tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post8585648320268403164..comments2024-03-28T06:28:49.282+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: Picture books that made me pause (for good, bad and surprising reasons) - Paeony LewisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-67278753812162862852017-10-29T18:25:40.860+00:002017-10-29T18:25:40.860+00:00I wrote a story with a main character whom I wante...I wrote a story with a main character whom I wanted the reader to dislike. Editors said " we didn't find the character likeable enough". I was amazed. He wasn't supposed to be liked. So with regard to the Tommi Ungerer, yes, baddies are baddies. They might have a heart, but some don't. I agree wholeheartedly with Market St, which to me feels like watching an episode of Sesame St. The reality is many black children and their parents or grandparents attend church. Over here in the Uk, people seem to view those who go to church as the antichrist. I see it all the time. So would a black family over here enjoy the book? Yes, but less so perhaps for the Americanisation of the book. The dog's bottom story is based upon various songs brought out in the fifties I believe, all with similar 'endings', some naughtier than others. Great book. jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04262564143206098900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-6676010721478290912016-04-13T22:48:37.789+01:002016-04-13T22:48:37.789+01:00I don't know 'Susan Laughs' - I'll...I don't know 'Susan Laughs' - I'll hunt it out. Thanks, Malachy.Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-15328037202546782052016-04-12T13:23:30.318+01:002016-04-12T13:23:30.318+01:00And another great Jeanne Willis /Tony Ross title -...And another great Jeanne Willis /Tony Ross title - Susan Laughs. The last spread, the first time you read it, is sure to bring a gasp of something - surprise / delight / shock? <br />(I love Tomi Ungerer's Fog Island, and The Three Robbers, by the way) malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-47398448592934801572016-04-10T00:24:35.237+01:002016-04-10T00:24:35.237+01:00Yes! 'Tadpole's Promise' is a good cho...Yes! 'Tadpole's Promise' is a good choice, Lynne. Though perhaps it goes beyond a 'pause' and into a 'gulp'?!Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-36946717168492256252016-04-09T11:56:01.463+01:002016-04-09T11:56:01.463+01:00As I read this I smiled. I've had to change th...As I read this I smiled. I've had to change the words in a picture book because I'd included a Christian festival (your first book) and I have another rejected because the character wasn't cute (your second book). Also have read that dogs hang up their bottoms I will no longer worry that the last page in my 'Dog Did It' book isn't so naughty after all (he leaves something behind...)<br /><br />A book that made me pause and laugh out loud was 'Tadpoles Promise.' Who'd believe a publisher would be brave enough to let an author kill off one of the main characters. Lynne Garnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05697330164705623835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-11705821191396342362016-04-09T01:51:28.462+01:002016-04-09T01:51:28.462+01:00Phew, I'm glad I'm not alone with Pause 1 ...Phew, I'm glad I'm not alone with Pause 1 (though I want to stress it's a good book). There were some interesting comments on FB and somebody made the thoughtful observation that the story might be perceived as being not quite so mainstream in the US if we replace 'church' with 'mosque' or 'temple'. Thanks, Lydia.Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-68779512256661347062016-04-09T01:38:43.131+01:002016-04-09T01:38:43.131+01:00Brilliant - now I know what I'll have to list ...Brilliant - now I know what I'll have to list in a future blog post! Thank you so much, Mandy. I grinned at: "I hope I'll be good." Adore your sherbert lemon analogy.Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-60866497969129570012016-04-09T01:35:49.347+01:002016-04-09T01:35:49.347+01:00It's lovely to know my prattle about picture b...It's lovely to know my prattle about picture books is appreciated - thank you, Frances. Croc and Bird is a wonderful book and my favourite image goes with the simple line: 'At lunch, Bird caught a buffalo.' It made me giggle and is so wonderfully understated. Hmm, I think you'll have to see it to understand what I'm wittering about!<br />I'm not sure how to get Tomorrow as it's in Arabic - I bought it at an event, though I do wonder if a UK publisher might be interested.Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-76005969286702049952016-04-09T01:28:56.246+01:002016-04-09T01:28:56.246+01:00It's fascinating to hear that as a child you a...It's fascinating to hear that as a child you appreciated The Three Robbers - it's quite sophisticated and I did wonder if adults like it more than children.Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-91269420812850419112016-04-09T01:25:30.087+01:002016-04-09T01:25:30.087+01:00Many thanks,Janey, though I wasn't deliberatel...Many thanks,Janey, though I wasn't deliberately trying to encourage people to buy the dog bottom book!!Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-36865295041392581112016-04-08T19:50:17.582+01:002016-04-08T19:50:17.582+01:00I don't think you're nuts! 1 and 3 were m...I don't think you're nuts! 1 and 3 were my biggest pauses. I'm not a dog fan but the bottom swap story is clearly a winner in an unforgettable, hilarious, world-rethinking way.Lydia Sysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04613876235125755967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-71918463137417828522016-04-08T13:31:25.424+01:002016-04-08T13:31:25.424+01:00I loved this post! I offer have similar 'pause...I loved this post! I offer have similar 'pause' moments. Often mine are great lines within the context of a story such as: "He fell in love with her cascading curls and she fell in love with his moustache" (scratch Scratch, Miriam Moss-Delphine Durand) and "I hope I'll be good, George thinks" (Oh No, George! Chris Haughton). These re like hitting the centre of a sherbert lemon with the tip of your tongue :)Mandy Millie Flocktonhttp://www.scribblecircus.co.uk/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-22941535334801989332016-04-08T06:32:42.997+01:002016-04-08T06:32:42.997+01:00This is one of the best posts I've read recent...This is one of the best posts I've read recently, Paeony. Croc and Bird by Alexis Deacon, I've got to get, and Tomorrow by Nadine Laden, for the illustrations alone. Must be so hard to produce a PB about (not) war and not get too sentimental? Might be a hard sell in the UK market. The Lonely Doll gives me the creeps! The photograph is almost 'sleazy' - the fact it's had a recent reprint is very surprising! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07792253387767302709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-7130222347204624922016-04-07T14:41:22.441+01:002016-04-07T14:41:22.441+01:00Hands up! I have to confess that 'The Three Ro...Hands up! I have to confess that 'The Three Robbers' was one of my absolute favourite books as a little girl. I think it was mostly to do with the images though, they still stay with me. That and although a very cheerful upbeat kind of person by nature even from small I was always fascinated by the darker side of life.<br /><br />Not as dark as the spanking teddy though! *shudders*George Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12231075417385235147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-39100331579938339502016-04-07T12:05:41.231+01:002016-04-07T12:05:41.231+01:00Loved reading this, good to remember to pause whet...Loved reading this, good to remember to pause whether consciously or unconsciously. "Wow" to 'The Lonely Doll' and "I'm buying this immediately" to 'The Great Dog Bottom Swap' - brilliant xJaney Robinsonhttp://www.janeyrobinson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-728326141799231392016-04-06T19:49:07.380+01:002016-04-06T19:49:07.380+01:00Thanks a lot, Pippa. There were lots of books I di...Thanks a lot, Pippa. There were lots of books I didn't include so I might do it again and 'You Choose' should be in the list (a good/surprised pause!); though I feel self-conscious about including fellow Picture Book Den authors as I wouldn't want readers to think I'm biased (which is why I didn't).Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-7346691313783015922016-04-06T19:40:33.233+01:002016-04-06T19:40:33.233+01:00Many thanks, Julie. I suspect I too would have enj...Many thanks, Julie. I suspect I too would have enjoyed it as a child (ie the 60s!). I very much like the idea of using photos of dolls, teddy bears, etc., and the black and white is atmospheric (though nowadays I suspect a child would want colour), but obviously our attitudes have moved on. I was surprised at the late 90s reprinting by a mainstream US publisher.Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-26886290850966395612016-04-06T09:06:12.694+01:002016-04-06T09:06:12.694+01:00What a fascinating hoard of examples! Very though...What a fascinating hoard of examples! Very thought-provoking. The challenge of producing a picture book about war is particularly urgent. Thank you so much, Paeony.Pippa Goodharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17709422048047155208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-15800940491608856942016-04-06T05:35:57.544+01:002016-04-06T05:35:57.544+01:00So many I've spoken to find The Lonely Doll di...So many I've spoken to find The Lonely Doll disturbing, but as a kid I adored it! Great post!Julie Rowan-Zochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14844386483107508288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-24223475986794439082016-04-05T22:47:35.704+01:002016-04-05T22:47:35.704+01:00Thanks Clare. I have one other book by Tomi Ungere...Thanks Clare. I have one other book by Tomi Ungerer, 'Fog Island', a 2013 book inspired by Ireland. It's more of a straight-forward folk tale and the illustrations aren't as stylised and to me aren't as interesting (apart from the moody ones that don't include people - I adore those).Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-33014184762467345042016-04-05T22:40:24.658+01:002016-04-05T22:40:24.658+01:00Thanks so much, Candy. I wonder if you'll paus...Thanks so much, Candy. I wonder if you'll pause too - different readers react in different ways and now I'm worried!Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-68801317299627323632016-04-05T08:49:30.292+01:002016-04-05T08:49:30.292+01:00Really enjoyed this brilliant piece. You've ma...Really enjoyed this brilliant piece. You've made me desperate to get to a bookstore!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-31082700152968204702016-04-05T08:27:04.058+01:002016-04-05T08:27:04.058+01:00Looking forward to reading 'Tomorrow' and ...Looking forward to reading 'Tomorrow' and 'The Yes'. And the Tomi Ungerer one. He's done some amazing stuff. Thank you.Juliet Clare Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06020801246132751659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-64011931992240118082016-04-04T20:45:53.645+01:002016-04-04T20:45:53.645+01:00Ha ha, Penny, I'm cruel. However, if I say tha...Ha ha, Penny, I'm cruel. However, if I say that during an evening of wonderful entertainment there's a fire and all the dogs leave in a hurry, I suspect you can guess the outcome because the story is an explanation of why dogs sniff other dog bums!Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-43753531380749890202016-04-04T20:35:15.571+01:002016-04-04T20:35:15.571+01:00Yes, I agree the the humour is in context and clev...Yes, I agree the the humour is in context and clever, Jonathan. As a dog owner, I grinned.Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.com