Jolts of Children’s Literature in Unexpected Places

This is one of those series I like to do, regardless of whether or not anyone else finds it interesting. So, in effect, it’s the most self-indulgent of my postings.  Still, I think these books say something about how children’s literature is viewed by mainstream culture.  And in that there is a benefit.

Onward!

I include this not merely because it takes Shakespeare and applies a Choose Your Own Adventure format to the template, but because of the art.  There are images in this book by Kate Beaton and Jon Klassen (who are buds) amongst others.  FYI.

Sean Beaudoin is first and foremost a YA author in my eyes.  So to hear that he’s come out with a collection of short stories for adults is interesting.  However, the real thing that caught my eye was a Kirkus description of one of those tales.  Say they, one to watch is the story, ” ‘Base Omega Has Twelve Dictates,’ a really funny satire of teen dystopian fiction.”  This I gotta see.

Did you know about this one?  I sure as heck didn’t.  According to the description, this is the first time the letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder have been collected into a single book.  This would have been infinitely useful as a resource when Julie, Peter, and I were writing Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature.  Lackaday.

Next up . . .

But wait, you say.  Wasn’t this book already featured in an Unexpected Jolt posting?  Ah, no, you’re thinking of this title:

That one came out in 2009.  Of the two covers I’m gonna give this one to the new Lehane book since the police-tape-as-lion-necklace is more visually dynamic than a mere “Police Line Do Not Cross” pylon.

And finally . . .

Ten points to anyone who can identify the picture book in this photograph:

It’s clearly a real book.  They didn’t make one up for a photo shoot (which happens a lot more often than you might think).  So what is it?  I thought Mercer Mayer maybe since the central figure is a bit Little Critter-ish but I don’t necessarily trust my instincts on this one.  Help?

UPDATE: We have a winner!  Two readers (Marietta B. Zacker & Gili Warsett) figured it out.  The book is APPLESAUCE SEASON by Mordecai Gerstein.  Well done, you two.  That’s mad detective work there.

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