Picture Books and Family Stories
Introduction
Picture Books
Other Family Stories
Introduction
I love writing Picture Books, when I have an idea of the right size. It’s the closest I come to writing poetry, because the texts are short and every word has to count.
They are the hardest books to write, though, because you have to be able to tell the whole story in twelve “spreads”, which is what you call a double-page. That’s not much, if you think you have to introduce characters, set up a background, cause some sort of crisis to make the story happen and then resolve it.
I always want the story to end with a bang, usually with a page turn in order to have a punch line on the last page. See Henry’s Baby and An Angel Just Like Me among others.
The story for The Colour of Home was made up by me but based on the experiences of lots of asylum-seekers who became my friends. I spent a year working with asylum-seekers, women and children, in the London Borough of Barnet.
The Seven Wonders of The Ancient World was rather different. It’s not exactly non-fiction, but I couldn’t make too much up, because the purpose was to tell readers about the seven structures that the ancient Greeks thought were the most amazing in the known world. The only one left standing is the Great Pyramid in Egypt, so I started my thinking about this book by booking a week’s trip to that wonderful country.
Another picturebook that straddles the divide between fiction and non-fiction, but in a very different way is The Great Big Book of Familes, illustrated by Ros Asquith (2010). I couldn't believe this book didn't already exist before I wrote it! I had the idea for it many years ago but thought I could only do it if I could find an artist who felt the same way as I did about how families are shown in children’s books. I really wanted Ros Asquith but didn’t know how she would feel about it. Fortunately Ros understood straightaway what I wanted the book to do. It was a joy to work with her on it and to feel we understood each other. And it does seem to have filled a gap in many countries..
Because the other important thing about picture books is pictures! I have been lucky enough to work with some of the best illustrators – Caroline Binch, Jane Ray, Jan Ormerod, Jackie Morris, Chris Riddell, Karen Littlewood, Christina Balit, Cornelius van Wright, Ros Asquith – they have all been great.
As the writer, I have to remember to leave space for the illustrator, not only by not producing too many of them but by allowing full rein to the artist’s imagination, so that she can add her own contribution and distinctive style to the book.
I'm writing to let you know how much I like Amazing Grace and The Color of Home. As a psychologist who works extensively with children, I think they could be of real help to kids - in understanding issues of diversity and overcoming prejudice and in for kids are struggling to understand war and violence, respectively.
Jacqueline Golding, Ph.D, www.healing-stories.com
Most of my picture books are published by Frances Lincoln, who do lots of multi-cultural books you might be interested in. You can find out more about them on their website.
Picture Books
Winner of the Under-7 category of the inaugural School Library Association Information Book Awards 2011. Shortlisted for the NASEN Awards 2011
Families have changed dramatically, but you might not know it from picture books. Hoffman and Asquith have brought the notion of families into the 21st century. This book explores the various aspects of families, including who might be in the family (even pets), where they live and work, how they go to school, what they celebrate, and even how emotions are expressed. Each two-page spread examines an aspect in brief text and bright watercolor illustrations, with smaller pictures related to the topic parading around the pages. Families are multi-racial, single parent, and having two dads or moms. Dads may cook and homeschool children while moms work, and some families even struggle with joblessness and homelessness. And yes, traditional families are shown as well. There’s even a bit of a game, with a cat to be found an each spread. This is an extremely valuable title for all elementary schools to celebrate the diversity of our world. Highly Recommended. Susan A.M. Poulter, Cataloguing Librarian, A primer on families in words and pictures. "Once upon a time," Hoffman begins, "most families in books looked like this." Asquith's illustration shows Caucasian daddy, mommy, son, daughter, dog and cat, all smiling and standing in a line. In the background is a neat little house with an apple tree, flowers and a white picket fence in front of it. "But in real life, families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes." Hoffman breaks it down with two-page spreads covering various topics: Who's in Your Family, Homes, School, Jobs, Holidays, Food ("Some moms and dads are great cooks...Others prefer to buy ready-made meals. Most families get their food from shops or markets. But some people grow their own") and more. Each spread is bordered by dozens of small illustrations; the spread on School, for example, features school books, varieties of writing utensils, paper and other items. The book ends with a challenge to try and make a family tree and a gallery of more than a dozen families, in framed pictures. "What's yours like today?" Hoffman asks. The text is packed with examples, and the same goes for Asquith's energetic watercolors. They celebrate diversity, not by proselytizing but by simply presenting it. For the very young, it will seem like a colorful reference book. A sublimely simple idea, brilliantly executed. The most joyful and inclusive book of the year! A glorious, multicultural celebration of contemporary family life. Includes lesbian/gay parents, single parents, adopted/fostered children and people from different economic backgrounds. All wrapped up in delightful illustrations and great dollops of humour! With simple language, Hoffman describes almost every imaginable familial configuration, including those with single, same-sex, and foster parents. Asquith expands on the diversity suggested in the text by including mixed-race families and family members with disabilities in her color cartoon illustrations. Hoffman also discusses the differences in jobs, celebrations, clothes, hobbies, and pets found in the various types of homes. As she does so, she alludes to some difficult social issues such as homelessness and unemployment, but suggests that family members help one another through hard times. The artist adds simple clues to make some of these issues accessible to young children. For example, on the page where the parents are unemployed, the child is shown offering a small piggy bank to the concerned mother and father. Although the text is at times serious, the pages are busy and bright, and the format helps the book feel lighthearted and energetic. Todd Parr’s 'The Family Book' (Little, Brown, 2003) covers many of the same basic principles but is written for an even younger audience and uses animals to represent different kinds of families. In this book, children are likely to find representation of their own situations, whatever they may be, and assurance that their family is just right. (reviewed by Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
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The Great Big Book of Families
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Other Family Stories
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