Story Time Rebel

When you work in publishing, like both my husband and I do, your children get significant exposure to books and reading. Bedtime stories are a part of the bedtime routine from the moment you start a bedtime routine. Your children enjoy cuddling in with you, and make sweet comments about the art. They understand from an early age, that reading is a quiet, intimate activity. You know that this doesn't necessarily mean they will love reading as much as you do, but it never occurs to you that your child will become a story time rebel.

The story time rebel. You know the type. The child who can't sit nicely on the rug, but must instead jump from spot to spot. The child who likes to make animal noises to go along with the picture. Or, when particularly engaged and excited, the child who is inclined to run up and comment on every spread of the book. Every single one.

As a parent of the rebel, you find yourself apologizing to others. You try to make deals with the rebel: sit nicely tonight and you'll get two Tic Tacs at home. You might try threats: If you can't listen nicely, we'll just go home. (This one doesn't work because you enjoy being at story time just as much as she does, and you don't want to leave before the project.) But finally, you just try to convince yourself that there are worse things than a three-year-old who is having a one-girl party over the thrill of the library and books and reading. And secretly, deep down inside, you love the chaos she creates.

The rebel shows off one of her story time projects. 

A Favorite Returns for Foodie Friday

As you may have heard, people at our office are a little obsessed with food. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I plan many trips around what I will eat and where I will eat it. ("What can I eat today?" may or may not be my unofficial motto.) Our love of food is what led our enterprising art director Bob Lentz to  create the concept of Thursday lunch. Thursday lunch is more than just a lunch. It's more than just a weekday. It's a symbol. It's an idea. Any day of the week can carry the mantle of Thursday lunch. (It's sort of like Batman now that I think about it.) Which is why Thursday lunch is making a special guest appearance on Friday this week.  

The call of Thursday lunch is so strong that it can even bring back old friends. Case in point, today's Thursday lunch called all the way downtown and brought back Emily Harris, one of our former designers and the woman behind Katie Woo's distinctive style. Emily was nice enough to drive out to meet us at our favorite Thursday lunch haunt, The Chalet, for their much-talked-about (but rarely seen) fish tacos. Tacos that are so good they require multiple trips to enjoy. (Personally, I've been twice this week, and that's the low end of the spectrum.) As one of my last Thursday lunch's before relocating to Chicago next week, this was definitely a way to go out on top.

Wednesday—er, Thursday Comix!

We’re a day late on this one—and it’s all my fault. I was up late last night watching The Dark Knight Rises at the IMAX!

…Okay, I lied—I actually saw it Tuesday night. And it was awesome. What a great end to a terrific series of movies. Jen Glidden did a great write-up about our Dark Knight chapter books over on the Capstone Connect blog last week—make sure to check it out!

Actually… the real reason this post is late is because I just got back from Comic Con this past Monday!

…Okay, I lied—it was two Mondays ago. It was my first time there and I’m still a little sick from the stress of it all. It was sort of like being back in high school, except everyone’s dressed up like their favorite superheroes. And you’re inside a huge refrigerator. And parents make their 4-year-olds pose with scantily clad booth models. And the PA announcer constantly reminds you that running in the halls is bad. (Did I mention it was really cold?)

…But you know what? I had a really great time there. I’ve been a comics reader for decades now (two, in fact!), so being immersed in that kind of atmosphere—despite all the… quirks—was an amazing experience. I can’t wait to go back next year!

…And that’s no lie!

Sean Tulien

Editor

Foodie Friday: Comic Con Edition

This week we caught up with Art Director Bob Lentz, recently returned from San Diego Comic Con. If there are two things Bob loves, its comics and food. So why not combine them in a special Foodie Friday interview? 

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Q. What was the best meal you had at Comic-Con?A. Sushi. It doesn't get much fresher than on the coast. However, the Korean BBQ street tacos I ate were equally as good. Loaded with spicy beef and kimchi, they were delicious. The cuisine in San Diego is varied, but you can never go wrong with tacos of any kind. Actually, you can never go wrong with tacos anywhere. In the world. Ever.

Q. According to your expertise, what do superheros like to eat?
A. Hostess Snack Cakes. Back in the 70s and 80s, comic books would always run these little comic strip advertisements of Spider-Man or Batman saving a group of kids and then they'd all enjoy a Twinkie or a Ho-Ho together. The strangest one I ever saw was I believe the Hulk or Spidey enjoying a Hostess Fruit Pie with Meatloaf (yes, THAT Meatloaf) after his concert. For real. You can't make it up.

Q. If Comic-Con 2012 was food, what food would it be and why?
A. Hmm. The easy answer would be goulash, because Comic-Con is a little bit of everything that popular culture has to offer, all blended into a very large 9x13 casserole dish. But if you want the hard facts, I would say that Nacho Cheese Doritos + Mountain Dew + Slim Jims + donuts + Skittles + frozen pizza + Taco Bell + coffee = Comic-Con.

Q. What snack will you feast on while watching The Dark Knight Rises this weekend?
Whatever my wife smuggles into the theater. My money is on Junior Mints.

Q. All food aside, could you sum up your experience in San Diego in 150 words or less?
A. How about 10 PHOTOS or less?

Kids are mesmerized by Capstone's books…




…but, of course, choosy big sisters, parents, and librarians already know that!



And all of them were smitten by our EXCLUSIVE 24-book box set of DC Super-Pets hardcovers, which was given away by prize drawing on Sunday…!

Even Eisner-winners Art Baltazar (Tiny Titans and DC Super-Pets, left) and Franco (Tiny Titans, right), and new Eisner-winner James Kochalka (Dragon Puncher Island, center) stopped by for a chance to win!



Best of all, our booth became a haven for book-lovers of all types…




The Force was with this X-Wing pilot librarian!




Jumpin' gigawatts! It's Doc Brown from "Back to the Future!"




Atten-hut! This green army figure was hoping for more military books!




And finally, worlds collided when the Dark Knight of today met up with the Batman and Robin of the 1960s for story time (if you look closely, you'll see they're reading the Batcow book…)!



Until next time, "stay classy, San Diego!"

Bob Lentz
Art Director

Foodie Friday: Baking with Kids

As any parent knows, kids LOVE to help in the kitchen. While their "help" usually makes everything take a lot longer and creates a huge mess, it also creates lasting memories. To add to the fun, be sure to read Henry Helps Make Cookies. There really isn't anything better than milk, cookies, and a good book.

It's Comic-Con 2012!

Capstone's booth is ready and our crew of comic-lovers can't wait to talk comics. If you're lucky enough to be part of the Comic-Con craziness, be sure to drop by!

A Pinterest Connection

Unlike everyone else, I have not invested any time in Pinterest yet. However, I recently got this email from my cousin (a kindergarten teacher) and think I might need to make some time for it:


I was just making my list of new books to buy for next year and  the one on the top of my list is Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker. It is pinned ALL OVER Pinterest on all the teacher boards. 


It's always nice to know that a book you wrote or edited is relevant in the classroom. In fact, it's just nice to know that someone else has read it! So I  might just embrace this Pinterest thing. Clearly people know what they are talking about!:)  

Wednesday Comix!

Happy Fourth of July, comic book lovers! Hope it's SUPER! (Badum-CHING)

Wednesday Comix will return next week with LIVE updates from booth #1316 at San Diego Comic Con!!