Chicago Loves Those Children's Books

Two exciting, new exhibits for children's book lovers who happen to find themselves in the Chicago area in the next few months:

1. Artifacts of Childhood: 700 Years of Children's Books
   Newberry Library, September 28, 2008—January 17, 2009
   Co-curated by Jenny of Jenny's Wonderland of Books, this collection of 65 works created for and by children promises to be fascinating. After the horn book bit on Collecting Children's Books, I'm eager to see the abecedaria dating from 1544.
2. The Bill Peet Storybook Menagerie
   The Art Institute of Chicago, August 23, 2008—May 24, 2009
   Bill Peet was one of my favorite author/illustrators when I was in elementary school. I repeatedly checked out The Whingdingdilly and was also fond of Fly, Homer, Fly!, The Wump World, and Chester the Worldly Pig. I wanted to write and draw like him. I could give you proof of this from my elementary school notebooks.

   I somehow missed until Fuse #8's post last week Peet's career as a "storyman" for Disney. Not that it was all giggles; there's a fascinating—and scathing—interview at Hogan's Alley about his time as a continually unrecognized creative mastermind. The exhibit promises examples of Peet's Disney art as well as original art from many of his picture books.