Video Sunday - Authors in their Natural Habitat

Well, that was the original intention, anyway. I was going to find a series of interesting links involving authors and their daily lives. For example, here is the charming Cecil Castellucci talking about her life as it relates to her new YA novel Beige. I love, Ms. Castellucci. She stopped by my library one day in search of Mo Willems (this is true) and I had the opportunity to chat with her. I want to be her friend.



Remember, I don't review YA, so I'll never be able to give my opinion on her newest, but for a book that I DID review, check out her new graphic novel The Plain Janes, which is completely child appropriate and deserves a glance.

Moving on, proof positive that Neil Gaiman is charm incarnate.



Two facts come to mind. The fact that he evinces no fear of the large furry rodent flying about his head proves that he IS Neil Gaiman. The fact that he has a bat in his house establishes that, yes, he does indeed live in the Midwest.

Well, so that was my intention with today's Video Sunday. And then I saw that Galleycat had posted the YouTube preview of the French adaptation of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. The French speakers amongst you will appreciate this.



After that, everything broke down completely. Animation seemed a good way to go. Eric Berlin had linked to a nice and wholly illegal version of Calvin & Hobbes (which tied in nicely to the Chicken Spaghetti discussion on old C&H earlier this week. I was going to put it here. Heck, I copied the URL and everything. But look what happens when you click on it now.



Looks like old I-won't-sue Watterson actually brought action against whoever created this. Color me disappointed. Only a book trailer for a picture book could cheer me up now.



That's the stuff. Sent by illustrator Brian Floca himself no less.

And, for those of you who may have been a bit disappointed by the latest Spiderman film, take comfort. Here's a look at a bit of Spiderman ala Japan that is so oddly charming, I know I would have adored this film as a kid.



Because what is more children's literature related than comic books? This came from the Sandbox with love. I love how the woman could only memorize one line for the show.

Infotubey Awards

Huh.

Well...

Huh.

The InfoTubey Awards are here. They celebrate, "libraries which used YouTube to market their library or its services or enhance the standing of the library in the community."

Good idea, yes? I just felt sad that NYPL's delightful Story of Doofus and Diligent didn't win. It wasn't nominated, I suppose, but work-loyalty aside, it's one of my favorite library-related YouTube vids. How pervasive is the influence of Doofus and Diligent in our culture today? Apparently one of my fellow librarians was passing a group of kids outside the Arts & Humanities Library the other day. When the kids were asked the names of the stone lions that sit outside they quickly responded, "Doofus and Diligent!" Which, in approximately 100 years, will be their official names. That sound you hear? Anne Carroll Moore ah-spinning in her grave.

Rumors of Mating Are Highly Exaggerated

Thank God for YouTube. People think I spend a lot of time on this blog, but usually I fool them by merely linking one YouTube video to another. Presenting other people's hard work makes it look, by extension, as if I work hard. And we know that this is not the case.

Now half the charm of this first piece lies in attempting to spot someone you know. Five points to anyone that locates a familiar face. The music gives this just the right tone too.

A double thanks goes out to Molly O'Neill and WATAT for the link.

In a related piece is this fabulous reminder of why I'm glad that I'm a Children's and not a Reference Librarian.

A big thank you to Bookmoot for THIS link.