Hello. My name is Marcel.

Oh! The only thing more joyful than watching Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is having a copy of his new children’s book. The independent creator~couple Jenny Slate + Dean Fleischer-Camp are my heros.

Jenny is the perfectly cute voice + Dean is the genius filmmaker. Together they make Marcel. Look at him!

The picture book has a very sweet + vibrant style. Their unique idea for using photorealistic oil paintings totally brings Marcel to life. Amazing artwork by Amy Lind!

I finally downloaded the app + was of course, delighted to find these funny, sketchy animations. Then I just pressed play + listened to the best bedtime story ever!

~Joy

I Want My Hat Back

Jon Klassen is an artist I have always admired, I just didn’t know it.

Today I accidentally stumbled upon his latest project – a children’s book coming out this fall called “I Want My Hat Back.”  Enjoy the adorable trailer here:

The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back.  Yep, I can just tell this story is going to keep me on the edge of my seat.

I originally found Klassen on my favorite greeting card site.  If I’ve ever sent you real mail, chances are it was a Red Cap Cards greeting card.  I love em, can’t get enough.  Look!  I got this one for my husband’s 30th birthday:

I got the card because it’s obviously the best.  Turns out it’s a Jon Klassen card.

He’s also responsible for the visual development drawings for Coraline.

Klassen was also the designer behind U2′s “I’ll go crazy if I don’t go crazy tonight” video, directed by David O’Reilly (although the character designs were David’s).

Now that I know the artist behind so many of my favorites, “I Want My Hat Back” is at the top of my list of Things I Want to Buy For Your Kids.

Available for pre-order here.  I can’t wait for fall!

Noelle