PPBF is on summer hiatus, but a picture book-junkie needs her fix!
Role play! Yes, I dub myself ‘Royal Test-Reader’ to a (very) young Queen. Not to decide which books remain in the kingdom and which do not, but to have a close look at the elements I don’t like and offer constructive suggestions (though my character’s ambition is to make her own good books!). Role play is improvisational, and comments are formed from my tastes, my notions. I am well aware that if all proposals lead to changes, the picture book industry would die of uniformity, but I hope through this experience to come clean in my own writing and illustrating, and have a little fun!
“Your Majesty may I present…
…CHLOE, by Peter McCarty (Balzer +Bray, 2012)”
Click here to have a look inside
Okay, okay, I hear you wondering, how I could possibly find anything wrong with a book by such a distinguished writer and illustrator of several award-winning books?
Well, I just…did.
“The cover is gorgeous, the end papers lovely, though a character swinging from one of the branches would suggest ‘real’ fun. The tilted house is perfect as a symbol of things to come in Chloe’s world. The text is concise, the font choices clean and fitting. Every page has been carefully composed and the reader is happy to linger. I know children can enjoy taking a stand against something everyone else likes to do, but on page eleven I feel uneasy about Chloe’s choice to not even give the new gadget a try. I understood her revolt on page 13 – it ‘s fitting and funny. But when she manages to convince 20 siblings NOT to watch TV with just two simple suggestions (despite an attractive screen character), I begin to feel I’m being lectured to and soon the taste in my mouth is rather pedagogical. The adorable character and her siblings carry me to the end, and I do smile when I see who is responsible for the “sound of popping bubbles”. But what could have been perfection leaves me wanting, especially when Chloe’s house is still tilted.”
“What do you suggest, my royal servant?” asked my (very) young Queen.
“I think the main character must act more realistically. I believe she would have joined in on the family’s excitement and decided for herself that TV is boring and realized that watching it is not the family fun time she knows and loves. And as her father ‘agrees’ in the end, the house angle should be righted.”
“Arise Sir PBJ, you have served me well. But I still love those rabbits!”
julie rowan-zoch 
Glad I’m not the only one! I totally get this. I feel like I am overly picky sometimes, but it’s helpful to know what you don’t like since it makes what you do like more meaningful.
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Man, you just made me feel so much better! I think it’s the combo of being from NY and having spent so many years in Germany, where complaining is a national sport! My personality is upbeat, but I don’t see any reason to compliment everything, and don’t get why I’m usually the only one pointing at that big hairy elephant! Thank you Carter!
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Very interesting Sir PBJ. 😉 I like the name Sir!
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Hmmm! I’ll have to read it! Sounds like you have a good point.
Sir PBJ is adorable! Not too creamy and not too crunchy!
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Thanks for turning my laugh into a snort!
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I can’t believe I have not subscribed to receive this blog. Love the blog’s persona. So very original. I’ve got another great blog as a resouce. Yaay, me! You have a specifically keen eye. Scary. No, brilliant. 🙂
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If your comments can make me feel so good on a virtual level, I revel in imagining the joy of those lucky to be in your real-time presence!
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