This book called out to me from a shelf in the Literary Essays section of the used book floor in the Brookline Booksmith.  It’s a small format book but filled with wisdom and wonderful drawings.

Gaiman is the author of more than 30 books and graphic novels for both adults and children, having won the Carnegie and Newbury Medals for his book ‘The Graveyard Book’.  Known primarily for his comic books, graphic works, TV and movie adaptations, Gaiman teaches at Bard and lives in both Menomenie, WI and Cambridge (Yea! another literary neighbor).  Riddell is another Brit who has won numerous awards as an illustrator.

Their collaboration is quite wonderful as Riddell translates Gaiman’s words into line drawings that provide a whole other dimension.  From the masked terrorist banning books to the old codger with binoculars and a rule book, the drawings add the visual context to Gaiman’s words in support of reading, creating, individualism, and his philosophy that is perhaps best summed up in his words: “Life is sometimes hard. Things go wrong, in life and in love and in business and in friendship and in health and in all the other ways that life can go wrong.  And when things get tough MAKE GOOD ART.”  

The book is full of these useful aphorisms and advice. I’m going to give my copy of the book to my 9 year old grandson who shows talent as an artist and is an avid reader.  In some ways, it feels like this book was meant for him and I was meant to find it in the used book section in Brookline.  If you write, draw, paint, weave or make any other art, you will enjoy the short time it takes to read this book, as well as enjoy the wonderful illustrations.  A great find.