children’s books – three good words

October 7, 2025October 7, 2025

Surprise me

Who are your favorite artists?

Um, which art? And which genre?

Books – Movies – Music – Paintings – Dance – Artisans – ?
There are so many arts to choose from, the number of incredible artists are too many to count.

To me, fave’s come and go. Some turn out to be deeply problematic, if not monstrous, others were a fave for a particular time (teens, twens, that one time while traveling, etc.). Some are constants, though the reasons may change over time.

The gauge is surprise. Whether pleasant or thought-provoking: Surprise me. Make me think. Tug at particular heart strings, without manipulation. Observe something interesting. Tell me something I don’t already know. Reflect on something unexpected. Do something wonderful. Show me your experience of the world we both see.

Art is such a sublime thing, uncontainable and uncontained, any artist who can catch that “spark of divine fire” is worth praise.

#create

June 25, 2025June 25, 2025

comms blink

Describe your dream chocolate bar.

Boss: Go on.

Agent: They’re definitely watching, sir.

Boss: Quite so. Get Hayfield, Simons, and Bashar on this. We’ll need the whole crew.

Agent: Yes, sir. Codename?

Boss: Pondicherry.

Agent: Bit on the nose, sir

Boss: That is the point.

#sweet

June 4, 2025June 4, 2025

The Golden Ticket

Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

Again, too many to count, but let’s go with Charlie and The Misanthrope’s Chocolate Factory.

From Prince Pondicherry to 4 Grandparents in 1 bed, Little Me had a tremendous amount of questions while reading. Also, those chocolates, candies, and sweets sounded amazing. Finally, no way the Oompa Loompas never figured out another diet on their own (always bothered me).

Then there were The Chocolate Trials:
At first it was enormously satisfying to watch spoilt brats and bullies have the day they deserved. The Oompa Loompas DGAF and Willy Wonka was a revelation: An adult who stood firm in the face of irate parents? Amazing.

After multiple re-reads, though, the terrible children’s “just deserts” stopped being so perfectly just, given how their parents were horrible already and really weren’t being, y’know, parents. Especially in comparison to Charlie’s family, who clearly cared for Little Bucket.

Eye-opening for a kid.