Where We Live

Sheyla's house with a rainbow outside.

TODAY'S ACTIVITY
Today, we worked on drawings of our houses to collage on the hills of a San Francisco. This sparked a great discussion among the children. They carefully described their houses to one another (color, shape, doors, windows, steps, etc...) "so you will know which one when you come over to play."

This synthesis of art, descriptive language and socialization really made my day.

Tomorrow, we will be painting lots of greens, blues and grays to cut out hills, water and roads for cars, buses, trains and cable cars.


Alexander's house, with "my brother Julian waiting for me."

TODAY'S STORY
This Is San Francisco, by M. Sasek. Trained as an architect, Miraslav Sasek produced a great number of "This Is..." books about various international cities for children. As a long-time collector, I have always marveled at the whimsical, yet uncannily accurate illustrations in each volume. The version I read was a first edition from 1962, which meant that a few of the things illustrated have since changed. Thankfully, ours is a city and community that values our proud history, and the F-Market streetcars, cable cars and much of our architecture remains intact, much to their joy and confidence.

Most of his "This is..." series has been republished. Having developed a cult following with graphic artists, good early examples commanded $80-140. I have no idea if my first editions are affected in value. But it doesn't matter, because we love reading them so much. Fortunately, my super-sleuthing-kindergarten-teaching wife found for me a few exceptionally rare titles that will never be re-published.