My Favorite Things

From Maira Kalman, the author of the bestsellers The Principles of Uncertainty and The Elements of Style, comes this beautiful pictorial and narrative exploration of material culture and the significance of objects in our lives, drawn from her personal artifacts, recollections, and selections from the collection of the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Museum. With more than fifty original paintings and featuring bestselling author and illustrator Maira Kalman’s signature handwritten prose, the illustrated book My Favorite Things is a poignant and witty meditation on the importance of both quotidian and unusual objects in our culture and private worlds. Created in the same colorful, engaging, and insightful style as her previous works, which have won her fans around the world, My Favorite Things features more than fifty objects from both the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Museum and Kalman’s personal collections: the pocket watch Abraham Lincoln was carrying when he was shot, original editions of Winnie-the-Pooh and Alice in Wonderland, a handkerchief in memoriam of Queen Victoria, an Ingo Maurer lamp, Rietveld’s Z chair, a pair of Toscanini’s pants, and photographs Kalman has taken of people walking towards and away from her. A pictorial index provides photographs of the actual objects and a short description of them, enhancing the reading experience. As it speaks to the universal experience and importance of beloved objects in our lives—big and small, famous and private—this unique work is a fresh way of examining and understanding our society, history, culture, and ourselves. This unique collection of art and storytelling includes: Personal Artifacts: Explore Maira Kalman’s private treasures, from a pair of Toscanini’s pants to photos of strangers, each rendered in her signature colorful style. Historical Treasures: Go beyond the museum case with intimate portraits of objects like the pocket watch Abraham Lincoln was carrying when he was shot and a handkerchief mourning Queen Victoria. Iconic Objects: Discover the stories behind fascinating items from the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Museum, including an Ingo Maurer lamp and Rietveld’s Z chair. Signature Artwork and Prose: Enjoy more than fifty original paintings and Kalman’s witty, poignant handwritten text that brings each object’s story to life.