Favorite Books

Scholastic's David Saylor edited and art directed my first picture book, Polar Bear Night (written by Lauren Thompson), as well as my forthcoming title, Where's Walrus?. I asked him recently what his favorite picture book was growing up. "I loved a book called The Little Red House, by Grace Skaar", he said. "It presented an orderly world where a mother and father built a house, made a home, and then had a family. Something about the simple progression of orderly building and growing was soothing to me".

Merry

The New York Times Week In Review asked me to tackle higher education this week.

Death and Taxes

Nothing is certain in the illustration field, except that after a few years in the business, you'll probably have to tackle the subjects of death and taxes. Got 'em both yesterday on the New York Times op-ed page!

Where's Walrus?

My new book Where's Walrus? comes out in February.

Bookfest 2010

The Bank Street College of Education hosted Bookfest 2010 today. Here I am along with (L to R): Bank Street's Ellen Greene, author/critic/historian Leonard Marcus, illustrator Wendell Minor, author Jon Scieszka and author Florence Friedmann Minor.

A New Wrinkle In Time

I enjoyed channeling Dali’s Persistence of Memory for an article on the decline of the wristwatch for the November issue of the Atlantic Monthly.

10-10-10

ASSIGNMENT: 10 travel icons for 10 itineraries in honor of 10-10-10. DEADLINE: 5 days :(

Showing the Love

Last month I received a wonderful e-mail from Hank Holman of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Mr. Holman wrote:

"I write in praise of your fascinating illustration for "Three Stations" that appeared in last Sunday's New York Times Book Review. I called it to the attention of my artist wife, Jan, and she was as taken with it as I was. I printed a copy and we oohed and ahhed and discussed it at some length. One reason it appealed to her so much is that it reminded her of a spooky experience she and our daughter had late one night in a deserted train station in Germany. Jan is a prize winning quilter who has produced dozens of quilts through the years. I suggested she make a quilted wall-hanging from your design and she has done so. I attach a photograph."

Thank you, Jan, for your stunning work. I am flattered and touched.

OK. I'm ready to make friends with the Kindle. This advertisement that ran in yesterday's New York Times features my August 15 Book Review cover.

New York Times letters piece: "The Mosque, the Imam and the Politics".

Martin Cruz Smith's mystery thriller "Three Stations" is the subject of my Book Review cover.

The Eric Rauchway novel "Banana Republican" is the subject of my New York Times Book Review illustration in today's paper.

Out of Order

I did today's New York Times op-ed illustration. The article is on judicial activism (that's when higher court judges overturn the rulings of lower courts).

My Studio...

... is located in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Father's Day

I drew this for my dad in 1970.

Moving Day

My family and I moved last weekend from Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, across the Gowanus Canal to Park Slope. I'm pleased to report that it went just as smoothly as this scene from the Golden Book, A Year in the City, by Lucy Sprague Mitchell, pictures by Tibor Gergely. Although, I did notice the movers broke something in the Golden Book.

My new picture book, The Fathers Are Coming Home (text by Margaret Wise Brown), is Readeo's Book of the Month for June. What is Readeo you ask? Daily Candy calls it "Skype meets story hour". Jenny Brown interviewed me for the site. Click here

Saylor Man

David Saylor is my editor and art director at Scholastic Press. Here he is with Stefanie and I at Pravda in Manhattan this evening. It's his birthday today!

Signings and Appearances

The Fathers Are Coming Home

text by Margaret Wise Brown

APRIL 29, 6pm

Launch Party, Abilene Bar

Brooklyn, NY

MAY 2, 11am

Bookcourt

Brooklyn, NY

MAY 15, 11am

Eric Carle Museum

Amherst, MA

MAY 19, 4:30pm

RJ Julia Booksellers

Madison, CT

JUNE 13, 1pm

Books of Wonder

New York, NY

JUNE 13, 4pm

Powerhouse Arena

Brooklyn, NY