While enjoying some recent “book-related” articles posted over at the BOOKSLUT website the other night I came across this very excellent Book Review for “How Literature Saved My Life” by David Shields. Of course this is the latest book written by David Shields for Knopf (and Chip Kidd designed the book cover) so we were really excited about this! The article is very in-depth and looks at both the book, and Author, from many different angles. It’s pretty interesting. Plus, we always love a great review! Thanks Bookslut! (Yes, I’ll admit it, I thoroughly enjoy saying the word, “Bookslut”. Hee Hee!)

Here’s a link to check it out, please CLICK HERE!

Today’s Libraries are about so much more than Books. They are also a place of Community, Teaching, Support, etc.

JOIN THE FIGHT! Here’s some strange news to be reporting on in 2013. Marjane Satrapi’s Graphic Novel, THE COMPLETE PERSEPOLIS (Pantheon), is being censored removed from Chicago Public Schools… for NO known reason. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has been all over this issue (excuse the pun), but the war rages on! To join the fight, and for more details, please be sure to visit the CBLDF Website.

Also, Knopf Doubleday, the parent company of Random House, which published Persepolis, has issued the following statement:

"The Chicago Public School district has issued an ambiguous statement regarding the present and future availability of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis to students," the statement read. "Persepolis is a coming of age memoir about a girl in her early teens. The book has been read and taught in school districts across the country, without caveat or condition. In addition, Marjane has met with students across the country, including students in Chicago. The fact that Chicago is trying to limit this book's use in classrooms and curriculums, suggesting teachers need guidance before they can discuss it, smacks of censorship."

Over at the OTHER PEOPLE PODCAST With Brad Listi they recently posted Episode # 157 which turns into a very interesting interview with Ayana Mathis. Yes, I bet you know who she is. Ayana Mathis is the Author of THE TWELVE TRIBES OF HATTIE (Knopf). The new book just came out last December and is still going strong. It’s been reviewed by almost every major news outlet out there and you might have heard about it because this novel became the second book chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her new OPRAH BOOK CLUB 2.0. We also need to mention that Chip Kidd did not design the cover. Sometimes, when we feature books on this website that Kidd didn’t design, there is some slight confusion. So, we want everybody to know that a very talented Graphic Designer named KELLY BLAIR (gifted/beautiful) designed the wonderful book jacket you see here and she did an amazing job.

Whoops, OK sorry to ramble on, ha! The main focus of this post is to share the link for the OTHER PEOPLE Podcast where Brad Listi interviews Ayana Mathis about many things like: Being a Writer, What the success of her first debut novel is like, What was it like to meet THE Oprah Winfrey, and so on. In fact, the story of meeting Oprah is really fun! So, please check it out by clicking RIGHT HERE.

Oh yeah, the book is out right now. You can find it at your favorite Bookstore or, if you’re too busy, just click the Amazon link down below. Thanks.

Chip Kidd was featured in an episode of ARTS IN CONTEXT titled, “Paint, Design, Find, Reassemble”. Chip talks about the role of Book Designers and answers some questions about the process of creating. This PBS TV Program’s main focus is on both Fine Art and Graphic Design. We have embedded the video down below for you to enjoy… for a limited time. Chip Kidd pops in at about the 6:07 mark, but we suggest just watching the whole thing because it’s really very interesting.

Chip Kidd, Graphic Designer and Penn State alum, will speak about creativity and design in "Fail Better," his upcoming talk at Schlow Centre Region Library on Thursday, April 4 at 7:00 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public.

Address:
Schlow Centre Region Library
211 S. Allen Street
State College, PA. 16801

For more information, please be sure to CLICK HERE!

We’re proud to announce another Charity Auction where Designer Chip Kidd will donate his time to create a customized book jacket, just for you! This Auction supports SYMPHONY SPACE which is located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street in New York City, NY. This organization does an amazing job at keeping music, culture, and the arts alive! The Auction is going on right now, as we speak, and the bidding closes on April 14th, 2013 at 11:59 PM EDT. So, please be sure to get your bid in now!

Symphony Space's mission, as a per-eminent multi-disciplinary performing arts center, is to offer artistic leadership that promotes innovation, excellence, engagement, and accessibility to artists and audiences alike.

For more information about Symphony Space, please CLICK HERE!

For information on how to enter the Auction and support the Arts, Please CLICK HERE!

Check out this great pic we just got from Author Neil Gaiman! He received a package in the mail recently with an advance copy of the book he collaborated on with Designer Chip Kidd. He was so excited about it! This new book, the “MAKE GOOD ART “Speech Book (William Morrow), is based on the very inspirational Commencement Speech that Neil Gaiman gave at the University of the Arts in 2012.

Chip Kidd not only designed the book’s cover but he also worked on the inside content as well.

Check out this direct quote from Neil Gaiman down below. Then, if you have not seen it yet, please be sure to watch the Video of this wonderful speech he gave that has inspired so many people.

March 18, 2013 - “This arrived. I was scared that it wouldn’t feel like a real book. I should not have worried. Chip Kidd took my MAKE GOOD ART speech and made it into a piece of art in its own right. Along the way he committed, joyfully and intentionally, every design “mistake” he wanted to, and it all adds up to something wonderful, beautiful and, I think, helpful.”

Check out this totally hilarious photo posted on Twitter by an Artist named Rossetti Rogers. Her Mother actually used a Kindle as a bookmark for a real-life book, ha! The funny thing is that the post went totally viral and has been shared or re-tweeted like crazy!! Go Mom!!

People who love Reading know the score! Anytime a movie or video game is based on a Book… the BOOK IS ALWAYS BETTER!! Ha Ha, this image is on a T-Shirt you can get HERE!