Seeing a new picture in picture books

The first picture book that I read to Caleb was not any of those that I wrote.

Instead, it turned out to be an amusing book called Little Bear Wants to be Big by Judith Koppens. It’s a story about how everyone from Uncle Bear to Neighbour Bear gives Little Bear tips on how he can grow bigger. My favourite tip is when Grandma Bear tells Little Bear that he will get taller if he drinks lots of lemonade So he drinks 100 glasses worth.

The end result is this:

Little Bear Wants To Be Big by Judith Koppens

As with my other favourite picture books, it is a well-written story which comes with a beginning, middle and an end. So, for one, I’ve never really known how to approach a wordless picture book. As an author, I guess it is understandable. After all, how would I come into the picture in a picture book without words?

Over the past year, in my new position as Caleb’s Mum, I am getting a whole new picture on picture books:

1. Reading the near-wordless picture book

Hug, written and illustrated by Jez Alborough, is one of the first few picture books that I read to Caleb. It only has three words – Hug, Mummy, Bobo. And that was when I discovered the brilliance of it all. The pictures tell the story and I come up with the words to narrate to Caleb. Some days, I talk through the responses of the animals that Little Monkey meets. Other days, I “speed read” the pictures which pretty much boils down to Little Monkey crying “hug” across every other page as he sees various animals hugging their offspring, until he finally finds his Mummy. That works well on days when Caleb grabs the book, flips through the pages in about 15 seconds, then crawls away. And I always end the book with my own words and actions – Mummy, Caleb, Hug.

2. The repetitive-style picture book

During the Asian Festival of Children’s Content last year, I bought three humourous picture books by author & illustrator Colin West which I would not have picked up in the time B.C. (ie Before Caleb) because it wasn’t a story style that I typically read. Well, these have turned out to be great for reading aloud to Caleb as he seems to like the rhythm of the repetitive sentences.

In “Have you seen the crocodile?“, one new animal/insect asks the same question over and over to a growing cast of existing animals and insects until Crocodile himself finally answers the question.

In “Pardon? Said the Giraffe“, Monkey repeatedly asks Giraffe the same question as he jumps on the back of one animal to another progressive taller animal, on and on, and receives back the same answer until he finally reaches Giraffe’s nose.

In Not me Said the Monkey, Monkey repeatedly denies all the pranks that he carries out on the other animals till he becomes the butt of his own prank.

I have since been trying to think of a question or phrase that can form the title (and most of the text) of my next picture book. So far, my inspiration has only taken me as far as “I forgot to bring my mouth!” or “I’m getting out of my highchair because…” which can be repeated through every page as a harried Mother Rabbit tries to feed her disinterested baby. I guess I need to chew on this more before attempting this writing style more, otherwise it may evolve into another story which goes “I can’t sell this book because”.

3. The “no story” picture book

In the time B.C., I really did not get picture books that do not have a storyline. One of those was Magaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon where all a little bunny rabbit does is say “Goodnight” to every item in his bedroom. Good night moon. Goodnight clock. Goodnight nobody. Yawn.

I now have to eat my words and my yawn because its lullaby style makes it one of the best read-a-loud books to a tot, and clearly so as it celebrates its 60th year of existence. From pointing out the different objects in the bunny rabbit’s room, I move on to naming those in Caleb’s room, which becomes my own original sequel to the original book. And I’m sure most parents do the same with this book. That is picture book writing at its best.

4. “Pictures that say more than the words” picture book

I’ve read books and attended workshops on how to write and publish picture books and we are often told how the text needs to tie with the illustrations. So, this comment from someone at Walker Books was the first new thing I have heard in a while: The pictures in the picture book should not describe exactly what would be happening in the illustration as there won’t be anything left to emotionally engage the reader.

I guess the picture is clear why Walker Books produces the best illustrated books around.

5. Boardbook style, mini-sized picture books

I’ve never taken to board books and mini-sized picture books as, like Goldilocks who fussed over her porridge, I found them too thick and too small. They seemed too much of novelties rather than true picture books.

Caleb develops a stomach for books

But now, as I watch Caleb flip through these little books with interest and then take a bite out of them to see if they taste as good as they look, I see how they have been designed for little tots. And clearly so, given how Caleb devours the books eagerly. He’s already chewed his way through the thick cardboard layers of the book spines and is fast on his way to building up a strong stomach for juvenile literature.

Wouldn’t it be great if publishers and baby food experts can develop edible breakfast, lunch and dinner books which are packed with nutrients for the reluctant eater? Caleb won’t need any persuasion to open his mouth and I can sit back and enjoy a real book meanwhile.

But for whichever way the book market evolves, be it e-books or e-dible books, I will always stay a loyal fan of the old-fashioned printed picture book and hope that Caleb too will see the picture of its beauty when he goes from eating them to reading them.

Coming Soon: The Asian Festival of Children’s Content 2012 will be from the 26th -29th May. I will be doing my bit on a panel discussion to hopefully inspire aspiring writers of children’s content.

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