JCS
@theotherprofessor
English professor at Illinois State University focusing on Victorian Studies, Children's & Young Adult Literature, Visual Culture, Comics & graphic novels, Literary Fairy Tales, and Lewis Carroll.
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays students, faculty, & staff from their swift completion of their appointed rounds. Despite serious storms that have affected Illinois State University & the surrounding community, best wishes to everyone for a successful first week of classes.
Happy to receive my contributor's copy of "The Portrayal of Animals in Disney Culture" edited by Kathy Merlock Jackson, Kathy Shepherd Stolley, & Mark I West (Bloomsbury Academic 2026). Plenty of good essays for those interested in Disney Studies & Animal Studies.
I had a great time offering the three-week online course "The King of All Wild Things: The Picture Books of Maurice Sendak" as part of the Roundtable program of the NYC's 92nd Street Y. Thanks to all the participants and the 92NY for making this course possible.
Looking for something pleasant to celebrate today? July Fourth, 1863 is the day that Lewis Carroll first told the oral version of the story which would become "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland "to Alice Pleasance Liddell & her sisters during a boating expedition.
"Do you always watch for the longest day of the year then miss it? I always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it." - F. Scott Fitzgerald "The Great Gatsby" Don't be like like Daisy Buchanan. Enjoy today and watch the sunset this evening.
Happy birthday to Margaret Wise Brown born 23 May, 1910. Brown is the author of the children's classic "Goodnight Moon," published in 1947 with illustrations by Clement Hurd.
Chris Ware helping to set up "Life is Complicated," the exhibition of his work at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum & Museum in Columbus, OH. "Life is Complicated" opens May 23, 2026 and continues until 3 Jan. 2027.
Happy 50th anniversary of the Dancing Star, "the nifty little literary magazine" published by the students at the Collins Living-Learn Center at Indiana University-Bloomington. Congratulations to the editors, staff, & contributors past, present, & future.
From Middle-earth just in time for Earth Day, "Tolkien and Children's Literature," the "Children's Literature Association Quarterly" special issue edited by Joseph Thomas has arrived. Good collection of essays for those interested in J.R.R. Tolkien's writing for children.
Every gambler knows The secret to survivn' Is known' what to throw away And known' what to keep. Cause every hands a winner. And every hands a loser. And the best that you can hope for is to die In your sleep. "The Gambler" written by Don Schlitz Schlitz broke more than even with his great songs.
"For the Snark was a Boojum, you see." Lewis Carroll published "The Hunting of the Snark" on 1 April 1876.
Many thanks to all those who attended the twin rallies held the the twin cities of Bloomington-Normal, IL. Great attendance and fantastic signs. Special thanks to the speakers, singers, and organizers.
"Life is Complicated" Chris Ware exhibition at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum in Columbus, Ohio on display May 22--29 Nov. 2026
Happy Birthday to the children's book illustrator Randolph Caldecott born 22 March 1846. Caldecott's illustration from "Hey-Diddle-Diddle" (1882) & Maurice Sendak's homage to Caldecott on"Horn Book" cover (1985). The annual Caldecott Medal is awarded to the most distinguished US picture book.
"Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Treasures from Mozarteum Foundation of Salzburg" exhbition at NYC's Morgan Library & Museum March 13-May 31, 2026 and companionexhibition "Sendak, Mozart, and The Magic Flute."