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What was your favorite movie this year?
What’s your favorite/scariest Scarecrow story?
Image by jimsideas via Flickr
What’s your favorite Halloween treat?
By: Rebecca,
on 12/15/2009
It has become a holiday tradition on the OUPblog to ask our favorite people about their favorite books. This year we asked authors to participate (OUP authors and non-OUP authors). For the next two weeks we will be posting their responses which reflect a wide variety of tastes and interests, in fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. Check back daily for new books to add to your 2010 reading lists. If that isn’t enough to keep you busy next year check out all the great books we have discovered during past holiday seasons: 2006, 2007, 2008 (US), and 2008 (UK).
Edward A. Zelinsky is the Morris and Annie Trachman Professor of Law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University. He is the author of The Origins of the Ownership Society: How The Defined Contribution Paradigm Changed America.
For my twelfth birthday, my mother bought me a copy of The Federalist Papers. I still remember the imposing cover of this paperback book, with the bewigged James Madison, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton solemnly staring at the reader. On this first reading, I didn’t understand much of their arguments, but I suspect that wasn’t my mother’s point. Unfortunately, I never asked her.
My next confrontation with The Federalist Papers was in college when a professor assigned the entire book – no excerpts, no commentary, no background – just the book. It was the sixties and Madison, Jay and Hamilton epitomized what were soon to be derided as the Dead White Males. After reading it from cover-to-cover, I told my professor that their ideas, such as checks-and-balances and separation of powers, were commonplace. My professor just smiled enigmatically.
I belatedly realized his point: These thoughts are part of our common culture today largely because these three Dead White Males made them so.
When I next confronted The Federalist Papers in law school, my earlier skepticism had given way to grudging admiration. By then, it was clear that Madison, Jay and Hamilton were livelier fellows than their solemn portraits made them out to be. Madison was a nerd who somehow convinced the hottest eligible lady in town to marry him. Hamilton was the classic poor boy who started in life with less than nothing and wound up in the nation’s highest precincts. After Jay negotiated his eponymous treaty, he was strung in effigy throughout the nation. These fellows had interesting lives.
Finally, as a law professor, I realized the importance of The Federalist Papers: In the rush of current events, Madison, Hamilton and Jay got most of the big issues right and set the framework for much of the American political discourse which has followed over the generations. Of course, the Constitution has been amended in ways which make moot many of their arguments. We now have a Bill of Rights. The Fourteenth Amendment radically changes the relationship between the states and the federal government. Nevertheless, in many imp
By: Paula Becker,
on 9/17/2009
…art reference book?” We answer that question at the Illustration For Kids site this week, with my reply being here. Please check it out as well as what the other girls had to say about what their favorite reference book for art is. We plan to post something weekly so please stop by and see [...]
Image via Wikipedia
The #1 clue is:
* Needs to be eaten warm.
The #2 clue is:
* Morning favorite for many young and old people alike.
The #3 clue is:
* Powdered sugar
This one is another easy one. Get your kids involved in this one. They know what’s good and what’s not.
One last clue:
* Fruit is optional.
Lets eat some…….
Don’t forget the ……
Fill in the blanks. It’s fun!
Image via Wikipedia
The #1 clue is:
* Needs to be eaten warm.
The #2 clue is:
* Morning favorite for many young and old people alike.
The #3 clue is:
* Powdered sugar
This one is another easy one. Get your kids involved in this one. They know what’s good and what’s not.
One last clue:
* Fruit is optional.
Lets eat some…….
Don’t forget the ……
Fill in the blanks. It’s fun!
Add a Comment
By: paula,
on 1/16/2009
Honestly, I don't have a "favorite" illustration I produced in 2008, but I posted this one because it's one of the ones I have the least issues with. That might seem to be an odd way to put it, but that's how I was looking at it as I perused my illustrations done this year.
So this one never got published as I was asked by the client to illustrate this maze (you follow the mother hen to the chick by stepping on the items that begin with "ch") but was up against another illustrator who was doing this too. Their client was to pick the one they wanted, and the other illustrator's was chosen. I have no idea what theirs looked like so I can't make any comments on that but I was pleased with my results.
By: Anette Heiberg,
on 1/12/2009
This is the illustration I like best of all the pictures I painted last year. I like the colors and the happy children, and I also think I like it because this was a painting I did just for fun.
By: John,
on 12/10/2008
See also: Favourite Comics and Art Books of 2008 Part 2: John’s picks
Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson
The most heartfelt, hilarious and beautifully rendered comic strip since Calvin & Hobbes. About a dysfunctionally awesome family in suburban Washington DC. Probably my favourite book this year.
The Sea Serpent and Me by Catia Chien and Dashka Slater
Catia Chien’s big, expressive acrylic and charcoal illustrations set the tone for this simple story about a girl and her pet sea serpent. Oh and look - Nucleus Gallery is selling prints from the book too.
My Brain is Hanging Upside Down by David Heatley
You’d think we’d have had enough of reading about the intimate details of indie cartoonists’ sex lives by now but Heatley’s raw wit and bold, unselfconscious illustrations make it hard to put these comics down. Here’s a sample and another one.
ABC3D by Marion Battelle
This pop-up alphabet book is design awesomeness. Check out the video demonstration.
Nicholas series by René Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé
This was the year I truly discovered Sempé. Like most other people, I’ve seen his covers for the New Yorker, but thanks to Phaedon (who has be re-releasing his complete oeuvre to English audiences) I’ve been exposed to the full breadth of his work.
The Nicholas series (originally Petit Nicholas; written by René Goscinny, of Asterix fame) have been popular with kids around the world for decades. Now they’ve been translated into English for the first time (in their entirety) and released in hardcover. Sempé’s illustrations of Nicholas and his troublesome classmates are simple, timeless and charming.
Bagel’s Lucky Hat by Hector Mumbly
It’s great to see Mumbly (whose work looks an awful lot like Dave Cooper’s) turn his energy to an all-ages adventure. This book is also a great reference for all sorts of other-worldly terrains.
Tekkonkinkreet by Taiyo Matsumoto
The English translation of Matsumoto’s classic manga about two street kids living in a fictional gangland of Treasure Town was actually released in 2006, but I finally read it this year. People seem to have strong and mixed opinions of Matsumoto’s stories - which are densely packed with violence, graffiti and pop-culture. Beneath it all you can feel the love he has for his characters. I am a fan.
The Fart Party by Julia Wertz
People seem to either love this comic or hate it. I’m firmly in the love camp. Most of it is available as a webcomic. Decide for yourself.
See also: Favourite Comics and Art Books of 2008 Part 2: John’s picks
My daughter just told me yesterday that my 17 month old grand daughter Adriana pointed to the scarecrow decorations my daughter put up and said “whats that”? my daughter answered “They are scarecrows” The baby then ran away screaming scary; scary and would not go back into the sun room. When big sis Allyson (15) came home from school Adriana told her ‘scary’ and pointed to the sun room. Allyson said “they are not scary they are just straw men”. Baby went into the sun room and has now been playing with the straw men for nearly 24 hours. Amazing the power of a word.
Awwwww. That’s so sweet. I guess that guy did his job, huh? Glad the baby and the scarecrow made such fast friends! Thanks for sharing:)
I’ve never made a scarecrow and need to! I drove by a vineyard in Yountville and snapped this shot of a chef scarecrow and thought is was the happiest scarecrow I’d ever seen!! So I wanted to share it. HAPPY HALLOWEEN. My feet are sore from dancing at a party last night, didn’t get home until the wee hours!