Video Sunday: Blogging, I Am. Everything, I Post.

Time to brush up on your high school German meine Damen und Herren.  Yes The Strange Case of Origami Yoda got its own pretty impressive fan trailer straight outta Germany the other day.  It’s interesting, but I was even more taken with the German name of the book.  Yoda, I Am!  Everything, I Know! As overseas titles go, that’s gotta be one of my favorites.  I also like the description of the book that accompanies the video: “Eigentlich ist Dwight ein totaler Loser.”  No matter where you go in this world, “total loser” is a universal. (NOTE: Author Tom Angleberger just wrote in with a suspicion that rather than being a fan trailer this was made by the German publisher. The world may never know.)

I swear I didn’t mean for this to happen, but by complete coincidence the Germans have the floor today.  This next one is actually a small filmed version of a picture book called Vom Kleinen Maulwurf, der Wissen Wollte Wer Ihm Auf den Kopf Gemacht Hatte by Werner Holzwarth and Wolf Eribruch.  You can debate what the best possible translation of this might be, but I think my favorite has to be Wikipedia’s The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business.  See it and you’ll comprehend why.

Needless to say, this book has yet to be published in America.  Not even the Plop-Up version.  Jules brought to to my attention after her fantastic post on Maurizio Quarello’s take on Bluebeard led to a fascinating discussion in the comments of what Yanks do and do not find squeamish.  Thanks for the link, Jules! (NOTE: I am wrong!  As DaNae pointed out in the comments this book WAS published in America.  In 2007 by Abrams no less.  Check out her comment to see the new title.)

Ruh-roh.  I heard that someone wanted to do an “updated” musical take on Alice in Wonderland for Broadway.  Of course, that brings to mind another musical as well: The Wiz.  Updating classics isn’t as easy as all that (though I’ll forgive many things for “Ease on Down the Road”).  Here’s an interview with the woman playing Alice.  Join me as I wonder if it’s possible that the music was written in 1982.  Hoo boy.

Yeah.  That ain’t good.  Here’s a bit from the Playbill blog post about it as well.  Thanks to @MrSchuReads for the link.

This one’s interesting, and related to children’s literature in that much of my own childhood was spent reading New Yorker cartoons.  Cartoonist Liza Donnelly and I have something in common.  We both attended Earlham College (fight fight inner light, kill, Quakers, kill!!).  We also both have an interest in humor and women.  Here’s a talk she gave at TED on the subject.

Food for thought.  Thanks to Children’s Illustration for the link.

The more I read author/illustrator Meghan McCarthy’s blog the more addicted I become.  For one thing, she had a recent post where she paired two videos together from my youth that I would have bet good money that no one else on the planet remembered.  Occasionally I’ll turn to someone and scream, “THE PEANUT BUTTER SOLUTION EXISTED!!!” but when I describe the plot they doubt me.  And who can blame them?  Thank you for vindicating me, Meghan.  She also recently highlighted a video of a dad reading In the Night Kitchen which is one of those books that I will defend to my grave without ever really liking all that much.  However, I liked the dad (part of the group DadLabs) and found this video of him and a bunch of other fellows recommending bedtime stories for their offspring.

Always interesting to hear how they butcher Mr. Scieszka’s name.  That particular dad makes up for it with the reading though.  I just want to watch of video of him reciting all of Baloney P now.

As for the final off-topic video, Valentine’s Day is near upon us.  No better time to post this sweet and sad little love story between sand and snow.

Bottle from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

Thanks to Swiss Miss for the link.

Filed under: Videos