Tales from the Seabury Library

David Macaulay:

How He Works

Saturday, Jan. 17, is the first day of a cool exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum.

More than 250 pieces of art by the award-winning author/illustrator of the modern classic "The Way Things Work" and the spectacular new human-body book, "The Way We Work," will be on display through June 14.

TAM is partnering with Pages Ahead Children's Literacy Program to offer family activities on opening day, Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Kids can create a cow puppet or a life-sized portrait of their body. Parents can learn more about ways to encourage literacy. Admission that day is free with donation of a new children's book.

David Macaulay has won a Caldecott Medal for the inventive picture book, "Black and White." He won Caldecott honors for "Cathedral" and "Castle," two of the books in his wonderful series about how buildings get made.

His books are excellent for Seabury students and the exhibit will be, too. It emphasizes his process of creation - hard work, playing with ideas, coming back at things until you get them exactly right.

I got the chance to interview him Monday for a News Tribune article that will appear Friday. (It's the cover of the GO section. I'll post a link.)

Lots of the things he said are great messages for kids.

We look at his books and see how intricate and beautiful they are. But Macaulay said nothing about getting to that finished product is magic. It's all hard work, research, and trying things until you find the thing that works.

Macaulay chooses each book's subject based on what he wants to find out more about. His love of learning is why he does what he does.

"It’s all about finding subject matter that you’re excited about and wanting to learn more,” he said. “That’s my career. Professional student. For the rest of my days.”

That's so important for those of us who work with children at Seabury - to kindle and nurture their love of learning, so they carry that with them into adulthood, no matter what careers they choose.

Many pieces in the exhibit were still on the floor when I talked to Macaulay. The picture above was taken after I was there. (Thanks to Alyssa Rosso from TAM.) I can't wait to see the complete show.

Let me know if you go,