Letter from Maine

My trip to Maine is "in pursuit" of the spirit of Robert McCloskey, one of the most honored artists in picture-book history, and the first person to "repeat" his Caldecott win (with a second Caldecott).

McCloskey immortalized his own daughter, Sal, in an iconic book, "Blueberries for Sal." This is about a little girl who gets distracted on a "blueberry mission," and who briefly becomes the daughter of a large bear. Sal does whatever the hell she wants, and at times, her body seems to be independent from her mind. (The blueberries disappear not because she is consciously eating all of them, but because her hand fails to understand that she is holding a large clump, instead of one single berry. Well, that's the defendant's claim....)

After a standout run, McCloskey lost a few of his marbles and retreated from the world. But his daughter, Sal, still exists; she lives on a Maine island that just recently acquired Wi-Fi. She prefers to use a little radio for contact with "the world." If someone needs a lawyer, a Maine resident might say, "You should reach out to Sal....You know, Blueberries for Sal....?"

On this trip, I've purchased "Time of Wonder." But I also have my eyes peeled for "One Morning in Maine," and for "Lentil," about a little boy who gladdens crusty hearts with his harmonica.

And yet--above all else--I recommend "Blueberries for Sal."

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