I loved James Marshall's The Stupids and George & Martha, but forgot how important his Fox books were to me as a kid until I rediscovered them while doing early reader research for my books. Have you listened to his lectures? They're a delight.
I am so in love with William Steig, my favorite children's book author (and a wonderful illustrator in general). I am reduced to tears every single time I read Amos & Boris or Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. And Gorky Rising is wonderful too. I absolutely love the way he uses this wild grown-up language to get at the heart of intangible (and often very dark) feelings.
"At last, the rain stopped and the noonday sun gave him a bit of cheer and warmth in the vast loneliness; but his strength was giving out. He began to wonder what it would feel like to drown. Would it take very long? Would it feel just awful? Would his soul go to heaven? Would there be other mice there?"
I love that you read Edward Gorey to a preschooler. I always looked for the quirkiest books to read to my son when he was little. The Stinky Cheese Man was a favorite. Some of my choices were to keep me entertained if it came to reading something over and over. I've added the Gorey biography to my TBR. Thanks!
Of all the interesting things mentioned in this post, the article about the 82-year old glass artist Norma Geddes moved me the most. Anything can happen at any time in a life (thank God).
Amos's book came in the mail yesterday. Wow and wow. But what really pleased this book artist, is that I think this is the first time I have seen a book published by a mainstream press with exposed binding. (This means you can see the binding on the spine.)
+1 on Bill Frisell - been following him for years! For anyone who doesn't know, the Tiny Desk Concert of him playing the music of Lennon is one way to get started with him, but there's so much more of him to explore -- he's got 50 years of music to explore. He's a great collaborator.
The only other recommendation I have is that his music sits on a sonic spectrum between Julian Lage and Mary Halvorson, so if want to explore outward from Bill, pick one of those two to listen to.
I love your list of books you give to babies and kids! My kid were past their picture book years when Oliver Jeffers came on the scene, but I stumbled across the book "Oliver Jeffers
The Working Mind & Drawing Hand" in my library and became an immediate fan. I just made a note to check out What We'll Build today on my Friday library trip. Also will be ordering the Ed Embers book--for me! Thanks as always for all your great links and suggestions (also now considering buying a shed for the backyard).
I picked up Amos’s book after reading Tuesday’s newsletter. The book itself is a work of art! It’s fabulous and filled with so much history. What a wonderful person and a wonderful read. Thanks for sharing Austin!
Now I want to spend a day or 2 in the library, reading children's books!
I love the Gashlycrumb Tinies!!! There is an Edward Gorey museum on Cape Cod you could check out!
I loved James Marshall's The Stupids and George & Martha, but forgot how important his Fox books were to me as a kid until I rediscovered them while doing early reader research for my books. Have you listened to his lectures? They're a delight.
https://blogs.lib.uconn.edu/archives/2021/12/02/now-available-james-marshall-recordings/
Yes! Grace Ferris tipped me off to those a few years ago. So good
OMG! The Stupids die has the best line ever.
Is this heaven?
No! It’s Cleveland.
I am so in love with William Steig, my favorite children's book author (and a wonderful illustrator in general). I am reduced to tears every single time I read Amos & Boris or Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. And Gorky Rising is wonderful too. I absolutely love the way he uses this wild grown-up language to get at the heart of intangible (and often very dark) feelings.
"At last, the rain stopped and the noonday sun gave him a bit of cheer and warmth in the vast loneliness; but his strength was giving out. He began to wonder what it would feel like to drown. Would it take very long? Would it feel just awful? Would his soul go to heaven? Would there be other mice there?"
Steig is so good — his books of drawings for adults are wild, too
I love that you read Edward Gorey to a preschooler. I always looked for the quirkiest books to read to my son when he was little. The Stinky Cheese Man was a favorite. Some of my choices were to keep me entertained if it came to reading something over and over. I've added the Gorey biography to my TBR. Thanks!
I don’t really know how it happened, it just kind of did
That's a *great* bedtime rule. I didn't have the same when I was a kid, so I took the classic route: torch (flashlight) under the covers
Of all the interesting things mentioned in this post, the article about the 82-year old glass artist Norma Geddes moved me the most. Anything can happen at any time in a life (thank God).
Came here to say the same. It gives me so much hope for every phase of life to come.
Amos's book came in the mail yesterday. Wow and wow. But what really pleased this book artist, is that I think this is the first time I have seen a book published by a mainstream press with exposed binding. (This means you can see the binding on the spine.)
+1 on Bill Frisell - been following him for years! For anyone who doesn't know, the Tiny Desk Concert of him playing the music of Lennon is one way to get started with him, but there's so much more of him to explore -- he's got 50 years of music to explore. He's a great collaborator.
The only other recommendation I have is that his music sits on a sonic spectrum between Julian Lage and Mary Halvorson, so if want to explore outward from Bill, pick one of those two to listen to.
I love your list of books you give to babies and kids! My kid were past their picture book years when Oliver Jeffers came on the scene, but I stumbled across the book "Oliver Jeffers
The Working Mind & Drawing Hand" in my library and became an immediate fan. I just made a note to check out What We'll Build today on my Friday library trip. Also will be ordering the Ed Embers book--for me! Thanks as always for all your great links and suggestions (also now considering buying a shed for the backyard).
I picked up Amos’s book after reading Tuesday’s newsletter. The book itself is a work of art! It’s fabulous and filled with so much history. What a wonderful person and a wonderful read. Thanks for sharing Austin!
Verbify! Yes!