Monday, May 18, 2009

the way we work


Spring has brought the usual whirlwind of activity to my schedule. After vacation, we dove into the DCF Challenge (battle of the books at Otter Valley), the DCF Conference, a visiting illustrator, and then the Vermont Library Conference. In between were late meetings and other tasks that made for late evenings. So when this last weekend allowed for some simple "putzing", I welcomed the opportunity.

As I stained some replacement windows in our home, I tuned into VPT and heard an interview with David Macaulay. This was my second round with him, as he keynoted the DCF conference this year. This is the man who wrote Cathedral and other titles which explained the building process from ground up, as well as writing The Way Things Work, Black and White, and other award-winning titles. His newest book takes a look at the internal workings of the human body with dramatic illustration. His investigation of the human body is not unlike his deconstruction of the pyramids or other mammoth structures, as he entertains some wonderful juxtapositions with gentle humor for his serious topic. Macaulay has receive the MacArthur Genius Award for good reason. His fresh approach to familiar material is a real eye-opening experience for readers.
Visit his website for an introduction to the vastness of his work:

http://www.davidmacaulay.com/

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