Kaye Webb and Puffin books

I have just read So much to tell you which is the biography of Kaye Webb, written by Valerie Grove to celebrate 70 years of Puffin Books. I found it interesting, readable, informative, inspiring, and sad.

Kaye was the influential editor and driving force behind Puffin Books during the "golden age" of children's literature in the UK in the 1960s / 1970s, establishing the Puffin Club, Puffin Post as well as Puffin holidays and events which influenced thousands of children's reading and writing lives, and participation in the children's literature community...

Kaye was married three times, her third husband was artist Ronald Searle (of St Trinian's fame), survivor of Changi... Kaye said that "My business life has worked out beautifully. My private life has been the reverse."

Here are a couple of reviews :
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=So_Much_To_Tell_by_Valerie_Grove
http://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/so-much-to-tell-by-valerie-grove/

Also recently published is Puffin by Design - 70 Years of Imagination (1940 - 2010)

Here is a synopsis from the Penguin website, including a short video about shooting the cover
http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141326146,00.html

and here is Kate De Goldi talking about it with Kim Hill :

sat-20100814-1145-Childrens_Books_with_Kate_De_Goldi_Puffins-048.mp3

The book which Kate refers to is The child that books built by Francis Spufford.

Word art and book design

This is a wonderful UK blog/website I came across which is about the art and design and look of words - check out the messages/words made in clouds, concrete, coins, on tree trunks, in signs, buildings, pavements.… It is worth waiting for the pictures to download http://www.ministryoftype.co.uk/words/category/C12/
"The Ministry of Type is a weblog by me, Aegir Hallmundur, about type, typography, lettering, calligraphy and other related things that inspire me."

While on the subject of word as art, NZ artist / calligrapher / book designer Sarah Maxey has a website with a scrolling parade of her art work http://www.sarahmaxey.co.nz/
Kate De Goldi chose Sarah to design the cover for her brilliant, award-winning book The 10 PM Question.