Constructions: joyce audy zarins

This charming book by Werner Holzwarth and Wolf Erlbruch, which I bought in Zurich, cleverly presents its theme on the cover as a title: “Vom kleinen Maulwurf, der wissen wollte, wer ihm auf den Kopf gemacht hat” on the cover. Egils translates this as “From small Mole, who wanted to know who dropped this thing on his head.” It seems that our hero stuck his head above ground to feel the warmth of the sun when something brown and shaped like a sausage dropped onto his head from above. The little Mole was quite insulted and determined to discover who was responsible for inflicting this turd upon him.

When a dove flew over, he asked her if she was responsible and she replied “I? No, why? I do it so!” and then demonstrated her white, moist type of emanation, some of which splashed onto small Mole’s foot.  He then asked a horse, then a hare whether they had dropped this thing on his head and each repeated “I? No, why? I do it so!” then demonstrated their own droppings, complete with sound effects. When he read more »

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On May 24th, after going to a magical book launch party on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston,  I did a post about the book Willow’s Walkabout: A Children’s Guide to Boston by Sheila S. Cunningham and illustrated by Kathie Kelleher. Kathie, who is an endlessly fascinating and read more »

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Willow’s Walkabout: A Children’s Guide to Boston

Willow’s Walkabout: A Children’s Guide to Boston had a fabulous launch at the Agonquin Club on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston recently. This picturebook, written by Sheila S. Cunningham and illustrated by my friend Kathie Kelleher,  is about a wallaby named Willow who goes on a walkabout from the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, MA to explore the major attractions in nearby, lovely Boston. She is well organized, making an read more »

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History does begin with yesterday, after all. Nineteen seventy one, when cigarette ads were banned from TV, The Rolling Stones’ Brown Sugar topped the charts, and Clockwork Orange and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory were playing at the movies, does not seem so very long ago. Then again, gasoline was forty cents a gallon.

During the book launch party for Susan Carlton’s new Love & Haight, which is about a seventeen-year-old, a smattering of colorful 1971 San Francisco hippies, love of several varieties, and an abortion that needs to happen, Susan was asked what kind of research did she have to do for this historical novel? I was helped by the fantastic librarians at the San Francisco History Center, she said, who brought out cardboard boxes of their Hippies Collection for me to use! She had a blast going over posters, scrapbooks, song lyrics and other memorabilia of the Flower Power, free love era. Her parents pitched in, sharing their Technicolor memories of read more »

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That is the first sentence of a new book that arrived on my radar just as suddenly. I should not be surprised at the power of buzz by now, but I am. read more »

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Miranda and I went for a walk. She told me what she thinks about books. 

Here’s what she said.

Topics that some kids like (kids that I know):

• Fluffy kitty cat books (I hate them completely)
• Books with some scary moments and action (I personally like these best :)
• Craft books like how to decorate cupcakes, paper mache or mask making
• Humorous books like Junie B. Jones
• Romance with a little bit of horror
• New stories with older settings or a combo of two older stories with a new twist.

The best rated stories have… read more »

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Have you been wondering how anyone could possibly read an entire book on an IPhone? On such a lilliputian screen, that’s like reading, say, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” while looking at it through a keyhole.

Wouldn’t it make sense to provide narratives chosen with the scale of the device in mind? After all, writers have developed everything from five minute fiction to weighty tomes in order to explore all possibilities in traditional print books.

Well, it is being considered. Here’s an article from today’s New York Times that will interest you.

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Here is a message from Bob Emser, the noted sculptor, about an exciting new project he is initiating. The Winged Project aspires to install large scale art pieces Bob has designed in major cities in the U.S. He is working with USAproject.org, a Not-for-Profit art organization on the initial aspects of this project.

http://www.unitedstatesartists.org/project/the_winged_project

As with everything in this business, there are costs to cover. If you would like to be an “angel” in support of Bob Emser’s vision for this project, you can easily do so here:

http://www.unitedstatesartists.org/projectDonation/new/project_id/85

Donations are tax deductible. But you will need to hurry! The deadline for contributions is Feb. 5th.

This is an ambitious project at a pivotal point in Bob’s career. Additionally, it is an opportunity for you to support the work of an artist with an international resume.

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Chicks Run Wild is a hilarious picturebook that will be released January 25, 2011 by Simon and Schuster. The pictures are by Ward Jenkins and the story by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen.

The little chicks in CHICKS RUN WILD certainly think they know how to go wild – until Mama shows them how to really do it!

But we want to know … how does your class RUN WILD? Create a photo essay and win!

Kids and teachers: check out the Chicks Run Wild Photo Essay Contest. The class with the winning photo essay can win a PRIZE!

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