Our Day 8 list-maker, author/illustrator Johanna Wright (Bandits, The Secret Circus), says she’s been painting snow scenes and ice-skating rabbits for her upcoming book Bunnies on Ice (Roaring Brook, 2013) since summer. “So I’ve actually been in a holiday frame of mind for a long while now,” she writes. “Holiday music and Christmas-themed audio books like A Christmas Carol, have been blasting from my studio since late August. I love the holiday season (and painting bunnies) so this has been a joy for me. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to actually celebrating the holidays, and moving into a new year!” She lives in Portland, where she shops at Green Bean Books.
For the tweens in my life: From the Mixed Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg.This classic middle grade book is pure perfection and a must read for every young person. I love the clever female protagonist, the goofy yet witty younger brother, and New York City in the late 60’s (complete with automats). Not to mention, these kids get to LIVE in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a lifelong dream of mine. I adore this book with all of my being and plan to spread it far and wide this holiday season.
For my little family: Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, illustrations by Susan Jeffers. When I was a kid, my family had a tradition of buying a winter-themed children’s book every December. I would love to continue that tradition in my own little family, and I think I would like to start with this childhood favorite. It’s a beautifully illustrated book of the Robert Frost poem, Stopping by the Woods. I love the quiet, slow, magic of this book.
For the historians and Chicagoans in my life: Chicago Under Glass by Mark Jacob/ Richard Cahan. I first saw this book at my in-laws house in Chicago last summer, and I was instantly in love. This book is a rare collection of photos taken from 1901-1930 for the Chicago Daily News. Absolutely breathtaking.
For the crafters in my life: Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF by April Winchell. Regretsy is a wildly entertaining website that highlights strange or unusual craft listings from etsy. (Etsy is a social commerce website focused on handmade items.) It’s the kind of thing that is best seen rather than explained, which is why the new book, highlighting some of the best Regretsy photos, is the gift that will keep on giving for any crafter in your life!
