Marty Bruckner, author of I Love you With All My Butt! and illustrator behind Spaghetti Toes, shares some artwork inspired by summer.
When I asked my five-year-old daughter, Harper, what she was most looking forward to this summer, she said: “I can’t wait to show my brain the beautiful outdoors.”
And show it the beautiful outdoors we will.
Summer is an amazing time for a child. No school, getting to stay up later, sleeping in, and all the time for loved ones, fireworks and swimming pools. It’s a bonus for parents too! (Hear me out.) We get to enjoy these moments all over again through our children.
Before Harper turned three, I had been to a swimming pool exactly ZERO times in roughly the last 10 years. Last summer, I think we went at least 30 times. (She would have went all day every day if she could.) I had forgotten how fun they can be. And how fun running around the yard until the lightning bugs come out can be!
Today I’m sharing a few pieces of artwork inspired by the summer. I hope it’ll inspire your eyes and ears to be on the lookout for equally silly, wise, sweet and roll on the floor funny moments with your kids this season. So here’s to the hot air, the smell of burgers on the grill and to playing outside until Mom yells at us to come inside…
About the Book
We just can’t get enough of the funny stuff kids say. We share our own children’s gems with friends and family. If we’re smart, we write down these scraps of accidental poetry. And we turn them into books.
Martin Bruckner is an artist and father who not only recorded the sayings of his daughter, Harper, but used each as the inspiration for a work of art. After posting them on social media, Bruckner became the artist that other parents sought out to transform their own children’s funny words into artwork. Collected here are 100 mini-posters of pure delight, a marriage of the children’s surprising wisdom and the artist’s nimble style, plus the occasional backstory that amplifies both.
Every parent will recognize the spirited declarations of personality—“I’m training to be a wolf.” The endearing mangling of language—“Mommy, I don’t need your mouth to talk to me right now.” The creative mixing of metaphors—“I need a tissue to wipe my feelings.” Those precious, heartbreaking outbursts without guile or filters—“I only love you at the toy store.” Illustrated with sweetness and whimsy, each is a window into the irresistible innocence of childhood, even if the sentiment is “Dad, please wipe the bum of this beautiful princess.”
Buy the Book
Indiebound | B&N | Amazon | Workman
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