This week has been one where, come Saturday I'd not even come close to finishing any of the books I'd really wanted to read. So I resorted to desperate measures today: I raced out the the library and looked through the picture books section. This led me to a couple of interesting revelations and has caused me to stop and ponder 'what exactly qualifies as a picture book?'.
A definition I found whilst browsing online says that a picture book is 'a book in which the illustrations are as important as (or even more important) the words telling the story' (thanks ThoughtCo.com).
I have read a fair few books in my time where the illustrations are plentiful, but do not essentially serve a greater story-telling purpose than the text. Conversely I have read thicker books that would not nearly have packed the same punch without the illustrations that come with them (Chris Riddell's 'Ottoline' books being a prime example).
Needless to say the books I selected in the library today were quick picks, so I wasn't really worrying about what made a picture book at the time. In reality the only thing going through my mind was 'easy read, quick blog post'.
You might wonder why I'm rambling on about the topic instead of simply reviewing the book. I'll be honest and tell you: reading a 32 page book in a rush feels a little like I've cheated.
Anyway, I found a couple of 'picture books' to review. You as blog readers can be the judges of whether or not they qualify as proper picture books.
First up: Love is My Favourite Thing by Emma Chichester Clark
This is not my main book choice, but as I was finishing off scanning through the picture book section my eyes fell across it and I couldn't resist.
It tells the story of Plummie, the dog who likes all kinds of fun doggy activities, but loves to be loved most of all. One day Plummie faces one calamity after another when all the things she loves to do lead her into more and more trouble. In fact by the end of the day she's pretty much left on her own to contemplate the consequences of her actions (very humanely I might add).
She realises that she might not be loved anymore and this scares her silly. So, when asked if she knows what she's done wrong she does that adorable puppy dog look and bows her head and in the end she is forgiven. The last page shows that she does try always to be good and though she might make mistakes, ultimately she's secure in the knowledge that her family loves her and that, is her favourite thing.
Interestingly this book's origin came from a real life blog started by Emma Chichester Clarke which details the adventures of her own pet dog. The blog's popularity led to the book which I can only assume may well be the first of many (and why not, it's an adorable subject matter).
There really isn't any challenge to this book, nor is there great expanding subtext or issue for discussion. That's what makes it a pleasure to read though. It's a simple, no frills, no fuss book for a child to enjoy with a parent or carer.
The illustrations are good, but I'm not sure I can say a heck of a lot about them. They don't carry a hallmark like some illustrators have. Whenever I see a book with illustrations by Quentin Blake for example, I know automatically that it's a work of his. That isn't a bad thing but on the other hand they don't stand out. They certainly don't tell a more revealing or more important story than the text. But that doesn't make them bad illustrations. They were good.
Okay so I said more about them than I thought I would.
Next up: 'I am Number One'
This is a book with a number in the title and my actual selection for this week.
Let me just start by saying that this book was written by none other than Michael Rosen. This man is something of a legend in my eyes. I have seen his poetry being swallowed greedily by children from the ages of 3 to 14. I've heard high school kids recite words from his chocolate cake poem because they absolutely love his accent! I've even seen whole class rooms watch his poetry on youtube and finish lines of it before he does... ...once again, imitating his voice.
His works are well written and superbly performed (as I was lucky enough to find when I saw him on stage).
This book tells the story of A-One, a character who resembles humpty dumpty but is actually a wind up toy soldier. He is also a total bossy boots. "I am in charge" he says whilst waiting for his friends Sally, Sid and Maddy to wind him up and get him going. He calls them useless, hopeless and no good and even goes so far as to bully them into giving him their apparel! After acquiring a hat, scarf and rucksack he proudly reaffirms that he's in charge, but in the sight of his ridiculous nonsense they all start to laugh, turning things he says into silly mumbo jumbo. Even he has to smile after a while. Frankly if I saw and egg shaped tin soldier wearing a dodgy hat, scarf and rucksack about to start playing a drum whilst standing on a shoe I'd probably laugh too.
Behind it all is A-One's serious realisation though that without their help, he'd be hopeless, useless and no good. And so our story ends with him handing back what he took before humbly admitting that he's "one of the gang".
This has Rosen's trademark light heartedness all over it. In the way the characters use word play to turn something horrible into something funny. It is cleverly written, well paced and well illustrated.
Once again it won't challenge in terms of language but it does provide food for thought in terms of cause and effect. How we treat others can ultimately be a reflection of who we are.
Do the illustrations stand out markedly? No. Do they tell their own story? Not really. There is however a pivotal point of the story where a large picture of A-One shows him finally smiling and it's in that image that we see his realisation of his own foolishness.
Could the story work without the pictures? Definitely. Once again that does not make them bad illustrations. It probably makes me a bit of a picture book snob.
Isn't it a good thing that picture books are not on my 52 book list (haha)?
I am Number One is book 20 of my 52 book list and it's a book with a number in the title. Illustrations and book covers will be added at a later date.
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