Note To Future Self

Now everyone knows that fava beans go nicely with Chianti, but did you know that they can turn water into wine?

magical fruit, indeed!

Well, duh. With all this talk of big questions, I forgot that we recently checked out Wolf Erlbruch’s The Big Question.

(image from Amazon, of all things)

We’re big fans Herr Professor Erlbruch (and there’s more to come). The phrase that comes to mind is “pitch-perfect.” Not frenetic attempts to emulate kid’s thinking, but simple little stories with room for both kids and adults to ponder a bit.

Perhaps the best element of this book is the space in back to write your own answers to the big question.

In a similar vein is Sara O’Leary’s Where You Came From.

(image courtesy the publisher’s site)

We featured Sara’s previous book When You Were Small a few months ago. The conceit of this book is the same, the art remains lovely (thanks to Julie Morstad). At the risk of gross simplification, Where You Came From is the baby sister of When You Were Small — sweeter and a bit less jokey. Nice.

(image from Amazon UK)

We recently borrowed Alex Higlett’s Egg and Bird.** On first blush it seems like the usual repetitive inanity accompanied by pleasant but underwhelming sketch art. But the conclusion is a pure metaphysical cliffhanger sure to mess with kids’ heads. I love it!

** I understand your keen disappointment at not having a credit-card-stealing Powell’s link. Apparently, this book is only available in righteous Queen-fearing countries. Uh, which means none of you will be able to borrow the book and understand what I’m on about. Bugger.

I’ve always struggled with the Big Questions of life. Come to find out I’ve been asking the wrong question.

The Big Question is:

• Are there plums today?

And if you allow two more questions into your cosmology:

• Will there be plums tomorrow?
• Why not?