Video Sunday: Just Call Me Old Softy

Okay, so I have to ask.  What is up with various members of The Decemberists and children’s literature these days?  First lead singer Colin Meloy writes a fantasy novel.  Now Jenny Conlee helps compose a score for a stage adaptation of Matt Phelan’s The Storm in the Barn playing at The Oregon Children’s Theater.  You’ve seen the trailer, so here’s the behind-the-scenes glimpse at the show itself:

Next up, I can’t help it.  Whenever I see a video folks have made to save a library, I gotta post it.  It’s not something I can even help!  It’s not a choice, people.  And Marjorie Ingall recently linked to some videos that were hoping to help save the Neighborhood School Library, a good cause if ever there was one.  One video features the requisite adorable children.  The other the gross 180 degree opposite of adorable children.  Awesome.

In other news the Obamas get all 21st century on us with a reading of A Sick Day for Amos McGee.

Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the link.

In other news, Peter at Collecting Children’s Books identified some fun videos of Antiques Road Show appraising, of all folks, Edward Gorey.  The fact that there was a Gorey tarot card deck out there and I didn’t know about it says something.  It also got me to thinking  . . . what other children’s book artists should do some tarot card decks?  Cynthia von Buhler, obviously.  Dave McKean.  I wouldn’t mind seeing an Adam Rex tarot deck one of these days.  And let’s throw Rosemary Wells in there, just because we can.

And then there’s the signed first edition Hobbit . . .

And finally, I have to thanks Lori and Alison for today’s off-topic video.  This is the one about the kid who created his own cardboard arcade in his dad’s East LA. auto parts store.  It’s kind of a tearjerker, this one.  Just lovely.

Filed under: Videos