The Picture Book Medium: Horoscopes via Children’s Literature
The other day a kindly person I spoke with at ALA sent me a beautiful little packet of information they picked up in Tokyo. If I told you that there was an International Library of Children’s Literature in Japan would you be surprised? I’ve not heard much about it myself, but it looks just lovely (thanks, J!).
In one of the packets was a section entitled “The 20th Century Picture Books: Picture books published in the year you were born.” It got me to thinking. Picture books published the year you were born . . . what if someone invented a whole new form of personality test based on the picture books that came out in the year of their birth? Heck, it’s no crazier than basing it on the way the stars move in the sky, is it?
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And so I am pleased to announce the Picture Book Medium.
Here’s how it works. First, you locate the books published in the same year that you appeared. I was born in 1978, so the books I had to pick through might include The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble, or Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.
How do you find your own books? Well, there’s always the method of searching the Caldecott winners from the year of your birth. Remember that you’ll need to look at the winners of the year after your birth, since those would be the ones that were published in your year. So from the 1979 winners I add Freight Train by Donald Crews.
Finally, you construct a personal prediction from the books. Lemme see, lemme see. Well, just off the top of my head for Thursday, July 15th I give myself the following combination:
The Snowman + The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses + Freight Train = On a colorful rail line you will meet a tall, cold individual. Beware his company and find comfort instead with the animals you best identify with, or you may find yourself with a broken heart and a very large puddle.
I’m on vacation, so clearly I just want to read yours. Okay . . . go.
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About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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(1962) The Snowy Day + The Sun Is a Golden Earring + Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present = Don’t worry about your dilemma, you will be able to pick out just the right present for your friend. In light of his prominent ears, consider golden earrings. Though the morning will start out cold and gloomy, eventually the snow will melt away, the sun will shine, and your day will feel like a birthday party.
1955 – (yes I’m that old 🙂
1955 Medal Winner: Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper, illustrated by Marcia Brown; text: translated from Charles Perrault by Marcia Brown (Scribner)
Honor Books:
Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes, illustrated by Marguerite de Angeli (Doubleday)
Wheel On The Chimney, illustrated by Tibor Gergely; text: Margaret Wise Brown (Lippincott)
The Thanksgiving Story, illustrated by Helen Sewell; text: Alice Dalgliesh (Scribner)
Drink champagne from glass slippers, no biological children, do not drive (too much champagne), and show gratitude, always.
1984
1984 Medal Winner: Saint George and the Dragon, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman; text: retold by Margaret Hodges (Little, Brown)
I also did a search on Amazon for hardcover children’s book published in in 1984 and came up with The Butter Battle Book, by Dr. Seuss, and George and Martha Back in Town by James Marshall (there are definitely some reprints in the list when you search that way, but I think these two are ok). So…..
You will encounter a fearsome dragon; do not despair! Rely on your love of dairy-laden baked goods (butter side up or down!) and your strong friendships to help you win the day.
Let’s see…1963…Caldecotts for ’64 were Where the Wild Things Are and Swimmy (I just read this to kindergarten classes in May!)
You are destined to journey alone for a time. But never fear…after some time, you’ll find companions while you travel, and in the end, all the scary big fish will swim away, and the supper that’s waiting for you will still be hot. Let the wild rumpus start!
I found that I could sort books by publication date on goodreads.com, which was fun…(I was born the year The Bell Jar was published, so I’m definitely going to stick by my picture book horoscope, okay?) Here’s the link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/popular_by_date
1951 Medal Winner: The Egg Tree + Dick Whittington and his Cat + The Two Reds + If I Ran the Zoo + The most Beautiful Doll in the World + T-Bone, the Baby Sitter = Remember to always honor family traditions, and be kind to cats, even fantastical ones, for they can help you make your fortune. Beware your memory, for you have a tendency to exagerate. Leave time each day for a catnap or two.
Jumanji + Outside Over There + Jump, Frog, Jump! + A Visit to William Blake’s Inn + On Market Street =
Tread carefully today as you must save your bookstore from goblins and a rampaging horde of beasts coming to life off the pages of the picture books within the store. But not to worry; a large frog will aid in your rescueas you travel on its back, jumping up Market Street and leading a parade of creatures to William Blake’s Inn, where you will all have tea and cookies.
The end.
For 1967:
Frederick (Leo Lionni)
A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog (Mercer Mayer)
Higglety Pigglety Pop!: Or There Must Be More to Life (Maurice Sendak)
Those around you scurry about, preparing for winter in the traditional manner. They think you should be doing the same. Ignore them: Soak up the sun and daydream poetry, go on a wordless frog hunt at the swamp, then pack your bags and head off into the world for a true adventure involving a mop made of salami (your favorite!)
Uh…I’ve actually been doing something like this for years. I guess I’m just a “forward thinker” But the horoscope idea takes it to another level and it’s great to know that others think the idea is interesting. Can’t wait to see everone’s. I’ll have to think of my own!
I was born in 1973, so I looked at the 1974 winners.
The Slave Dancer
The Dark is Rising
Duffy and the Devil
You shall become a slave to the passion rising out of you. Beware of dancing with the devil, for though he may spin and knit what you wish, such acquaintances will only cause darkness.
Boy, my literary horoscope sounds so ominous!
1988: Matilda (Roald Dahl) + The Way Things Work (David Macaulay) + Catwings (Ursula LeGuin) + Free Fall (David Wiesner)
You have the ability to get things done in a most extraordinary way. In fact, you are so exceptional that it’s bound to feel a little surreal, so don’t let yourself wander off into the clouds. If you let any loose ends fly about, you could end up falling off the deep end. Instead – take apart each task piece by piece and stay close to home, and you’ll be sure to make it work.
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This was SO much fun… just had to re-blog and encourage others to stop here and do it too! 🙂
awesome does not even begin to describe this. (i think a meme is in order.) my titles would be jumanji, by van allsburg, outside over there, by sendak, and the very hungry caterpillar, by eric carle…. hmm. a mildly creepy year, no?
‘As a child, you will be abducted by goblins due to a negligent seafaring family. This will wreak havoc on your emotional and psychological health and could result in a terrible eating disorder. Don’t fear, all is not lost! Remember that some doors are best left unopened. Hold fast to your friends and you will pupate, emerging like a beautiful butterfly. You will be admired by many, including a a kleptomaniac pelican with a penchant for board games and, oddly enough, Robin Williams.’
I’m a little afraid of what the combination of Jumanji and Outside Over There says about me… (and it looks like 1981 readers are well-represented in your commenters!) I took a peak at the Newbery list for that year, too, and I’d have to say I prefer the 1980 titles – Jacob Have I Loved and A Ring of Endless Light. Can’t win ’em all.
shoot. talk about internet misinformation! the very hungry caterpillar was most definitely NOT published my birth year, but i’m just gonna leave my horoscope as is. it makes me laugh too much to remove it.
“Hey, Al” by illustrated by Richard Egielski, text: Arthur Yorinks ; “The Village of Round and Square Houses” by Ann Grifalconi; “Alphabatics” by Suse MacDonald; & “Rumpelstiltskin” by Paul O. Zelinsky
Somehow I couldn’t keep mine short… also it seems a little… normal?
You will find yourself questioning and struggling against societal constraints that make little sense beyond a superficial understanding of shape, often feeling frustrated with your role and placement in a society that seems segregated and strictly regimental—this struggle may be punctuated and exacerbated by the drunken projecting, posturing, and boasting of those nearest and dearest to you (particularly your father); however, be wary of mysterious and wrinkled little strangers, as well as talking birds, offering you advice, quick-fixes or easy ways out as they may not have your best interest at heart and could lead you down a perilous road fraught with struggles to identify the true name and shape of things. You will ultimately realize that there is a reason for what may seem like the arbitrary divisions of your life and that the path to ultimate fulfillment lies within honesty and understanding that “each has a place to be apart and a time to be together.” Remember that you can often find the shapes of things in the characters that represent them and that “paradise lost is sometimes heaven found.”
Oh sorry! Also a lot of run-ons…
Hey, I posted about mine (also 1962) and I attempted to find unifying themes in the cover art here: http://jacketknack.blogspot.com/2010/02/pop-quiz-now-stop-groaning-itll-be-fun.html
The Biggest Bear + Puss in Boots + One Morning in Maine + Ape in a Cape + The Storm Book + Five Little Monkeys
A definite animal theme – wear that cape to keep warm in the Noreaster in Maine!