Wild Things, Garbage Pail Kids, &
Hi hi hi!
Good morning!
Feeling wild this morning? I’m not. I’m sleepy. But I wanted to say howdy, and remind you that YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE AWESOME, AND YOU ARE GOING TO OWN TODAY.
Maurice Sendak
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE was my first favorite book. It astounded me with its art, conquered my heart with its story, and touched me on so many levels that I wouldn’t understand until I was an adult.
Next week is his birthday: June 10, 1928. I might not be able to newsletter y’all (as I’ll be in New Orleans for the American Bookseller Association Conference), but I wanted to put Maurice on your radar simply because I love him. And I suspect a lot of you (and the youth in your life) love him too. So next Monday, take a few seconds to appreciate this amazing artist and illustrator. Or maybe, take a few minutes, and be a kid again by re-reading Where the Wild Things Are. (It holds up.)
Or, if you wanna buy something that is the cutest booklet of all time…. grab a copy of Maurice’s NUTSHELL LIBRARY. It comes with 4 books: Alligators All Around, One Was Johnny, Pierre: A Cautionary Tale, and (my personal fave) Chicken Soup with Rice.
Purchase at BookShop.org by clicking here.
Gross Gift Idea!
In 1985, Garbage Pail Kids hit shelves in the check-out lines at at Toys’Я’Us. The first time I saw Series 1, I lost my $#%&ing mind. The art was fantastic, the humor was unparalleled, and, of course, they were disgusting. My mom bought me one pack, and didn’t realize until we got home how offensive she found them. But in that first pack (purchased in waxy paper and coming with the iconic Tops stick of pink bubblegum that turned to concrete in your mouth after 8 seconds), was a card with my name on it. My name wasn’t exactly common, so it was wild for me to see it there in print.
I felt seen.
I believe every kid wants to feel seen. That’s why art and books and TV with diverse characters are so important. There’s nothing quite like observing your reflection, whether it’s happy, painful, or hilariously disgusting.
That’s why I’m collecting all the GPK cards with my friends names on them, framing them, and giving them to them on my birthday. (Yes, I like to give presents to my best people on my birthday.) If you think this is a great idea (it is), you’re welcome to steal it. Stealing (with consent) is fun!
GARBAGE PAIL KIDS: Ebay
WOOD FRAMES: Amazon
FRAME MATS: Etsy
Joy & Gratitude
One of my best buds is going through it this week. So I passed on a bit of advice I picked up when I was down and out:
Today, find 5 things that bring you joy. Maybe it’s a chocolate croissant. Maybe it’s a smile from a stranger. Maybe it’s just stopping, taking a breath, and looking up at the sky. Whatever it is, take a few seconds to appreciate it.
And if that’s too hard, find 5 things that you’re grateful for. Your physical health. Your bed’s comfortable sheets. Your feet, for walking you around all the time. Whatever that is, make a mental note.
It sounds a little dumb, but turns out (for me at least), the more you do it, the more ingrained it is in your head. And gratitude and finding little joys? It makes a huge difference in your day.
i iz so sleepy…
…tis a gray day here, and I want to crawl back into bed. But I gotta work. So instead, I’m gonna take a lil walk and drink coffee to wake up. But you?
One last reminder: YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE AWESOME, AND YOU ARE GOING TO OWN TODAY.
Sending giant hugs, R