In which the legendary author/illustrator gives an example of how to respond in a situation where selling out is suggested (should one be fortunate enough to have such an opportunity), among other things:
–Which, with a two-year-old son* and having accumulated some books by some of the authors signed at the proclamation bottom there, is something I can appreciate.
–I’ll admit to absolutely loving two of the picture books my son got over the holidays: Oliver Jeffer’s Stuck (Jeffer’s most ridiculous and best book, by far) and Mo Willem’s We Are in a Book (for its quasi-Finnegans Wake-esque loop from last page to first).
–But back to Aaron Renier and his graphic novel, The Unsinkable Walker Bean (which I gave to my wife for Christmas). And which, embarrassingly, I recently finished reading before she started, and loved. Brilliant, lush artwork. By far the best art I’ve read in a graphic novel for some time.
–And if we’re talking about art, we can’t well forget this:
*If my son ever asks why Maurice Sendak never wrote sequel to Where the Wild Things Are, I’ll know to coolly respond: “Go to hell! Go to hell. Maurice Sendak isn’t a whore.”