Books, Books, Books

Madeleine is looking to take the "Using Up an Entire Ream of Paper In a Matter of Days" award away from Julia, what with her daily, multi-paged picture books.

Here she is today, hard at work:

MADELEINE: Mama, I think I'm starting to become even MORE of an arthur than Julia!


Some highlights from the arthur's latest work:

MADELEINE: They're planning a music band! 

Sounds like fun!  Who *doesn't* want to play in a band that has a crazy-eyed giant for a conductor?

MADELEINE: Um, that's their CUPCAKE party!

Their cupcakes on the table look more like a Dr. Seussian thing-a-ma-jigger to me, but maybe that's just the way giant ogre band-leaders roll, baby.

MADELEINE: Um, they're having their cupcake party.  Some people are in the sky because they're floating with balloons and STANDING on balloons.

Okay.  I thought this was Madeleine's illustration for the cover of "The Leftovers."  But turns out it's just a good, old-fashioned cupcake party.

MADELEINE: Um, she's jumping up because she likes to, and...and...and (pointing to the girl on the ground) SHE is walking to say hi to the cat.  (Pointing above the cat) That's birthday cake, with candles.

There are many things about this picture that disturb me.  For one, the fact that the candles on the birthday cake look more like explosives than simple kiddie candles.  Secondly, the cat looks like it comes out of Stephen King's Pet Sematary.  The loopy girl walking towards that cat seriously has NO IDEA what's in store for her.  And let's not even mention the person with the thickest arms ever just floating up of into the heavens.

MADELEINE: Um, that's a picture of them balancing on their mom.
ME: Why are they balancing on their mom?
MADELEINE: Because they WANT to.  They're wearing ballet dresses and ballet shoes and fancy HAIRSTYLES.  And having fun.  They're having SMILEY faces on their faces.

They look like they're having fun.  Especially the mom.  Who doesn't look deranged AT ALL.


I can tell the arthur is getting irritated that I'm interrupting her important work to ask her questions about the already-finished pages.  So I'd better just leave her to it.  Never disturb a genius in the midst of his or her creative process.  Especially not one who draws pictures that might come back to haunt you.