Frank Frazetta, 1928-2010

Frank Frazetta died May 10 at the age of 82. Here is a post for him at Drawn.

We have this Leaping Lizards print above our living room couch.

May he rest in peace.

Best Sellers

This week's best-selling picture books from the New York Times. I think The Quiet Book and Instructions look fantastic.

1. THE SANDWICH SWAP, by Queen Rania of Jordan with Kelly DiPucchio. Illustrated by Tricia Tusa. (Disney-Hyperion, $16.99.) Sometimes breaking bread, no matter what’s between the slices, leads to understanding. (Ages 3 to 7).
2. THE QUIET BOOK, by Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Renata Liwska. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $12.95.) Animal friends experience the surprisingly numerous shades of quiet. (Ages 3 to 5).
3. THE LION AND THE MOUSE, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. (Little, Brown, $16.99.) A fable of reciprocal kindness, redrawn. (Ages 3 to 6).
4. INSTRUCTIONS, by Neil Gaiman. Illustrated by Charles Vess. (Harper/HarperCollins, $14.99.) Wisdom for surviving life’s journey. (All ages). 
5. POET EXTRAORDINAIRE!, by Jane O’Connor. Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. (HarperCollins, $12.99.) Fancy Nancy turns to rhyme. (Ages 4 to 8). 
6. WADDLE!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder. (Workman, $12.95.) Animals in motion, with color. (Ages 4 to 8). 
7. LEGO STAR WARS, by Simon Beecroft. (DK, $21.99.) An annotated visual dictionary. (Ages 7 and up). 
8. SKIPPYJON JONES, LOST IN SPICE, written and illustrated by Judy Schachner. (Dutton, $16.99.) The peppery red planet captures a cat’s fancy. (Ages 4 to 8). 
9. THE EARTH BOOK, written and illustrated by Todd Parr. (Megan Tingley/Little, Brown, $9.99.) Ideas for saving the planet, plus a poster. (Ages 3 to 6). 
10. GALLOP!, written and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder. (Workman, $12.95.) Animals seem to move when you flip the page. (Ages 4 to 8)

Puffin

Puffin Books is celebrating its 70th anniversary. 

Check out the Puffin Handbook, where they list the 70 best books for children.

Sketch of the Day

Back to the land of old-fashioned pen and ink! (With water color tests underneath)

"A great nation is a reading nation."

Welcome to Children's Book Week!

Since 1919, Children's Book Week has been celebrated nationally in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs, private homes -- any place where there are children and books. Educators, librarians, booksellers, and families have celebrated children's books and the love of reading with storytelling, parties, author and illustrator appearances, and other book-related events.

It all began with the idea that children's books can change lives. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children's books. He proposed creating a Children's Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians.

Read more about CBW here.

Mothers

Happy Mother's Day! 

This book really brings me back to my childhood, which was wonderful thanks to my great mother (and father).

Free Comic Book Day

Today is Free Comic Book Day! 

Unfortunately for me, all the Mouse Guards were gone by the time we got there.