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David Macaulay talks about the origins of one of the dearest picture books ever thought up. The talk is a testament to tenacity, frustration, artistry, imagination and love. The resulting book, Rome Antics, is one of my favorites. (An excellent Valentine’s Day gift if anyone out there is still trying to think of one…)
The 2008 ALA awards have been announced and The Invention of Hugo Cabret won the Caldecott. Which is completely awesome.
I liked The New Policeman very much. It’s charming and well-written. Clever plot, lovely setting. I’m not sure I get what all the incredible buzz is about though… I wouldn’t put it in the running for a Newbery.Kennedy’s Brain may have broken my mind. It’s dry and disturbing and bleak as all hell. I think I might have to read something sweet and traditional now. Maybe with a romantic twist even.
I couldn’t put Tanglewreck down. It was fun, imaginative, bizarre…. and yet… it’s frustrating. I feel like the balance between good ideas and structure/developement was way off. The images were awesome – especially the description of being trapped in a black hole. But the leap between that brilliant dark description and the subsequent resolution of the black hole dilemma – fast, easy, and without any context. (Also, to be true to my gut, a little nauseating) And there were many points in the book that jumped from image to image without the kind … Continue Reading
I was so very excited about Tanglewreck – and I haven’t finished it quite yet, but I’m worried that it’s falling apart. I LOVE Jeanette Winterson, so I’m still hoping for the best, But there was an incredibly sappy deus ex machina and I’m not sure if I can swallow it, even if the overall ending is good. Even if I really WANT to. Ack. We’ll see.Maybe it’s just that I’m eager to start two very intriguing advance copies – The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing and The Silver Donkey…. Continue Reading
I fell asleep during the basketball game last night, before half time even, and decided that I wasn’t going to be able to stay awake to see the Mavs win game 1. So I decided to read just a few pages of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. Needless to say, 1AM found me bawling. (Quietly… I did manage not to wake up Andrew) I brought it home because someone I trust said that it was like a To Kill A Mockingbird of Phippsburg, Maine. She and I agreed that nothing could … Continue Reading