Maira Kalman Holds Many Books At Paper Trail

There was a line of women holding things at Paper Trail on Saturday, Dec. 17. What they were carrying, mostly, was Maira Kalman’s latest book, Women Holding Things. Kalman, the critically acclaimed artist, designer, and author of over 30 books for adults and children — who has a home in Saugerties — came to the store to greet her readers and sign her new book, adding a little illustration to each signature. Maureen Missner and Serine Hastings, co-owners of the shop, call Paper Trail the “headquarters of the Maira Kalman Fan Club,” because each time she makes an appearance, the store is filled with Kalman’s devoted readers. “I’m often drawn to women holding things,” Kalman said, even if that woman carrying the giant cabbage illustrated in the book was a bit of crab. But who knows what kind of emotions she was holding?