Martin Brückner

You have probably heard the expression, "Out of the mouths of babes" and this is a great book to reinforce that point. I wish I had written down some of the things my grandson said, because they would have made great fodder for this book. When Martin Bruckner started illustrating the comments his daughter made, he put together a book for his wife. She loved it and convinced him to illustrate sayings for other parents. Starting an Etsy account for him, he quickly had more than enough to put together this book. The comments are adorable and very logical for children. I enjoyed seeing how he illustrated them and what the various parents had submitted for illustrating. A very cute book that would be a perfect gift for a baby shower gift or to new parents. The publisher generously provided a copy of this book via Netgalley.
… (mer)

In Early American Cartographies, editor Martin Brückner has gathered together a baker’s dozen of interdisciplinary articles designed to examine “a cartographic history that is anchored in the Americas” (p. 6), i.e. not just treat the exploration, geographies, and maps of the New World as adjuncts of European cartography. Fully ensconced in tradition of the “cartographic turn” pioneered by J. B. Harley and his cohorts, these essays embrace “alternate notions of cartography” (p. 6) and treat “maps as polyvalent genetic texts” (p. 7). Thus there are discussions of allegorical maps, an Amerindian star chart, plans in British magazines, and even the Herman Melville novella Benito Cereno.

Early American Cartographies is a dense tome and, despite Brückner’s attempt to provide an overarching theme connecting them all in his introduction, the articles here are rather far-ranging in time, geography, and scope, and the writers all have divergent topics, styles, and methodologies. Still, Early American Cartographies, while not always fulfilling Brückner’s promise to focus on “a cartographic history that is anchored in the Americas” (some essays describe a transatlantic world rather than a simply American one), will interest specialists and generalists alike and provide new ways of looking at aspects of the cartographic encounter in the New World.… (mer)

We all think about writing down the silly things that our kids say and putting them in a book. Well, Martin Bruckner did just that. This is a book full of silly, profound, heartfelt and lovable quotes from his children accompanied by wonderful artwork. One of my favorite quotes is "Volcanoes are the Earth's butt, that's how the Earth gets the gas out." This also has a wonderfully humorous and cute picture with it. Many of the quotes and artwork would make great prints to hang up, I know I would love a copy of "I wear this boa when I'm mad!" Some would also be super cute to frame and place in a child's room such as "I love you as big as a T-Rex." Overall, magnificent kidisms with beautiful artwork.

​This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.… (mer)