This just came in the mail and upon opening I had to hold my breath. This small entirely letterpressed(!!!) book, that comes in a little handmade box is part of the San Francisco Center for the Book’s Small Plates series. Besides being beautifully designed and illustrated it tells an informative true story about scary rabbitpox. A quote from the book: “American scientists have engineered an extra-deadly form of mousepox that kills all mice, even those that have been vaccinated, and much the same result has been accomplished with cowpox and rabbitpox.” Harper’s Magazine. The rest of the book pulls quotes from other places about this fatal disease and the more common smallpox for which nobody is vaccinated for anymore! The book is printed in two colors and the illustrations thoughtfully mimic info-graphics while still being adorable. You can learn more about Allison Weiner’s book, plus check out the rest of her fantastic portfolio, here.

© Julia Rothman 2007