2009. $18.15 at Amazon.

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Cecil and Jordan in New York is a collection of cartooned short stories by Gabrielle Bell. The title story is particularly memorable because it resonates so easily: a young woman turns into a chair to counteract the effects of a move to New York. How often have you wanted to blend into the background in order to get out of a social situation, or any awkward situation for that matter? The collection is quirky and humorous, with just enough incisiveness.

Hardcover, 112 pages. Drawn and Quarterly, 2009. $11.97 at Amazon.

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Freight Train Graffiti by Roger Gastman, Darin Rowland and Ian Sattler is the definitive history of a particular genre of street art, going back to the days of the rambling hobo. What is striking about this compilation of photos is the very expressive nature of this subculture. It is what it is; there are no attempts at cuteness, irony or gloss. The evolution of freight car as canvas is examined through a vast array of work from the American railroad. There are interviews with the artists/writers and about 1000 images.

Paperback, 352 pages. Harry N. Abrams, 2006. $19.77 at Amazon.

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Outsiders: Art by People is a compilation by London gallery owner Steve Lazarides of outsider art. Lazarides, who is also known as Banksy's manager, has put together a strong selection of art (with a strong emphasis on street) by artists who have not gone the formal route. The book is divided into three sections, In, Out and Other, all chock full of work by twenty artists including Antony Micalleff, JR, Conor Harrington, Jamie Hewlett and artist collective Faile. Also included is an essay by Damien Hirst.

Paperback, 264 pages. Random House, 2008. $20.48 at Amazon.

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