My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #977

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #977 from the issue of February 2, 2026, a couple walking on the beach spots a fish half out of water reading a book. The woman speaks. The drawing is by P. C. Vey.

"The poor thing can't wait to evolve legs."

These captions were all washed up:

"I was looking for a good beach read."
"Because otherwise the ink would run."
"Why can't WE find the time to read?"
"But what if they ALL read Isaac Walton?"
"Isn't that cute? He's reading Kilgore Trout."
"I could never manage such small type."
"It's probably just some fish story."

February 8, 2026 Update:  The Finalists

February 28, 2026 Update:  I voted for the caption from Charleston, which is a much better version of my own.

March 6, 2026 Update:  The Winner

05194

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #892

Tell me a story about The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #892 from the issue of April 8, 2024. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by P. C. Vey.

"Five more minutes and I'll take you for a fly."

These captions were unrealistic:

"Calm down—we'll get to Sendak."
"But I'm tired of fantasy and science fiction."

April 27, 2024 Update:  The Finalists

May 5, 2024 Update:  I voted for the caption from Burlington.

May 12, 2024 Update:  The Winner

04611

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #784

Sit by the fireplace and enjoy my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #784—if you can. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by P. C. Vey.

"Is there something other than a good book you'd like to curl up with?"

These captions didn't reach far enough:

"Oh, not Genesis again."
"My money's on Slytherin."

January 1, 2022 Update:  The Finalists

January 15, 2022 Update:  I voted for the caption from Burlington.

January 17, 2021 Update:  The Winner

03826

My Entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for Summer 2021

God wearing a Speedo and shades? Moment magazine's Cartoon Caption Contest for Summer 2021 takes us away to a divine day at the beach. A diminutive angel appears before God, who is sunbathing with a book. My twenty-four entries are shown below. The relaxed drawing is by Benjamin Schwartz.

"If you know I'm everywhere, why do you come HERE?"
"You know I'm omnipresent, yet you always seek Me here."
"Are you big enough to fetch a nice cold Dr. Brown's?"
"Of course I can recommend a good book."
"What have they done to themselves this time?"
"You know perfectly well what I do on the seventh day."
"Just some light reading until the new Moment comes out."
"It's lonely at the top. Let's keep it that way."
"Lots of folks down here are reading Lucifer."
"You can't just come here every time you forget the wi-fi password."
"The wiser angels call it a chaise longue."
"You're blocking."
"Then why am I paying for your harp lessons?"
"This is why I created New Jersey."
"Ah, you're here to judge the swimsuit competition."
"Then you'll just have to cancel that interview with Moment."
"Go ahead, guess how many grains of sand."
"Shouldn't you be somewhere dancing on the head of a pin?"
"And don't come back without Dylan tickets."
"Your agent misled you. I'm not looking for new Psalms."
"I'd like a bagel of biblical proportions."
"A drachma for your thoughts?"
"You misunderstood. I never said bialys were unholy."
"If there were a multiverse, I'd know a lot more about it than Marvel."

October 15, 2021 Update:  The Finalists

I voted for the caption from Thousand Oaks.

November 21, 2021 Update:  The Winner

03707

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #89

"This week’s cartoon of two people reading books comes from Jeremy Nguyen." Thank you, Cartoon Collections, for that succinct and helpful explanation of this cartoon. Meanwhile the image file bears an intriguing name, or rather string of words: softcover, books, furniture, apartment, misnomer, hardcover, chair. What do you suppose the misnomer could be? I have no idea. My three misnomer-free entries are shown here.

"Would you mind standing? I want to read your chair."
"Next time, let's make the seat cushions softcover."
"I just don't see why we need a bookcase."

September 3, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Jeremy Nguyen

Books

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

All the Collected Cartoon Caption Contests

Attempted Bloggery's Pageturner of an Index

03362

John Norment: Grinning and Bearing It

Contributor Jerome Wrinkle has scanned the original art by cartoonist John Norment (1911-1988) that appeared in an issue of the New York Times Book Review nearly seven decades ago. The cartoon purports to explain the unusual demographics of a bestselling book. The artist was paid $50 for his work on February 17, 1951. Jerome writes:

The Book Review was an exclusive sale—if I remember correctly, they only published one cartoon in each issue, on the second page. Lots of competition for that spot.

"In spite of the fact that very few people are buying it, it's still a best seller."
John Norment
Original art
The New York Times Book Review, c. February 1951

Scan by Jerome Wrinkle

Verso
Stamp indicates that artist John Norment was paid $50 on Saturday, February 17, 1951

Scan by Jerome Wrinkle

Note:  My thanks to Jerome Wrinkle for kindly contributing the scans in today's post. More is on the way.

I am intrigued to learn that the widely-read Times Book Review published a weekly cartoon for years. Does anyone today possess an archive of these? Please get in touch. I am particularly keen to see the issue in which this cartoon appeared.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

John Norment

Jerome Wrinkle

Bears

Books

Bookstores

The New York Times Book Review

Attempted Bloggery's Bookish Index

02806

Roz Chast for the National Book Festival

Tomorrow in Washington:

Roz Chast, Library of Congress, National Book Festival, September 2, 2017

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Roz Chast

Posters

Attempted Bloggery's Rather Bookish Index

02291

Bob Staake: Stay Up With a Good Book!

Posters supporting books and literacy help to ensure a new generation of readers.Bob Staake's delightful poster for the 2014 National Book Festival urges us to "Stay up with a good book!" The festival was held under the auspices of the Library of Congress. The President and First Lady were honorary chairs. Reasonably-priced copies of the poster are available on eBay.

Bob Staake, Library of Congress, National Book Festival, August 30, 2014

Bob Staake
eBay Listing ended May 25, 2017

http://www.ebay.com/itm/33-1-2-X-19-inches-Library-of-Congress-National-Book-Festival-2014-Bob-Staake-/282447612099?hash=item41c33088c3%3Ag%3Ax4QAAOSwyQtVuuqd&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Bob Staake
eBay Item Description

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Bob Staake

Posters

Barack Obama

Attempted Bloggery's Insomniac Index

02213

Edward Koren for Books & Co.

The eyes have it! Edward Koren illustrates a poster for the defunct Books & Co.

Edward Koren, Books & Co. poster

Edward Koren's signature

The pushpin does not go through the paper.

eBay Listing Ended November 12, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOOKS-AND-CO-ED-KOREN-ILLUSTRATED-POSTER-/221935029671?hash=item33ac5bcda7%3Ag%3Ag4gAAOSwHnFVuobq&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

eBay Item Description

Note:  This blog has lots of other posters and lots of artwork by Edward Koren.

01699

National Library Week: Peter Max

Whitney Darrow's poster for National Library Week in 1969 was aimed at the youngest readers. For the slightly older crowd, there was a psychedelic poster by Peter Max. The book at the bottom of the poster opens countless new vistas--including Mount Fuji--while the text once again reads, "Be all you can be. Read."

Peter Max, Poster for National Library Week 1969

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/26333847_national-library-week-posters-1-by-peter-max

Note:  Why not check out my earlier blog posts about Peter Max, National Library Week, and posters?

01493

National Library Week: Whitney Darrow, Jr.

The Boeing 747 underwent its first flight in February of 1969 and entered commercial service the following year. Its distinctive four-engine design may have inspired Whitney Darrow, Jr. in his poster design for National Library Week 1969. An open book spans the jet's wings with a young boy seated comfortably on its pages. The text reads, "Be all you can be. Read."

Whitney Darrow, Jr., Poster for National Library Week 1969

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/26333847_national-library-week-posters-1-by-peter-max

Note:  It's National Library Week. See all the blog posts your librarian won't show you.

There's a lot more on Whitney Darrow, Jr. as well.

Or perhaps you'd like to see some poster art?

01492

Arthur Rackham: The Ingoldsby Legends

The Ingoldsby Legends is obscure now but was popular in the 19th century. Thomas Ingoldsby was the pen name of the Reverend Rchard Harris Barham. Arthur Rackham's 1898 illustration for the spine of the book features a crescent moon, a witch flying on her broomstick, and some bats which must appear on the lower back cover. The original artwork is offered by Chris Beetles of London.

http://www.chrisbeetles.com/gallery/fairy-fantasy/ingoldsby-legends-witch-flight.html

http://poulwebb.blogspot.com/2013/07/arthur-rackham-part-1.html

Note:  Previous posts here on Attempted Bloggery about Arthur Rackham contain some of the most gorgeous illustration artwork I have found. Don't just take my word for it. See for yourself here.

I also have more ghoulish Halloween posts here.

The Boston Red Sox have won the World Series. All my classic baseball posts are here.

0931

From the Library of Frank Cho

For National Library Week, here is Frank Cho's Liberty Meadows Sunday strip which was reprinted on March 11, 2012.

Frank Cho, Liberty Meadows, reprinted March 11, 2012

0297