Carson Ellis

[Various flyers illustrated by Carson Ellis. Softcover version of The Mysterious Benedict Society. Written by Trenton Lee Stewart and illustrated by Carson Ellis. Published by Little, Brown and Company.]

If you compared the weather to an artist, today would be a Carson Ellis day in San Diego. The sky looks moody and gray with a lot of shapes and shadows. There are a lot of gray tones overshadowing everything. And it's the kind of day where I just want to sit at a cafe and read and read and read with some chocolate flavored drink in a large dusty rose mug. I keep seeing The Mysterious Benedict Society and keep wanting to buy it and hold it and read it because 1) the description sounds wonderfully weird:

Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children-two boys and two girls-succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help... [From LB-Kids]

and 2) It's a Carson Ellis cover. And it's that kind of day where I just want to keep looking at Carson Ellis' work. Hope everyone is having a great start to Memorial Day Weekend. =)