I think one of the most important attitudes for an artist is to keep a childlike sense of wonder about the world. Yes, there is sadness, cruelty and tragedy all around us but isn't that the purpose of art? -to create a way to transcend the ugly, even when it highlights it? I love this book. It was also a favorite of my kids.

When everything seems hopeless I'll think of the cover art and smile. Like the old joke of two children where one was a pessimist and the other an optimist. The pessimistic child was put in a room full of toys; hours later he was sad because none of the toys were his. The optimistic child was put in a room full of horse manure; hours later instead of being miserable the child was happily digging and exploring. When asked how he could be lighthearted? -the child said "with all this horse manure, there got to be a pony here somewhere".

 I am a cautious pessimist at heart but beauty tends to spring from optimism -and life without beauty sucks.