There isn’t a better children’s bookstore in New York than Books of Wonder (which also has an online store) where along with the regular selection you can buy out of print books and also original children’s book art. That’s where I picked up this older Maira Kalman kid’s book Chicken Soup, Boots. It’s a story told from the point of view of a little boy about people he knows and all the different jobs they have: Mr. Romeo Valentine the barber, Dr. Mel Smellman the doctor of Smellology, and Mr. James Bell the doorman, for example. It’s written as one long train of thought with funny anecdotes about each character. The back flap of the book has a fake resume for Maira with her objective- “To pursue a career in the growing field of donut product marketing.” If you don’t know Maira’s paintings from her many New Yorker covers, The Elements of Style she illustrated, or the line of textiles she made for Kate Spade, you are missing out. Check out her website to see much more or pick up one of her books. You won’t regret it and neither will your kid(or future kid.)

© Julia Rothman 2007