Magic Mike, Picture Books, and Banana Bread

All good distractions from the world.

Hi friends.

Shout-out to all the parents and teachers riding the wave. This morning I ran into my friend Jess who writes about parenting for the NYT (you have her to thank for the primal scream hotline earlier this pandemic) and she summed up the feeling perfectly— every day that my kids are in school and none of us have Covid, it’s a good day. If you’re having a good day or a bad day or maybe you’re not sure, good morning, hello, here are some things to distract you from the three dimensional existential crisis that is contemporary life!

Maybe Channing Tatum and his power tools would make you feel better?

I mention Channing and his tools because this week, I watched all of Finding Magic Mike, a reality show in which a gaggle of men compete for a spot in the Las Vegas production of Magic Mike Live. The contestants are not professional dancers, though some of them have the kind of muscles that look like speed bumps, which seems to help, up to a point. (Speed bump-y muscles do not, I can say from hours of observation, do not add to one’s sense of rhythm.) Anyway, what is fun about the show is that these guys weep every single episode, and talk openly with each other about their fears and insecurities and it’s seems like almost all of them emerge better, more evolved humans on the other side. Plus now they know how to do lap dances. Highly recommend. (Note: Channing Tatum does not appear. Just so you know.)

Unrelated to Magic Mike, except in that they are also made by people utterly devoted to craft and beauty, here is a funny segue! This week, the kids team at the store put together a list of our favorite books of the year, but only one of mine made that blog post, so here are the rest of my picture book faves of 2021 .

Chez Bob, by Bob Shea

First of all, an absolute delight to say this title and author aloud. Try it now! A very funny story about a hungry alligator. 

What Is Love?, by Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis

Technically this came out in December, so it counts as a Best of 2021, even though it's my fave book of 2022. Warm, loving, funny, smart. I would follow these two off a bridge, no questions asked. 

Negative Cat, Sophie Blackall

I love Sophie Blackall almost as much as I love cats, which is more than anything else on earth. So, Sophie on a difficult cat? Heaven. 

The Rock from the Sky, Jon Klassen

This is a picture book epic--it's got drama, it's got humor, it's got classic Klassen charm. 

Fred Gets Dressed, Peter Brown

Playing dress up is fun, no matter your gender. This is such a sweet book, and made me burst into tears. If you're wondering how to raise a boy, read this book. Tells you everything you need to know. 

Keeping the City Going, Brian Floca

Brian is what I think of as a local boy, even though he’s from Texas. He’s in the bookstore all the time and is so chatty and friendly that sometimes I forget he can draw, the way I imagine Superman’s friends sometimes forget he can leap tall buildings. This book will make you cry, especially if you live in New York City.

Time is a Flower, Julie Morstad

Absolutely gorgeous. Transcendently gorgeous. A timeless classic, immediately. Buy it for every child you know, and every grown-up, too. 

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The other thing I did this week was bake—March 2020 vibes, baby. I baked some mediocre chocolate chip cookies, a very good banana bread, and I put some focaccia that my husband had been working on in the oven, which means I basically did the most important part and should get a hefty percentage of the credit. As usual, my BFFS Deb and Alison came through for me. They have yet to let me down. (The focaccia recipe was Alison’s Overnight Focaccia, Tonight, which is not on her website so you should just buy her book, if you somehow have not yet done so.) It really does make me feel better to put something doughy in the oven.

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Preorder This Time Tomorrow here.