I did a bit of an eye roll at the part where Mac says folks were talking about crying in the IG comments: "Yeesh, the things people will say to get attention." Then that spread kicked me right in the teeth and my teeth all fell out!!!
Your newsletter is the best. Before reading this, I probably would have said that images are the most important part of board books since board books are made for people who can’t read (lol). But of course the board book is also for the person reading it out loud, and of course the words are extremely important too! I am STRUCK DUMB (literally, I am dumb) by the writing in “Your Truck,” especially (and least importantly) as a person who CANNOT write simple, effective sentences. It is extremely deft. I hope that word is a good enough one (although I’m not sure it is - how the heck do you guys decide on words?). Many, many congratulations to you, Jon! Thank you BOTH for sharing your delightful conversation about this beautiful work!
My wife and I were discussing if your truck could have existed without the your places series existing (and being read) first. It feels almost more abstract than the places, and her thesis was that without establishing "place" in the board book series the truck book wouldn't work. What do you both think of this idea?
I absolutely love your truck, and think it exceeds the places for many of the things you talked about too!
The spine design discussion made me think of Alice Provensen’s box set of ten counting books that form an apple and I dearly dearly love. I wish they were still in print!
“It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the interior and the story and all that seriously, but we’re kind of in the business of story and furniture design.” So true! And toys to play with, blocks to build with, and the satisfaction seeing them together in the right order.
Mac, I know that you've your own line of board books coming out later this year. I don't have them in front of me, so I can't check, but were you at all inclined to do fun things with their spines, spine-enthusiast that you are?
I did a bit of an eye roll at the part where Mac says folks were talking about crying in the IG comments: "Yeesh, the things people will say to get attention." Then that spread kicked me right in the teeth and my teeth all fell out!!!
I pay my therapist big bucks to have this level of epiphanic sob
Your newsletter is the best. Before reading this, I probably would have said that images are the most important part of board books since board books are made for people who can’t read (lol). But of course the board book is also for the person reading it out loud, and of course the words are extremely important too! I am STRUCK DUMB (literally, I am dumb) by the writing in “Your Truck,” especially (and least importantly) as a person who CANNOT write simple, effective sentences. It is extremely deft. I hope that word is a good enough one (although I’m not sure it is - how the heck do you guys decide on words?). Many, many congratulations to you, Jon! Thank you BOTH for sharing your delightful conversation about this beautiful work!
As someone who always cries when reading Virginia Lee Burton books, books about vehicles can definitely carry emotion.
My wife and I were discussing if your truck could have existed without the your places series existing (and being read) first. It feels almost more abstract than the places, and her thesis was that without establishing "place" in the board book series the truck book wouldn't work. What do you both think of this idea?
I absolutely love your truck, and think it exceeds the places for many of the things you talked about too!
Absolutely love your craft deep dives, especially into your own work. I've also now been introduced to the word "quiddity" and I am forever changed.
The spine design discussion made me think of Alice Provensen’s box set of ten counting books that form an apple and I dearly dearly love. I wish they were still in print!
“It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the interior and the story and all that seriously, but we’re kind of in the business of story and furniture design.” So true! And toys to play with, blocks to build with, and the satisfaction seeing them together in the right order.
Mac, I know that you've your own line of board books coming out later this year. I don't have them in front of me, so I can't check, but were you at all inclined to do fun things with their spines, spine-enthusiast that you are?
That’s Jon’s department!
"And I will say, it’s a shame the timid attorneys over at Candlewick Legal nixed _Your Miata_."
always killin' me <3
Hi Jon and Mac. Jon I told you about your Sam and Dave book being on a best of list yesterday in Olympia. It was SLJ. https://www.slj.com/story/Readers-Survey-21st-Century-Canon