roses in december

"God gave us memories so that we might have roses in December" — J M Barrie (1860 - 1937)

Pot Noodle Welsh Miners

This is one of the ads screened at the British Television Advertising Awards 2007: Award-Winning British Commercials at MOMA. Remember The Spaghetti Harvest from 1957?

children's Bibles: USA Today article

Ted and Alexis Olsen chose The Jesus Storybook Bible to read to son, Leif (photo: John Zich, USA Today)

I was interviewed by USA Today and they are running an article about children's storybook Bibles. The Jesus Storybook Bible caught the attention of several of their sources (including Ted Olsen of Christianity Today, seen above reading from non other!) who liked it because of "its unique theological approach" and because it doesn't "hammer down the meaning of the Bible to one long lesson in obedience." Cathy Grossman spoke to me about the challenges of writing children's Bibles. It's an interesting article and you can read it here.

The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest (1957)

OK so I went to the British Television Advertising Awards 2007: Award-Winning British Commercials at MOMA yesterday and saw really cool stuff. (Confession: one of the biggest culture shocks of coming to the States from the UK is the dire quality of adverts here.) More on that later this week... but before I show you one particularly silly ad from that, I need to show you this. In this b&w clip, first broadcast on BBC Panorama (a serious documentary program) on 1st April 1957, a very young Richard Dimbleby revealed the wonderful world of Swiss spaghetti production to millions of deprived and hungry post-war Brits. (To be fair, back then Spaghetti was not eaten much and was rather exotic.) Most of Britain were taken in. Even my dad (who is usually dreadfully brilliant and smart) even the likes of he, totally fell for this giant April Fool's joke! Which just goes to show, if you have a serious and very important enough voice, you can hoodwink anyone. What an inspiration to us all.

handbag friends give away!

here's Connor and his new book.

Sensibly he is trying to eat it because it looks so terribly delicious. What a very good idea.

Or is he perhaps imitating Clasp's famous, scarifying line from the book: "I'm going to eat you... with my mouth!"

Find out more by visiting his mom's blog. She is giving away a signed copy of Handbag Friends.

don't get it right...

“Don’t get it right; just get it written.”
- James Thurber (1894-1961)

What a great quote. I need to remember that every day. Every moment.

(and what about his hair?)

Notable Book of 2007!!!

WOO-HOOO! How To Be A Baby has been named a Notable Book of 2007: one of only six children's titles recognized by the NYT as best of the year! it's totally unbelievable but here it is in black and white Sunday New York Times Book Review.

baby jail

Connor and his sidekick, Melos, in Baby Jail after an attempt on The Laundry (the criminals were caught red-handed unfolding all the neatly folded clothes and towels)

I love the dog's expression. He looks to me like he is already planning a prison break. His full and fabulous name is: Melos Meatloaf Whitefang Goldosis Puppyoso (Melos for short). With a name like that no wonder he turned to a life of crime. 

Connor's mom has been kind enough to review HOW TO BE A BABY.  (This photo came about after reading the manual and learning from her favorite bit in the book: "Sometimes, if you are very naughty, you are put in prison".)  Check out her blog here where she is reviewing and giving away great books (including some of mine)!