MOONBOW

The night I found out I had breast cancer I dreamt of rats smearing me in butter and rolling me in dough. It sounds terrifying but I almost expected it. Right before falling asleep, I read Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding (1908), where two rats capture a naughty kitten and try to turn him into pudding. But my subconscious was also at play. For a month leading up to that fateful day, I had little control over my body.

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If, like me, you’ve been a heavy internet user for decades, you’re probably feeling conflicted about the current state of digital culture. I wish I were eager to tackle new technologies and social media trends, but I’m not. There are only so many times the internet can burn you before you realize you’re in an unhealthy relationship; to think things will change is delusional. This is not a new phenomenon.

Children’s books and literary criticism have something in common: they’re both misunderstood. Unfortunately, this means my work is confounding to many people. When I say I’m attempting to write children’s books, I often get two responses: a sweet and slightly patronizing “That’s cute,” or “Oh, I have a great story idea for you!” Both are infuriating. But when I tell people I also write about children’s books, the response is worse—there is none.

If you enjoy reading Moonbow, please consider supporting my work by becoming a paid subscriber. You can read more articles about Margaret Wise Brown in the archive. My kids start summer break this week, which means I also start summer break. Calling it a “break” is ironic, it’s more like a mental marathon where I see how long I can juggle the relentless tasks of being a mom and freelance work before I breakdown. However, I’ve always had a complicated relationship with summer, even before I had kids.

Elizabeth Hardwick, the esteemed literary critic, essayist, and novelist, believed that criticism was a profoundly creative act. She saw it as an energetic and imaginative engagement with a text; a lively expression, rather than merely stating opinions and interpretations. “I think it’s valid and beautiful and just as hard to write.”1 She described her process as a kind of “possessed” or “hallucinatory” state where she'd discover unexpressed nuances and make mysterious connections.

Move over Vogue, Moonbow is here with the new must-have September issue! It’s full of fall’s most fashionable trends thanks to stylish children’s book characters. Whether it’s a propeller hat, yellow tights, corduroy pants, or a Garfield sweatshirt, there’s something for everyone. Just don’t forget the most important accessory: a book! (There’s a good chance your favorite best-dressed character didn’t make this list. I wanted to feature some lesser-known trendsetters.

No matter how old your kids are, reading picture books is a great way to beat summer boredom. When my kids (who are 8 and 11) complain there is nothing to do, I take out a stack of our favorite picture books. We love performing the characters and picking our favorite spreads, pointing out things we notice. It’s an opportunity for us to be present and connect over a shared love of stories.

Thrifting is in my blood. Collecting and selling old stuff is our family business. Both my dad and grandpa had successful side jobs selling books, T-shirts, toys, and records on eBay and Amazon. To them, a garage isn’t meant for cars; it’s for storing junk (“cool” junk). My grandpa’s garage was a strange and mysterious place. It was dark and smelled of dust and old sneakers.

Hip, hip, hooray! It’s a special day for Moonbow!Three years ago, I sent out Moonbow’s first official newsletter! It’s hard to believe that much time has passed. It still feels like I’m just getting started; there are so many things I’ve yet to explore and still hope to create. From the beginning, Moonbow has been much more than just a newsletter.