What a cool catalog cover for Pan Macillan:
I think this would be an awesome print for a library–heck, even your home library. (image: Owen Gatley)
Category: Illustration
Colorful Book for a Rainy Day
I really need this book.
I would have loved examining all the colors when I was young, and even now I love the design of it. (via and photos: Design Mom)
A History in Pictures
Writing and illustrating picture books is hard. To execute it well, you have to have the succinctness of a poet, an understanding about how children see and want to see the world, and an artistic vision. How do you guys do it?
To help me wrap my brain around it, the Atlantic has a very cool article about the history of picture books all over the world. The article is almost a review of Children’s Picturebooks: The Art of Visual Storytelling, by Martin Salisbury and Morag Styles, which sounds fascinating. I especially liked this quote by Maurice Sendak about Randolph Caldecott, who basically invented the picture book as we know it:
“Caldecott’s work heralds the beginning of the modern picture book. He devised an ingenious juxtaposition of picture and word, a counter pint that never happened before. Words are left out — but the picture says it. Pictures are left out — but the words say it. In short, it is the invention of the picture book.”
Make sure to check out the whole article. Lots of great images as well!
A Farewell to Jan Berenstain
You’d be hard-pressed to find a someone who grew up in the last forty years or so who doesn’t know the Berenstain Bears. The anthropomorphic bear family has helped generations of readers learn about telling the truth, not talking to strangers, starting school, and scores of other topics. So it’s both sad to lose co-creator Jan Berenstain, who passed away recently at the age of 88, and touching to see the reaction of those who grew up with her work.
One of my favorite stuffed animals growing up was a Sister Bear doll. I think part of this was because I found the series so comforting–the stories were thoughtful and cozy, and the art was upbeat and fun. I hope readers in many future generations get to enjoy the series as well.
Bonjour, Les Dents
Did you know that in France, instead of the Tooth Fairy, children are visited by La Petite Souris (the little mouse)? I didn’t until I saw this post at Design Mom. So cute!! I haven’t done much research on this, but I’d love to see an English translation or English-written book about La Petite Souris. Or maybe I’m just reminded of of The Tale of Despereaux, an MG favorite.
For more tooth fun, check out Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World by Selby B. Beeler and G. Brian Karas. It’s an adorable book about how different cultures celebrate a tooth falling out.
(Illustration by Delphine Doreau)
Antique Clocks and New Trailers
Another awesome book trailer, this one for Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway.
I love the animation, and the spare description of the character is compelling. Adding to my list! (via Book Riot)
Links Galore
A few more links for Tuesday:
- It’s No Name-Calling Week–a great opportunity to stand up to and recognize bullying around us. (Even “small” situations can really hurt.) Check out the resources available.
- I always knew The Snowy Day was a lovely book, but I didn’t know it was the first full-color picture book to feature an African-American protagonist. Where have I been? (But I do like that it seems like the norm now.) Way to go, Keats!
- Lucas Klauss offers some, ahem, helpful advice for writers. One gem: “Writing isn’t something you can get better at. Like a third nipple, a talent for writing is something you’re just born with, and I am lucky enough to have both.”
- Tempted to forward this to my editorial friends so we can all laugh through our tears.
- I was obsessed with Weetzie in high school, so a prequel can only make me want to wear fabulous sparkly dresses and combat boots in celebration.
- Should we stop embracing geekdom?
The Living Tree
Confession: When I was little, The Giving Tree really upset me. The poor tree! The stupid boy! (Okay, so I’m still upset.) Even so, this animated version by Shel Silverstein is lovely in its simplicity. Plus it’s narrated by Silverstein as well.
Even though I still want to punch the boy, it is really cool to see such a classic children’s book come to life.
Donate Your Ex’s Stuff to a Museum
The Museum of Broken Relationships in in Zagreb, Croatia needs to be in a story.
“The Museum of Broken Relationships grew from a traveling exhibition dedicated to failed relationships and all that they leave behind–physically and emotionally. Instead of watching objects from prior relationships gather dust or have them serve as haunting and vestigial relics of lost loves, people can donate these items to the museum’s collection and thus commemorate their unique experience in a meaningful, therapeutic, or purely exhibitionist fashion. The museum draws on the words of French philosopher Roland Barthes for its inspiration: Every passion, ultimately, has its spectator…[there is] no amorous oblation without a final theater.”
The world is pretty cool, guys.
Links Galore
A few more fun links to take you into the weekend:
- It’s been a mild winter so far in Boston. I’m getting my snow fix from this round-up of picture books about snow.
- At Kiss and Tell, Suzanne Kaufman Kalb shares cool wish traditions from around the world. Road trip, anyone?
- A guide to getting the most out of your book reading attendance.
- This post about favorite picture books brings back so many awesome reading memories.