MORE 'PICTURE-BOOKS' POSTS
Smart fairytailing that’s tonally on point? More of this, please.
It’s a treatise on philosophy as it relates to young children. It’s about escaping the confines of yourself and reaching out to others. And, most importantly, it’s a cute baby chicken picture book where 95% of the action takes place inside an egg.
Deeply touching, funny, and incredibly odd, this is the kind of picture book that gets you excited about picture books all over again.
No elephants. No piggies. No pigeons. And yet there's something about this abstracted concept book to lure me into reviewing it. I haven't reviewed Mo in 14 years. See why I've come around.
In all honesty, I don’t think I can do this book justice when I tell you about it, but I can at least give it my best shot. It deserves only the best.
Here we have animals and hats and mysterious goings on. Read it cover to cover and you’re just swept up in a book that cultivates a singular sense of comic timing and tone policing that never falters or strays. It is, in fact, Klassen's best book to date. Period.
A book that manages that impossible task of combining child friendliness (a kid will want to reread it) with good writing (an ADULT will want to reread it – never a given), and beautiful art.
If you think the process of creation is sometimes painful and collaborative and ultimately fun, this book is the first that I’ve ever seen to express that idea. You want to get to yes? Then you gotta slog through no.
Deft poetic language pairs with the resonant watercolors of Sydney Smith to create a book that is more than a memoir and more than conveying a message. This is pain, turned into art, and written for young children. Incomparable.
There are plenty of inspiring picture books out there for kids. Few understand their purpose as perfectly as this book does.