Little 1

I can't be the only adgrunt who's procreated, so humor me here for a sec while I review a childrens book for wee little adgrunts-to-be. Did you know that Ann Rand wrote children's books, four of which were illustrated by her husband Paul? Start your little artist off right with some well designed classics I say.

In Little 1 we learn basic addition by following the number one around, in rhyming rhythmic verse no less. Don't worry, it might be lonely being the Little 1 but it has a happy ending - and great artwork.

Little 1 looked like a stick

Inventing Desire: Inside Chiat/Day : The Hottest Shop, the Coolest Players, the Big Business of Advertising

Dick Sittig took his girlfriend to Cannes in late June for the International Advertising Film Festival - a pleasant enough break from the Nissan Fantasy campaign, particularly since the Energizer Bunny campaign Sittig had devised was favored to win the Grand Prix over almost two thousand other entries. Sittig was ready to celebrate. He checked into a $700-a-night hotel room, ate his share of cracked lobster claws, and waited for the official good news.

Get Smashed!: The Staggering Story of the Men Who Made the Adverts that Changed Our Lives

For those who are already pining for next season of Mad Men, why don't you dive head first into the golden years of UK advertising, the 60's, 70's and 80's. Back when men were alcoholics, women never climbed above the title of secretary, and all paychecks for creatives were insanely huge.

Burma-Shave: The Rhymes, the Signs, the Times

Way back in 1925 young Allan Odell pitched this great advertising idea to his dad, Clifford. He suggested to use small, wooden roadside signs to sell their product, Burma-Shave, a brushless shaving cream. Dad wasn't wild about the idea but eventually gave Allan $200 to give it a try.

Didn't take long for sales to soar. Soon Allan and his brother Leonard were putting up signs all over the dang place. At first the signs were pure sales pitch but as the years passed they found their sense of humor extending to safety tips and pure fun. And some good old-fashioned down home wisdom.