Simms Taback

I went to Keplers today, our local, independent bookstore in Menlo Park to look at some picture books for a change of venue. I've been working, working, and needed some visual stimulation that wasn't my artwork, if you know what I mean. I came across Simms Taback's latest book, called Postcards from Camp. I so love his art. His creativity and design sense is so wonderful and he manages to keep his style so childlike, which I think is very hard to do.

In this latest book, the story is written in a series of postcards between a father and a son who is reluctant to be at summer camp. At first the postcards from the son are desperate. He really hates being at camp.

But his father faithfully writes positive, upbeat responses and soon enough, the son's postcards

become more and more upbeat and eventually he decides that he really is having a good time.

There are so many fun elements to this book. Envelopes that open with actual letters inside.

A little book dummy of a ghost story that his father writes to him. So creative.

You can see more of Taback's work on his website. Check out this video if you want to see how he came up with the concept for There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly...one of my all time favorites.