I work in the Youth Services department of a library now, so I can totally take out picture books for “work” and no one thinks twice about it! It’s actually my job now! So I’ve been going through my TBR list for picture books and seeing what they’re all about. I probably won’t actually use either of these for work, not because they aren’t good, but because aren’t suited for my ages for storytime.
Bedtime is Canceled
By Cece Meng, Illustrated by Aurélie Neyret
This is the one of these two I might consider reading to a child or group of children. (Perhaps not toddler storytime, though. A winner for Kindergarten and up, though. It might be a little too long for toddlers at 32 pages, and Amazon lists it for ages 4-7.)
Our story revolves around a note that Maggie and her brother write, reading “Bedtime is Canceled.” Upon presenting it dutifully to their parents, it is dismissed and the children are sent to bed. But the note gets whisked away by the wind (very much like in Mary Poppins) and lands on the desk of a newspaper man, right on top of the stories to be published. And so “Bedtime is Canceled” is the next day’s headline. And if it’s printed in the paper, it must be true.
The pictures are bright, and there are a few repetitive elements to the text. One of the toys on the first page has a top hat and monocle, and that tells you right away that at least the illustrator is classy. (We already know that by the accent in their name.) The details in the illustrations are very good, and there is always something new to notice. The people seem to be in a slightly different style than the toys and background, separating the two. I also like how on page 5, the figure in the foreground is slightly out of focus, and the motion of the note midair gives the whole thing the impression of a composition.
So if you have kids, or just like picture books, this one is a good one! Five stars!
Help! We Need a Title
By Hervé Tullet
I pulled this one because I’m a fan of Press Here and Mix It Up! This is not one I would use with storytime, and not just because of the age (recommended 4-8.) This seems to be best suited to one-on-one reading with a child, or if the child can read themselves.
You have some doodles, just minding their own business, who have discovered that someone is watching them. And that someone is the reader! I say doodles, because the art is not finished or sophisticated (nor is it supposed to be.) The doodles try to figure out what to do with their sudden audience, and go through a few ideas. The finally decide to consult the author. (The author appears as a photo of his head on top of a drawn body.) The author decides (under much pleading) to write a story, which is in a different art style than the doodles. The story is done, and the doodles are not completely satisfied, but there you have it.
This is a glimpse into the creative process. There are notes and edits everywhere showing that the creative process is indeed a process. The finished product you see did not spring complete like that from the author’s mind. It is messy, and that’s okay. This is showing what a rough draft might look like to a child who may have never seen something like this before. It is good for younger children to be exposed to, but especially slightly older ones in school who are going through the writing process.
I would aim for an older child to get the most out of this one, although it still might go over their heads. 3 stars.