Maurice Sendak, children’s book author and illustrator, died today at the age of 83.

My name is Max. I think it’s one of the greatest names ever and I’ve got Maurice Sendak to thank for that. When my mom was pregnant with me, my dad gave her a copy of Where the Wild Things Are starring Max. It was, naturally, one of the first books ever read to me and I could read it aloud to myself long before I understood letters.

Fresh Air dedicated their whole show to Maurice Sendak today, pulling excerpts from the four interviews Terry Gross recorded with him since 1986. I highly recommend a listen. At one point she asked him to share some of his favorite comments from readers that he’d gotten over his long writing career. His reply:

Oh, there are so many. Can I give you just one that I really like? It was from a little boy. He sent me a charming card with a little drawing. I loved it. I answer all my children’s letters—sometimes very hastily—but this one I lingered over. I sent him a postcard and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, “Dear Jim, I loved your card.” Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, “Jim loved your card so much he ate it.” That to me was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received. He didn’t care that it was an original drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.

Check out the kind of envelope kids would get in response to fan mail:

Pretty amazing. We’d eat it, too. Rest in peace, Maurice Sendak.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

:(

My sister tells me it’s National Grammar Day and I say, every day should be grammar day! I am a grammar geek — my favorite part of middle school english classes was diagramming sentences. It all made so much sense when broken down. Nevertheless, grammar can be tricky and frustrating, but there are clear rules, so it’s all so easy to look up. Here is my favorite single-link grammar reference. And of course, theoatmeal.com’s grammar comics are always spot on.

That vs which is the one about which I am rarely confident and regularly double check. I also go out of my way not to end a sentence in a preposition. What are your grammar crusades and pet peeves?

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

‘Tis the season to be thankful, and this year we feel great about supporting Writers in the Schools, an organization that matches professional writers with students at low-income public schools in order to help children develop their writing skills. Literacy is a gift that keeps on giving; thank you to our many clients and colleagues who give this gift all year round.

All the best from your Waxcreative Design team.

Photo by Ros Edmonds of WaxDad Steve Cotler speaking about writing fiction to fourth and fifth graders.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Pantone

We love it!

And I especially love all the ways Pantone has marketed their color swatches. Even if you’re not in the business of printing with Pantone swatches, you can enjoy Tangerine Tango as a mug (a Pantone mug in my friend’s favorite color is a go-to present for me), or a messenger bag. Pantone makes cool iPhone cases, and even makes eyewear and Visa cards. Such clean style and vibrant colors… I’m addicted, frankly. Even Emily, who never makes impulse purchases (I’m not even kidding!–that is enviable will power) picked up a box of Pantone note cards after less than five seconds of seeing it on the store shelf.

This might have come off like a press release, but Pantone is awesome and ’tis the season to buy awesome things.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Notice how the whole logo doesn’t need to be seen — we should all be that visually successful one day.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

We think this is amazing. Check out more Netflix envelope art here!

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

The thoughts of the whole Wax staff go out to our brave men and women in uniform, those currently serving, and those who’ve completed tours (with a special shout out to our own USMC Capt. Matt Pottinger — you rock!)… and of course to all the military families who hold the home front together, and finally (and solemnly) to those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.

To all of you over the last 200+ years, thank you. Here’s to the home of the free and the land of the brave. It’s an honor to live here.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

When Reiss finally did cough itself back online, the CSS was wonky and the load time excessive with time outs beating out successful loads. You can be sure that a lot of money is flying from all over High Street to high tech this week on new servers and better tech support — no one wants to be the next Reiss.

Someone over at Reiss is sweating hard right now. On the day that a new iPhone is released you can bet your bottom dollar that a small army of techs are babysitting Apple’s servers. So on a day that the entire British fashion world knows that Kate Middleton would be trotting out something spectacular (”Maybe ours” was clearly the wish of every High Street house), why techs aren’t bolstering resources and literally cuddling servers is beyond me. Reminds me of when our server went down on Valentine’s Day (never again).

Do not get caught with your site down.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Read an excerpt from Eloisa’s RITA finaling book. Or, check out Eloisa’s Inside Take on the book.

Read an excerpt from Nicola’s RITA finaling book. Or, take a tour behind the book.

Read an excerpt from Maya’s RITA finaling book. Or, find out more about this exciting new series.

Read an excerpt from CJ’s RITA finaling book. Or, read her letter to readers.

Four fabulous books, four fabulous authors. We feel privileged to work with you on a regular basis.

©2012 Waxcreative Design Blog. All Rights Reserved.