Brian Selznick's Arbuthnot Lecture @ the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library :: May 8, 2015

Love Is a Dangerous Angel: Thoughts on Queerness and Family in Children's Books

2015 May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture

Brian Selznick, author/illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007), Wonderstruck (2011), and the upcoming The Marvels (September 2015), gave this year's May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (DCPL). Watch the lecture here (and I really recommend that you do!):

Kevin McCloskey @ P&P :: April 22, 2015

His wife (Mama Patt) is a storyteller in Berks County (PA) and she needed a good story that was funny and true about worms. McCloskey got excited about worms and started working on the book in secret. 

He used paper bags to make the book because earthworms also recycle.

To start a book: ask questions! Asked questions about worms <-- research. Incorporated some of those basic questions, especially the ones that kids are prone to ask/wonder about, into the text of the book.

If the kids can keep it to a "reasonable level of pandemonium," he would share real worms at the end of the presentation. Brought out his worm Seabiscuit (he's so fast!).

Collaborated with Francoise Mouly (art director, editor, publisher of TOON) and some pictures were cut ("They don't wear clothes") in favor of being more true than too silly/corny.

One of the more complicated ideas he cut was about Charles Darwin, who studied worms and put worms on his wife's grand piano to see if they could hear. But he realized that earthworms have sensitive skin and could feel the vibrations.

Anyone can draw/paint worms!

Steven Weinberg @ Politics and Prose :: March 17, 2015

Steven Weinberg, author/illustrator of Rex Finds and Egg! Egg! Egg! (published February 2015).

Fun fact: Steven illustrated To Timbuktu: Nine Countries, Two People, One Story, a memoir (about their life post-college) written by Casey Scieszka, his then-girlfriend, now-wife, which makes him Jon Scieszka's son-in-law! And it's a great book, by the way!

Gareth Hinds @ Politics and Prose :: March 3, 2015

George O'Connor @ Politics and Prose :: February 3, 2015

Scott Campbell @ Politics and Prose ::

I've been a fan of Scott Campbell's for a number of years, but now I can't remember how I originally came across his work. He has a distinctive watercolor cartoon-y style that appeals to me, and I was pleased as punch when I found out in 2011 that he would be illustrating his first children's book, Zombie in Love (written by Kelly DiPucchio). I had the chance to meet him that year at SPX when I was visiting DC, and I had my library's copy of the book signed for the students.

Fast forward a few years to this summer and Scott finally published his very own children's picture book, Hug Machine! It is an adorable book about the Hug Machine, a boy who is so very good at hugging that he goes around town hugging everyone and everything. I read the F&G (folded & gathered; kind of like a full-color picture book ARC) over the summer and loved it immediately. It's perfect for preschool, but as an adult it's a wonderful little reminder of the power of the hug. (And it's scientifically proven that hugs are good for you, your mood, and your brain.)

Scott wasn't at SPX this year so I was really excited that he was going to be at Politics and Prose. In anticipation of his visit, I thought it would be fun to create a Hug Machine ring from Shrinky-Dink paper. His long arms would be perfect wrapped around your finger, don't you think? Unfortunately, I'm not a pro at Shrinky-Dinks and his arms folded in on themselves during the heating process. I tweeted a picture of it to Scott and this is what he tweeted back:

Scott mixed up his presentation with a slideshow of his artwork (including some pictures of his childhood work), a reading of Hug Machine, some talk about how the book was made, and an art demonstration (which the kids always love).

[Scott loves to hug!]

[early sketches of Hug Machine]

[Hug Machine hugging a TV (the show is "Dogs in Boots Hugging")]

[I "gifted" Scott the noodly Hug Machine Shrinky Dink]

 [I had Scott draw in my illustrators' sketchbook again: the illustration on the left was done at SPX in 2011, and the one on the right was done at the P&P event.]

More pictures from Scott's visit to P&P can be found at my flickr account.

Bob Shea @ Politics and Prose :: September 29, 2014

[Bob is so good with the preschool set: he actively engages them, uses humor, reads with voices & expression, and lets them "Roar!"]

[He claims he's a one trick pony because all of his animals/creatures are derivatives of the jelly bean shape!]

[Chick from New Socks DJs an animal dance party!]

[I asked Bob to draw a unicorn in my illustrators' book and I got to contribute by choosing the colors and drawing in a few sparkles.]

Cece Bell @ Politics and Prose :: September 24, 2014

[Cece's actual Phonic Ear from her childhood]

[Something you may not think about ... signings for an author with a hearing impairment require just a bit more time. Cece is really conscientious about asking people to write out their name first (I carry around a Post-It note with my name already on it) because she can't hear you spelling it out loud while she's writing/signing.]

[I've been very forward about asking illustrators to sketch in my illustrators' book, and Cece was kind enough to draw Sock Monkey for me.]

Marla Frazee @ Politics & Prose :: September 19, 2014

Jarrett Krosoczka @ the Library of Congress :: September 17, 2014