Thanks, Alot!

A blogger named Allie has recently posted about her pet peeves concerning spelling and grammar. One thing that really puts a bee in her bonnet is when people spell “a lot” as one word: “alot.”

She’s thought a lot about “alot,” and drew a picture of the image that came into her mind.

Allie's imagined Alot. Found at http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

She’s incorporated her feelings for Alot in another drawing.

Does Allie care for ALL Alots, or just this one? Found at http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

What kinds of Alots are in Allie’s imagination? All kinds! Like this:

This Alot is hot! Found at http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

When it comes to Alots, Allie reaches out with love and understanding.

Allie listens, Alot. Found at http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

But there’s one thing Allie would like to get straight. When Alots (or anyone else) are spelling “a lot,” they had better make it TWO words, not ONE.

Bird rock

As you may remember from an earlier post, the sight of birds on a wire inspired Brazilian musician and videographer Jarbas Agnelli to compose a special piece of music.

French artist and composer Céleste Boursier-Mougenot has also turned to her avian friends for inspiration. She has a new installation at the Barbican Centre in London that features zebra finches playing electric guitars.

Photo of birds playing guitar by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot. Courtesy Galerie Xippas. Found at http://www.greenmuze.com

Ms. Boursier-Mougenot furnished an aviary of zebra finches with electric guitars and other instruments. The birds create music as they go about their daily routines. Watch a video of the result here.

Griffin’s Gold

Sam and Andy from Chicago, IL write:

Dear T,

We finished Griffin’s Gold, our story about the legendary Griffin, and we printed copies. Here’s one for you. You can share this excerpt. It’s from the part where Griffin and Dragon fight to the death for Griffin’s gold, only Griffin lets Dragon live to see another day. That’s good because later on they have to join forces to battle an evil Giant. What do you think?

Griffin's Gold book cover by Sam and Andy

From Griffin’s Gold by Sam and Andy:

Griffin and Dragon were face to face with each other. Warily they circled each other. Griffin twitched his wings in eager anticipation of the battle to come, while Dragon snorted plumes of smoke into the chilly air.

Despite the cozy fire he had built, Griffin’s lair was almost as cold as the frozen mountaintop. Dragon lifted his mighty tail and slammed it down hard, pounding the rocky ground. The metallic scales of his impenetrable body armor glistened in the fire’s glow.

“Give me your treasure,” he told Griffin, “and you can avoid a good beating.”

Griffin’s razor-sharp claws drew sparks from where they scraped the rock. “It’s you who are going to get beaten, Dragon,” he replied. “I’ll give you ten seconds to skedaddle on out of here. Otherwise, you’re in for it big time.”

“I ain’t leaving here without that gold,” said Dragon.

“Suit yourself,” said Griffin and lunged at Dragon’s vulnerable throat with his fearsome eagle’s beak. The battle for Griffin’s gold had begun.

T replies:

Wow, Sam and Andy! I am thoroughly impressed. The adventure was gripping, the suspense was unbearable, and I don’t want to spoil the ending, but I can say that Griffin and Dragon are a force to be reckoned with. Great job!

Yadiloh greetings!

Dan’s Mom writes:

Dear T,

I would like to tell you about a fabulous new holiday celebration. It’s called Yadiloh, the Festival of Brooms and Mice, and it happens on the second Sunday of December, right before the traditional holidays begin. I had an artist friend of mine make up a card for it.

Yadiloh card drawing by Dan's Mom's artist friend.

Yadiloh begins early in the morning as each and every kid in the family sweeps (or vacuums) their room and then cleans the whole house. Then, in the spirit of Yadiloh fun, they hide the broom (or vacuum).

After that, for even more fun, they sit quietly together and draw a picture of an adorable mouse. The fun doesn’t stop there! At this point, Mom or Dad takes on the role of Atnas, the Yadiloh Broom Finder. Atnas asks the kids (the Mice) where the broom (or vacuum) is. They tell him (or her), and then go outside to quietly play while Atnas takes a much-deserved Yadiloh nap.

Let’s get cracking and help make Yadiloh a part of every family’s holiday tradition! Here are a couple of rousing Yadiloh carols to get everyone in the mood.

Oh, Yadiloh!

(Sung to the tune of Oh, Tannenbaum)

Oh, Yadiloh! Oh, Yadiloh!

My favorite time of year.

Oh, Yadiloh! Oh, Yadiloh!

I’m glad you’re finally here.

I cleaned my room

and swept the house,

then hid the broom

and drew a mouse.

Oh, Yadiloh! Oh, Yadiloh!

You fill us all with cheer.

And:

Here Comes Atnas

(Sung to the tune of Here Comes Santa)

Here comes Atnas, here comes Atnas,

looking for the broom.

Here comes Atnas, here comes Atnas,

checking every room.

Searching twice and asking mice for any little clue,

Atnas knows a broom hunt is the funnest thing to do!

T replies:

Hey, Dan’s Mom. Yadiloh sounds like a real hoot, but if I didn’t know better, I’d think you made it up to get Dan to clean the house before the regular holidays begin. If so, you get credit for a very crafty plan. Let’s see if Dan (or anyone else) falls for it!

Bad lighting

George from Portland, OR writes:

Dear T,

I am writing a scary Halloween story called “The Evil Lightbulb.” It’s about a 60-watt lightbulb that shines with pure evil. Everyone who sees its light turns into a homicidal maniac. It likes people who are scared of the dark, because they are sure to turn it on, and then it sits back and watches the bloodbath. Here’s the cover I made for it.

Scary cover drawn by George

T replies:

Hey, George. That is indeed a scary lightbulb. But to foil its evil intentions I would attach it to a dimmer switch on every other night but Halloween!

Paint like a master

Photo of Jackson Pollock in action by Hans Namuth

The great American abstract artist Jackson Pollock was sometimes called “Jack the Dripper” because of the masterful way he dribbled paint on canvas to create his monumental masterpieces. You can see examples of his famous “action paintings” at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA.)

One of my favorite Internet sites is jacksonpollock.org, where scrolling across the blank computer screen creates an image of dripping paint (click to change colors and hit the spacebar to erase). It certainly isn’t easy to create a masterpiece like Jackson Pollock was able to do, but I created this stellar effort just before writing this post.

My drip painting, created at jacksonpollock.org

Knock, knock …

Eric from Columbus, OH writes:

Dear T,

I’m writing a book about the adventures of a street lamp and a telephone pole, and I’m drawing the pictures for it, too. The only problem is, Lampy and Poley are stuck in the ground and can’t go anywhere. All they can do is tell Knock Knock jokes. What should I do about that?

Drawing of Lampy and Poley by Eric

T replies:

I say keep ‘em telling Knock Knock jokes, Eric. The world could use a few more of those. With all the problems we have to face every day, we can all use a good laugh!

Tut uncommon

Sarah from Seattle, WA writes:

Dear T,

I am writing a story about an Ancient Egyptian girl named Tibby. She is the secret daughter of the famous Boy King, Pharaoh Tutankhamun. The Boy King Tut wasn’t really a boy when he died under mysterious circumstances in 1323 BC. He was nineteen years old, which was plenty old for a father in those days.

When her father, King Tut, dies, Tibby goes to live among friends of the former Pharaoh. She grows up as happy and content as a girl can be. However, the day soon comes when she must sacrifice a bull to the God Osiris to ensure the fertile crops, and she cannot bring herself to perform such a bloody deed. She is given a chicken to sacrifice in place of the bull, but she can’t bring herself to do that, either. So the High Priests decide to sacrifice HER to Osiris instead.

Needless to say, Tibby must flee for her life. Luckily, she befriends the handsome son of an Egyptian slave and together they sail down the River Nile to live out the rest of their days in peace and happiness.

I have drawn the cover for my book, which I have entitled Daughter of Tut. Here it is in all its glory.

P.S. King Tut didn’t really have a daughter named Tibby. I made her up!

Book cover drawn by Sarah

T replies:

Your story about Tibby, the secret daughter of King Tut, sounds like a real page-turner, Sarah! And I really like your book cover. I have always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt. It’s thrilling to imagine the excitement archaeologist Howard Carter must have felt in 1922 when he discovered King Tut’s glamorous tomb, with all its golden treasures. Of course, poor Mr. Carter was later struck dead by the Pharaoh’s Curse. Oh, well! I’m sure it was worth it.

The Swing swings!

(c) Jay Ward Productions

Lawry from New Haven, CT writes:

Dear T,

I am a professor of Poetry at a prestigious university, and I am disappointed that you have turned to Bullwinkle the Moose to elucidate what you rightly describe as “the Music of the Soul.”

In my view, Bullwinkle the Moose has little to no understanding of the finer points of poetic expression. May I direct you to Robert Louis Stevenson, whose verse entitled The Swing is everything a poem should be and more. I hope you enjoy it.

The Swing

by Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

River and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside—

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown—

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

T replies:

Welcome, Lawry! I yield to no one in my admiration for Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer Robert Louis Stevenson, author of the adventure novel Treasure Island, among other classic works. But I also admire Bullwinkle the Moose. You are obviously not aware of the fact that Bullwinkle received an Honorary Mooster’s Degree from his alma mater, Wossamatta U. Or that he recited Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Swing in the very first episode of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends. You should check it out sometime. It’s on hulu.com.

Bullwinkle going up in a swing, up in the air so ... orange? (c) Jay Ward Productions

Gorey the Great

Photo of Edward Gorey by Michael Romanos

Edward Gorey is one of my favorite illustrators. He designed one of my all-time favorite book jackets for one of my all-time favorite books, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.

Check out some of his other amazing drawings.

A gallery of Edward Gorey’s art

Bundled up against the cold, headstrong Bonnie and her delicate cousin Sylvia must ward off the winter chill, evil Miss Slighcarp, and a menacing pack of savage wolves in this ripping yarn. If you haven’t read it yet, you’re in for a treat!