You can't imagine . . . how many attempts it took me to get this photo, and how long it took to process it but eventually one has to just say "good enough."
What a magnificent library you have Junko, a real treasure trove. I don't think I have ever seen such a wonderful place even though my children were both bookworms from an early age. Do any children actually get to see this? Well done on the shot!
@julzmaioro One of my proudest accomplishments was being a member of the jury that selected Margaret Mahy as the winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award. I met her last in 2006 in Macau where we had the Award Ceremony. I still recall reading her book Memory for the first time, and I can even tell you where I was and how riveted I was, because it was so thought-provoking. I still recall my daughter having memorized 17 kings and 42 Elephants and marching around the coffee table chanting it. And who could ever forget hearing (and seeing) Margaret perform Down the Back of the Chair. What a writer she was, and what a contribution she made to the world of books. (and what a lively person she was!). I don't have any by Lynley Dodd but I have seen them and found them delightful. Joy Cowley was on the shortlist for the HCA two years ago, and my husband had a box with the character Mrs Wishy Washy on it in his office, now at my house. (I should take it out to the library .. . . currently in my home office.)
@annied@joysabin@ludwigsdiana@julzmaioro@newbank@graemestevens@30pics4jackiesdiamond@dide@inthecloud5@gilbertwood@joansmor@cocobella@casablanca@merrelyn@domenicododaro@redy4et -- thank you all for your warm and supportive comments. It truly is a fabulous space, and I am really struggling with photographing it to convey that feel. As you can see, it has natural light coming in from the four skylights and window, and warm light coming in from the cans overhead, and some other kind of lights in pendant and other forms -- making the lighting so mixed that the colors are impossible to show in the way I "see" them when in there. Thank you all for the encouragement. This has been such a struggle and your feedback will get me back out there to keep working on this all month. I photographed this angle two different days, then analyzed what I took, and finally went back out to get this one. @ludwigsdiana -- My husband and I built this as a research library for our own work, but we have had more fellow adult researchers/collaborators in here than children, who are occasional visitors. @newbank -- the architect called them "ships's stairs" and the builders even had to make a mock up of them, testing out curves and angle and construction and I still recall going up and down the test ones to give feedback for the final one. You have to always start with the right foot going up, and the left foot going down, and its like a ladder with each foot on a different side of the center part. Tricky to balance on, but I did not want the typical library rolling ladder because I am accident prone and would have broken bones falling off of it. @casablanca I'm waiting for you to get lost in here, and I'll deliver cookies to go with the teapot and tea we always keep out there.
Oh my word what heaven on earth! I had to read the comments so I could believe this place was your own library....I have read every word you have written & find the whole design & the use of that warm wood & those stairs....I could go on. Interesting to read of the Kiwi author Margaret Mahy who I’m ashamed to say I have never heard of....I shall look her up.
I would live up there.....fave so I can find it & look again.
What an amazing collection and space. I, too, had to read the comments to believe that it was a private collection. What joy it must be to be up there surrounded by all those treasures!
@sunnygirl@leonbuys83@30pics4jackiesdiamond@jborrases@danette@tosee@jgpittenger@haskar@chejja -- thank you for your generous comments. As I've already stated, I've really struggled with how to capture the feel of this place. I'll keep working at it, though. Obviously, this photo was taken with a very wide angle lens and then had proportion correctly in LR which gives it a weird angle. It's actually a right angled square room. @jborrases -- so here's the real confession about the spot I chose to photograph from -- it hid more of the mess on the lower level than other angles! @30pics4jackiesdiamond Yes, there's a teapot, tea, and mugs out there. My husband had a tea cart next to his desk. Of course you should join @casablanca in coming to stay in this library -- we'll get out the Japanese futons I have and have a pajama party 24/7 until you get your fill of reading!
What a fabulous library! Incredible. I worked in a children's bookstore and ordered the theme books for teachers and special orders. I was present at author and illustrator book signings and went to the American Booksellers Association in Los Angeles. I was a total groupie and fortunate to meet several authors and illustrators over 5 years...so fun! This is the most amazing personal children's library I have ever seen! Fav!
@edorreandresen -- thank you! And yes, while it is a dreamy place, it's been SO HARD to photograph. Stay tuned -- more to come to fill out my 30 photos for April -->> May? June?
@gardenfolk -- which bookstore did you work in? I have gone to a few ABAs but mostly when they were in Chicago. I attend ALA every year. Do you have favorite authors and illustrators you met? Say, since you are a children's lit groupie, did you know that today we announced the 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award winners and that Jacqueline Woodson won for author category? Albertine for Illustrator (Swiss).
@jyokota I worked at Storytime Books in Citrus Heights, CA in the late 1980's when my son was 5 years old. Then I worked at the Teacher's Exchange as well, also owned by Lana and Fred Duncan. Louise told me to take a look at your photos because you were showing your children's library and we had a conversation about authors/illustrators I met, either on 365 or private email. I couldn't find it but off the top of my head, I met Michael Hague, Patricia Polacco, Jan Brett, Wendell Minor, Chris Van Allsburg, Tomie de Paola, Ashley Wolff, Denys Cazet, Frank Asch, Bruce Degen and Jose Aruego. I cannot remember them all and have given many of my book series to the grand boys already. I also sold quite a few of my books to collectors and teachers but kept some favorites to hand down. I started collecting some children's books as a teen and one of my first was Where the Wild Things Are in 1974. My son is now 36 years old so it has been a very long time since I worked at the children's book store but I have very fond memories and am still in touch with my old boss, Lana. :)
@gardenfolk -- thanks for sharing! I became a school librarian in the late1980s and the list of those you met (me, too!) certainly ranks among the most prolific and well regarded in the field. Years ago, my husband made a public television special sponsored by Children's Television Workshop and he interviewed Patricia Polacco as his guest. She thought he reminded her of her favorite soap opera actor so she sent him three original art pieces! (Funny story from a long time ago: Jose Aruego proposed to me and I said it must be because of the solar eclipse of that moment!) I have so so so many books and I have been madly sending them around the world for the last two years.
@jyokota How fantastic! Love the stories! I went to dinner with Patricia Polacco and she told us all about the big fire in Oakland that threatened her home and other stories. I danced with Michael Hague at the ABA convention/hotel after dinner. I had breakfast and dinner with Jan Brett...love her! And Jose Aruego signed and drew pictures in all his series of books for my son...such a nice man! I would have been a good librarian, I think. :) I thought all these people were rock stars and kept all their business cards for the longest time...haha! I also picked a theme and decorated the picture window at the bookstore every month, which was a lot of fun for me.
How many stories and things about you and your home I have learned tonight! The pictures of the library are absolutely wonderful. I wish I could come and visit you in Chicago. Who knows what the future will bring us. But you'll come to Bologna soon, I hope.
February 25th, 2021
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@ludwigsdiana -- My husband and I built this as a research library for our own work, but we have had more fellow adult researchers/collaborators in here than children, who are occasional visitors.
@newbank -- the architect called them "ships's stairs" and the builders even had to make a mock up of them, testing out curves and angle and construction and I still recall going up and down the test ones to give feedback for the final one. You have to always start with the right foot going up, and the left foot going down, and its like a ladder with each foot on a different side of the center part. Tricky to balance on, but I did not want the typical library rolling ladder because I am accident prone and would have broken bones falling off of it.
@casablanca I'm waiting for you to get lost in here, and I'll deliver cookies to go with the teapot and tea we always keep out there.
I would live up there.....fave so I can find it & look again.
fav with much envy
@jborrases -- so here's the real confession about the spot I chose to photograph from -- it hid more of the mess on the lower level than other angles!
@30pics4jackiesdiamond Yes, there's a teapot, tea, and mugs out there. My husband had a tea cart next to his desk. Of course you should join @casablanca in coming to stay in this library -- we'll get out the Japanese futons I have and have a pajama party 24/7 until you get your fill of reading!
@gardenfolk -- which bookstore did you work in? I have gone to a few ABAs but mostly when they were in Chicago. I attend ALA every year. Do you have favorite authors and illustrators you met? Say, since you are a children's lit groupie, did you know that today we announced the 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award winners and that Jacqueline Woodson won for author category? Albertine for Illustrator (Swiss).