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Jules<\/strong>: Well, this is a first. The illustrations we had planned to feature this week didn’t quite pan out. I hope that we can show them to you at a later date, but I have something to show you all anyway in the spirit of Mother’s Day. <\/p>\nSo, there was this picture book released last year, entitled My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks: And Other Funny Family Portraits<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/strong>, and it was created by Hanoch Piven<\/strong><\/a> (released by Schwartz & Wade Books in May of ’07). In an Author’s Note, Piven explains the idea behind the book: He had once spent three unforgettable days in the oncology department of a medical center in Israel, conducting a workshop, “Drawing With Objects,” with sick children and teens. The children “created self-portraits and portraits of their families using objects found in everyday life…” Piven used the experience to create this picture book, the story of a fictional girl who has to draw her family in her classroom — regular ‘ol pen on paper, you know. But, she tells us, “{t}here are so many things about {my dad} that you don’t see in this picture.” As a result, she decides to make portraits of her mother, father, brothers, dog, and herself with objects instead. And she goes on to describe each portrait and each family member. Her dad, for one: He’s as “jumpy as a SPRING and as playful as a SPINNING TOP. He is as fun as a PARTY FAVOR. But sometimes he’s as stubborn as a KNOT in a ROPE.” And, of course, she creates an image of him using these objects (the springs are eyebrows, the spinning top is his nose, the rope with the knot is his mouth . . . you get the picture). <\/p>\n But . . .<\/font><\/em> there was just one thing that bugged me: The portrait of the mother. “My mommy is as soft as the softest FLUFF and as bright as the brightest LIGHT. She is as tasty as the crunchiest COOKIE. No, TASTIER! She’s as delicious as a CROISSANT. That’s my yummy mommy! (Mommy, I’m going to eat you all up.)”<\/p>\n Soft? Sure. Bright? This is good. Tasty? Meh. And then to continue on about how edible this girl’s mother is when the girl could have found some more objects and described her mother with a bit more detail? With respect to Hanoch Piven, who really has created a playful, very fun book here, most mothers I know—including myself—are more complicated than that and . . . well, don’t want to be so easily consumed<\/font>. <\/p>\n So, I’ve been meaning to make my own portrait ever since this book first came out, and I thought, why not on Mother’s Day?<\/em> It’s pictured above. Here goes nuthin’ . . . <\/p>\n I dunno. I like this better than being “yummy” and consumable. Any other mothers want to try this? Or anyone at all, whether you have children or not? That’s my portrait — for now. I guess it could change in a few years, as it probably should. <\/p>\n That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it. <\/p>\n Eisha and I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas out there!<\/p>\n As a reminder, our weekly 7 Kicks list is the meeting ground for listing Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week — whether book-related or not — that happened to you. You — yes, you<\/em> reading now — are more than welcome to leave your kicks from the week, whether you’ve ever done so before or not. <\/p>\n 2* The husband and I got sushi this weekend to celebrate the end of his first school year.<\/p>\n 3* My herbs are still alive. This is something of a record for me.<\/p>\n 4* I emailed a friend that I’d shamefully lost touch with. We’re going to try to meet up this summer, either on her turf or mine.<\/p>\n 5* I got an ARC of the second Octavian<\/em><\/strong><\/a> book in the mail, and I am so excited to read it. But I can’t start it yet because…<\/p>\n 6* …I’m almost finished with the second Penderwicks<\/em><\/strong><\/a> book, 7* I saw two great movies this week. First was The Darjeeling Limited<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, which has been on my to-see list since it came out because I love Wes Anderson<\/strong><\/a> so much. It fully met expectations. Second was Cloverfield<\/em>, which I didn’t expect to like at all. It’s amazingly creepy, and very effective, and I’m so glad I didn’t know too much about it before I saw it.<\/p>\n Eisha, I just can’t stinkin’ wait ’til I get my Octavian<\/em>. No fair that you live closer to the publisher and get mail faster! (But I’m still happy for you.)<\/p>\n What a kicky week I<\/em> had!<\/p>\n 1) Eisha’s sweet-as-all-get-out birthday post<\/strong><\/a> to me and the ever-so kind comments from everyone. Thanks again to everyone! Oh, and Eisha’s snail-mail gift to me. A very funny card and a signed copy of Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty<\/strong><\/a><\/em>. Libba called me “a blogging goddess.” Or maybe Eisha told her to write that. Either way, someone’s flattering me.<\/p>\n 2). The birthday cake my husband made. You know what inspired it? God, I’m going to sound like an insufferable Picture Book Nerd (wait, I already know I am one), but we were reading Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s<\/strong><\/a> Dog and Bear: Two’s Company<\/strong><\/em><\/a> a LOT last week to our girls, and Dog totally bakes a vanilla cake with strawberry frosting with rainbow sprinkles on it for Bear’s birthday. And so I said to my girls, Mmmm. Let’s make that for my birthday.<\/em> And my husband did. And holy powdered sugar! The frosting he made (from scratch) was devilishly good. Real strawberries in it. Mmmm again. <\/p>\n 4). I’m reading Stuart Little<\/em><\/strong><\/a> to my girls this week. <\/p>\nIt really is a neat book. Good concept. A great tool for having children create their own family portraits, using objects. You’ll see good reviews at PlanetEsme<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, Kids Lit<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, and Book Buds<\/strong><\/em><\/a>—just to name a few. <\/p>\n
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1* Jules, you’re an artist! That is the coolest self-portrait ever.<\/p>\n
which is turning out to be terrible bedtime reading material because it keeps making me laugh out loud. Excellent book, though.<\/p>\n3). The thoughtful gift’age bestowed upon me by my family: This<\/strong><\/a> and this<\/strong><\/a> and some Gomez<\/strong><\/a> and some fresh flowers and this<\/strong><\/a> (though I haven’t seen the movie yet, the music’s great). My husband wasn’t so sure about this<\/strong><\/a>, since it’s got, like, Avril Lavigne covering “Imagine” (I’m sorry, but SHUDDER), but he got it anyway, and it was worth it. There’s a KILLER cover of “Real Love” by Regina Spektor<\/strong><\/a>, “Instant Karma” by U2<\/strong><\/a>, and “#9 Dream” by R.E.M.<\/strong><\/a> There are two covers of “Gimme Some Truth,” one of my favorite songs EVER, but meh. I love Lennon singing that one so much that it’s hard to find a cover I like (Really. Sam Phillips<\/a><\/strong> even covered it years ago, and I didn’t care for it.)<\/p>\n
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Happy Mother’s Day to all! Here’s my suggested gift to yourself: