Sign language

Over 125 kids from various areas of Boston city worked with artist Caleb Neelon to help create his latest project "Signs and Symbols" now on display at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. The amazing mosaic was created from artwork made by children during after-school programs and community organizations led by Caleb exploring text and it's applications throughout history. My friend Laura shared this with me, noting that this woulda "blown her mind" when she was younger should she have had the opportunity to express her love for words this way. 

Listen to the mustn'ts child

I am among the cult following for Shel Silverstein's witty, loving and soulful musings but was very surprised to learn what an influential songwriter he's been! Big time, we're talking for legends like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Bobby Bare etc etc. The album Twistable, Turnable Man is due out June 8th and produced by Bobby Bare Sr. and Bobby Bare Jr. It looks over the top rad, featuring a fancy line-up of artists paying tribute to the songs of Silverstein. Check out the amazingness, 15 reasons to make a fuss at your local record store .....

1. Lullabys, Legends and Lies (My Morning Jacket)

2. The Twistable, Turnable Man Returns (Andrew Bird)

3. This Guitar Is For Sale (John Prine)

4. The Unicorn (Dr. Dog)

5. The Winner (Kris Kristofferson)

6. Queen of the Silver Dollar (Sarah Jarosz with Black Prairie)

7. Daddy What If (Bobby Bare, Jr. with Isabella Bare)

8. The Cover of the Rolling Stone (Black Francis with Joey Santiago)

9. Sylvia's Mother (The Boxmasters)

10. Me and Jimmie Rodgers (Ray Price)

11. A Boy Named Sue (Todd Snider)

12. The Ballad of Lucy Jordan (Lucinda Williams)

13. The Living Legend (Bobby Bare)

14. The Giving Tree (Nanci Griffith)

15. 26 Second Song (My Morning Jacket)

Read it and Weep

One of my favorite treats in my Google reader roster is Dallas Clayton's blog. His lovely musings are simple treasures that make me happy. I was very pleased to discover a new project of his, An Awesome Book. According to Clayton "it's for kids but also for adults and has caused 8 out of 20 readers to cry… in a good way." The book has been released through The Awesome World Foundation which was formed in an effort to promote children’s literacy by encouraging kids to dream and dream often.  To help make this dream a reality, the foundation's goal is to donate one book for every copy of An Awesome Book sold by Awesome World llc. See it to beleive it.

Awesome Book Tour from Dallas Clayton on Vimeo.

You can also purchase some super neat limited edition kids t-shirts through the Awesome World Store inspired by fonts and characters in An Awesome Book.

 Alphabet T-shirt

Unicorn Kids T-shirt