Gentry
"Peninsula FYI"
April, 2002 |
It's Story Time "What is the use of a
book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversations?" -- Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
Picture books, stories for the very young, are themselves very young. The
first appeared in 1928: Wanda Gag's Millions of Cats. My own
memories of childhood picture books are vague, but affectionate -- like
most memories prior to the age of four. I do remember Dr. Seuss and stacks
of Golden Books with their characteristic bindings. The Poky Little
Puppy is still the number-one selling children's book at almost 15
million copies. Later, I was charm-bound by The Swiss Family Robinson,
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, and The Five Little Peppers And How
They Grew. And Harriet of Harriet the Spy, and Nancy Drew were
my girlhood heroines. "A good detective is always in demand." (The
Hidden Staircase)
Happily, though, I have come to know early children's literature all over
again through my daughter. Together, we have read -- many, many times --
all of Margaret Wise Brown's work. "What kind of sound did lunch make?" (The
Noisy Book) And that of many of her contemporaries: Ludwig Bemelmans,
Robert McCloskey, Virginia Lee Burton, Dr. Seuss. "You will see something
new. Two things. And I call them Thing One and Thing Two." (The Cat in
the Hat)
And, of course, there are also Maurice Sendak, Russell Hoban's Frances
books, E.B. White's spider and pig (oh, and Stuart the mouse, too), H.A.
Rey's Curious George, and all of Charlotte Zolotow. "I like to draw with
crayons," said the little girl. "That's why I like to be little." (I
Like To Be Little)
I must confess that the pictures in picture books are less important to me
than the writing. Nevertheless, nothing detracts more from the picture
book experience than uninspired illustration. It is a kind of genius to be
able to draw a dog that "belonged to himself," as Garth Williams does for
Mister Dog, and absolutely capture what that means. That is what
all good picture books should do.
But it is the simple, unsentimental language of the best children's
picture books that touches my heart. "Have a carrot," said the Mother
Bunny. (Runaway Bunny) In a picture book, every word counts and the
best children's authors have a gift for choosing what William Zinsser
called the "precise and unexpected word". "Poetry and Hums aren't things
which you get, they're things which get you. And all you can do is to go
where they can find you." (The House at Pooh Corner) Pace, rhythm
and sound quality are all-important and add up to "the drama of turning
the page." "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." (The Little
Engine That Could)
Margaret Wise Brown observed our "natural impulse to amuse and to delight
and comfort" small children. So nothing raises my hackles more than a
picture book that sets out to introduce a toddler to cruelty or bad
manners. I want my picture books to honor the limited experience of
childhood -- rain boots, kittens, bedtime, cows, daisies, daddies and
mommies. "The world is so you have something to stand on." (A Hole Is
To Dig)
Oh, and there is one more feature essential to a good children's picture
book. You have to be able to read it in less than half an hour. Because,
as all parents know, we will be reading it more than once.
"Begin at the beginning… and go on till you come to the end: then stop." (Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland) And read it again, please. |
