Serious Fun!: Work & Play with Charles & Ray Eames

Mid-century modern is fun for the whole family in this picture book about the importance of play for the designers of the iconic Eames chair.

Twentieth-century design duo Charles and Ray Eames had serious fun experimenting and solving problems. In all that they did, they let fun lead the way; the only rules were no rules, no limits and no getting bored.

Though best known today for their timelessly iconic leather lounge chairs, the Eameses were always trying something new. They made furniture in every shape they could think of, bending and layering plywood on a homemade contraption. They made short films, designed textiles and arranged museum exhibits, dabbled in architecture and photography. They even tried their hand at toy design, wanting to give kids tools to foster free thinking and exploration—the same principles that fueled their own work.

Christy Hale's retro illustrations and enthusiastic text bring mid-century modern delightfully alive. Serious Fun! is a must-read for any bright young thinker already suspecting that all-work, no-play grown-ups have got it all wrong.

Christy Hale is the author and illustrator of several acclaimed children’s books, including Copycat: Nature-Inspired Design Around the World, Out the Door, Todos Iguales: Un corrido de Lemon Grove /All Equal: A Ballad of Lemon Grove, Water Land: Land and Water forms Around the World, Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building, and The East-West House: Noguchi’s Childhood in Japan. An art director, designer, and educator, Hale offers programs for all ages. Like Charles and Ray Eames, she loves to blend work with play, designing and making all kinds of things. She lives with her husband in Palo Alto, California. You can visit her online at christyhale.com.