Tim Warnes's Blog: My Life in Books, page 15
July 24, 2020
Julián is a Mermaid
From Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick 2018) | Illustration © 2018 by Jessica Love
We still have a strange way of putting girls and boys into different slots. I wish we could come to a stage when anybody who fancied could wear a dress and do so-called ‘girly’ things or anyone who wanted could wear jeans and tinker with car engines.
— Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Former Children’s Laureate
In 2018, a beautiful debut picture book was published that I believe will have long-term significance: Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love ( Candlewick 2018).
I was touched by the tenderness of Love’s story. I read it as being about a little boy who enjoys dressing up, has a fixation with mermaids - and his Abuela who loves him.
The illustrations are stunning - and so well observed. (Perhaps Love’s training as an actor at Juilliard explains the characters’ expressive poses.) Painted in gouache on brown paper (old school!) they are creative and imaginative - and totally drew me in.
‘Former children’s laureate Anthony Browne called the book “astonishingly beautiful”, saying it was amazing that it was her first attempt to write and illustrate a picture book.’ And as with so many great picture books, much of the story is told (or inferred) through the illustrations alone (perfect for developing visual literacy, an essential life skill).
Here’s an example: the sequence of wordless spreads that show Julián become a mermaid in his imagination. There he is, sitting on the subway with Abuela, looking at his book of mermaids (‘Because Julián LOVED mermaids.’) - when suddenly, some real-life ones get on, too! (Love found inspiration in the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade.)
Mesmerised, Julián drifts away into a turquoise sea. He sheds his clothes and is swept up in an exuberantly colourful swirl of fish, which disperses to reveal his mermaid tail. (It reminds me of Mickey, sinking down into the milk in Sendak’s The Night Kitchen.)
From Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick 2018) | Illustration © 2018 by Jessica Love
But then the dream sequence ends abruptly -
“Let’s go, honey. This is our stop.”
- and with a jolt, Julián is back.
So clever!
(At the end of the story, this opening scene is cleverly revisited when Julián, dressed up as a mermaid, gets swept up with the mermaid passengers at the Mermaid Parade.)
As a boy, I loved to play dress-up.I can remember trying on my mum’s jewellery and putting on her lipstick. I also had two loving grandmas - so I immediately saw myself in Julián.
From Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick 2018) | Illustration © 2018 by Jessica Love
But Love had some more profound thoughts in mind: She wrote it for children who are questioning their gender, or more specifically, their sexual orientation. Reading the book for a second time, I can see that reflected in Love’s story (particularly since it ends with the Mermaid Parade). But for me, the central theme - and strength - of the story, is its overriding message of unconditional love and acceptance. Therein lies its power. Love says she hopes to send the message to trans children that “You’re beautiful. You are loved.” I think that message is conveyed to every reader.
Described as ‘celebratory and ground-breaking’ by the Sunday Times, Julián Is A Mermaid has been widely applauded. Despite its quality, I think it was a risky move on the part of the commissioning publisher, Candlewick Press. Even Love admits, “I never expected I would be able to get it published.” Yes, it has received some negative feedback - but also many awards (more than you could shake a mermaid’s tail at).
It’s inevitable that children’s books become important markers in societal change. Gradually, they will begin reflecting developing attitudes and social norms. I’m so glad it was Julián who stepped into the conversation surrounding gender fluidity.
Love’s interest in trans children was piqued by her friendship with a trans man.A documentary about New York’s subculture of drag ball “houses” in the 1980s, (Paris Is Burning) was another influence.
Here’s how Love sums up her book:
Julián is a Mermaid is a story about a boy and his Abuela. It is a story about revealing ourselves, and the beauty of being seen for who we are by someone who loves us.
Jessica Love
From Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick 2018) | Illustration © 2018 by Jessica Love
Love may have intended Julián to represent children who are questioning their gender identity, but it is far from explicit. It needn’t be read as a transgender story. It is unashamedly a message of love and acceptance; a reminder of ‘the power of those closest to children either to shame them into harmful conformity or to welcome and celebrate their self-expression.’
Look at the deft way in which Love shows that moment of doubt in Julián’s body language when Abuela sees him dressed as a mermaid.
Does she still love me?
It was essential that there be a second of doubt. Love wanted that moment to function as genuine suspense, when the reader can almost see a risk for shame to darken the spread. But instead, the scene is met with affection, acceptance, and joy. Abuela—who understands that in some ways his life may be a harder one and chooses to embrace the difficulty nonetheless—gives Julián the tools he needs to most be himself.
- Kirkus Reviews
From Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick 2018) | Illustration © 2018 by Jessica Love
More significant to me is the fact that Julián and his Abuela are black (specifically, Afro-Latin). Which positions Julián is a Mermaid as a piece of art in the tradition of Ezra Jack Keats, the trailblazing author ‘who gave black children a place in story land.’
And like Keats’s characters, Love’s are illustrated with a ‘keen-eyed observations of urban life’, as they go about their everyday lives in Brooklyn.
Which takes us right back to the ongoing debate surrounding the representation (or lack thereof) of black characters in children’s literature - particularly those just going about everyday business.
Why Julián is a Mermaid is Good to ReadIt has a positive portrayal of black characters.
It challenges gender stereotypes.
It promotes visual literacy (reading a narrative through images alone).
It supports emotional literacy and develops empathy.
It reflects a more diverse family unit, with grandma taking the place of Julian’s parents.
It’s a joyful celebration of being yourself!
From Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick 2018) | Illustration © 2018 by Jessica Love
This beautiful book is one of the very few picture books about a gender non-conforming child. Yet it feels like a celebration of all children who want to do things differently than the parental figures in their lives—and a love letter to the grownups who deeply understand them.
- gothamist.com
I am not advocating gender fluidity. But like Jessica Love, I am an advocate for empathy and understanding; acceptance and tolerance: justice and love - and quality children’s books like Julián.
Because picture books like this play such a vital role in a child’s healthy development (and ultimately, the well-being of society). They promote empathy - the ability to see things from someone else’s perspective. This skill will help equip future generations with the tools and emotional intelligence to do things differently from their parents.
Which will be no bad thing.
Because there is too much division and hatred in our world right now.
Perhaps Julián is a Mermaid is the perfect antidote.
Find out more about Jessica Love on her websiteI don’t know if I got it all right, but I know I brought the best of myself to the effort because picture books are deep stuff, and it’s a big deal to get in on the ground floor of a child’s developing mind.
- Jessica Love on Julián is a Mermaid
Illustration © 2018 by Jessica Love
‘Though it could easily feel preachy, this charmingly subversive tale instead offers a simple yet powerful story of the importance of being seen and affirmed.’
- Kirkus ReviewsBuy UK
Buy US
Good to Read
Mermaid books for Julián to enjoy
Father Bear Comes Home by Maurice Sendak
The Sea Tiger by Victoria Turnball
SourcesJulián Is a Mermaid by jessica love (Candlewick Press 2018) Wilson criticised for transgender children comment by Heloise Wood (Thebookseller.com, april 25 2019) 'I am proven joyously wrong': picture book about trans child wins major prize amid moral panic by alison flood (Theguardian.com, september 11 2019) Trans kids’ book ‘Julian is a Mermaid’ is winning hearts and awards by josh jackman (pinknews.co.uk, FEBRUARY 17 2019) press for Julián is a Mermaid by assorted authors (Jesslove.format) Profile: Jessica Love by sara ortiz (kirkusreviews.com may 25 2018) Julián Is a Mermaid review (publishersweekly.com) New Diverse Children's Books That Actually Reflect The Lives Of NYC Kids by jennifer vanasco (gothamist.com, may 3 2018) © 2020 BY TIM WARNES (UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.
July 17, 2020
Another little bear!
Development work: You Are My Sunshine (2021) | © 2020 by Tim Warnes
You to me are everything
The sweetest song that I could sing
Oh, baby, oh, baby.
— The Real Thing
I have illustrated a whole bunch of bears over the years.
They include:
Little Honey Bear, with his liking for moon juice (Little Honey Bear and the Smiley Moon, Little Tiger Press 2006).
A folksy family of bears (Jesus Loves Me, Simon & Schuster 2006).
Benny, an adventurous little German bear (Benny Bärentatze und die Kleine Weltreise, Loewe 2013).
And of course, that other hairy, not-so-scary grizzly bear, Boris! (Boris Starts School et al., Oxford University Press.)
Perhaps the most beautiful of my bear books is the series I illustrated for Little Tiger Press. The first, I Love You as Big as the World (2008), was followed by Silent Night (2010). This was repackaged and repaginated with a new text to become I Love You to the Moon and Back (2015). Each features the same two bears as they explore the idyllic world around them. (The bears are usually interpreted as mama and baby - but to me, they are papa and baby.)
From Silent Night by Juliet Groom, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2010) | Illustration © 2010 by Tim Warnes
I’m so proud of these illustrations, which were created traditionally using mixed media on paper (predominantly watercolour and water-soluble crayons). Sometimes I’m tempted to try my hand in the digital realm. But honestly, I would really miss the hands-on element:
The swish of brushes in jars of water.
Mixing my colours on white plates.
Loading up a fat brush and letting it glide over the paper.
Allowing colours to bleed into another. (Enjoying the happy accident when it wasn’t intended…)
It’s really quite therapeutic!
When I was a student, I experimented with wax resist (inspired by the artist, John Piper). Simply put, you draw with a wax crayon (or candle!), which resists any water-based mediums, e.g. ink and watercolour. I used this technique to create more texture in the illustrations for these bear books (for example, to the mountain tops, rivers and moon). The final art is much smaller (about 20%) than the final printed illustrations. This was intentional, as I wanted to emphasise those gorgeous textures when the art was scaled up.
Anyway, here’s the good news: Last week, I began work on a new title for the series, You Are My Sunshine.
Now my desk is covered with sheets of bear drawings, bits of photographic reference, and my bear books. And I’m really excited!
Here’s a few insights on my favourite spreads from those earlier books:I Love You As Big As The World
‘The gorgeous illustrations by Tim Warnes will make this a favourite bedtime or quiet time read for you both.’
- LoveReading4Kids
From I Love You as Big as the World by David Van Buren, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2008) | Illustration © 2008 by Tim Warnes
This image was tough to pull off! For a start, it was tricky finding reference for bears swimming underwater, so most were drawn from paused video footage. (I hadn’t discovered the joy of Google back then!) Next, I made tonal drawings and colour studies to work out how best to achieve the feeling of being underwater. I seem to remember I restarted the final art a few times before I was satisfied - but it was worth it.
I love the movement of the diving bear, and the atmosphere created by the shafts of light and the sea green colour.
From I Love You as Big as the World by David Van Buren, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2008) | Illustration © 2008 by Tim Warnes
Being up close to the bears, down amongst the grass, adds a real tenderness to this image.
Silent Night
‘Readers will take a shine to the irrepressibly sweet bear and cub who joyfully discover and appreciate the wonders of nature in their midst’
- Publishers Weekly
From Silent Night by Juliet Groom, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2010) | Illustration © 2010 by Tim Warnes
The title page is a favourite of mine. (Sadly, it was dropped from Moon and Back.) I love walking in the countryside at night, especially under a full moon. It’s so magical, and still, and I think I captured that peaceful atmosphere well here. Papa bear is outside the cave, looking back with a smile at his sleeping cub. I’m pleased with the implied story that daddy is going to wake little bear, so he can experience the secrets of the night.
I Love You to the Moon and Back
‘Sweetly drawn, in a gentle, loving story, this is a perfect 'winding-down' story.’
- The Bookbag
From I Love You to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth (Little Tiger Press 2015) | Illustration © 2010 by Tim Warnes
Despite the majestic vista, there’s an intimacy to this image. To me, it speaks of safety and security; of unity between a parent and child. And the passing owl is an added bonus!
When I began work on Big as the World, Levi was only a year old; Noah was eight.And I think that’s the secret to their success and enduring appeal.
People can feel that affection and warmth.
Development work: You Are My Sunshine (2021) | © 2020 by Tim Warnes
I can’t wait to show you My Sunshine. It’s going to be a little cracker, too.
You Are My Sunshine will be published in 2021
‘… as sweet as any in the guess-how-much-I-love-you genre. What makes this one stand out from the teeming crowd is the art. Warnes’s watercolor-and-charcoal illustrations depict the expressive bears in a range of natural settings.’
- Kirkus ReviewsThese illustrations....oh my goodness they are so heartwarming. ❤️
- rated 5* by summer, GoodReadsBuy UK
Buy US
‘Fantastic book that tries to explain the unexplainable - the love a parent has for their child.’
- Rated 5* by Jon Nakapalau on GoodReadsBuy UK
Buy US
SourcesYou to Me Are Everything: Written by Ken Gold and Michael DenneI Love You as Big as the World by David Van Buren, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2008)Silent Night by Juliet Groom, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2010)I Love You to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth (Little Tiger Press 2015)I Love You as Big as the World - LoveReading4Kids reviewI LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK - THE BOOKBAG REVIEWSILENT NIGHT - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW © 2020 by Tim Warnes (unless otherwise attributed)****Use of third party copyrighted material falls under Fair Use/Fair Dealing Practice.
July 10, 2020
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (Hyperion 2009) | © Mo Willems 2009
I don’t want to be mean or anything, but naked mole rats are ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING and look TOTALLY UNSAVOURY.
— Gus Munchie
Publishers are incredibly wary of depicting any kind of nudity in children’s books.
No one wants their book censored or accused of inappropriate content. Which adds a subversive pleasure to this week’s Good to Read recommendation: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (Hyperion 2009)
Naked mole rats are fascinating, interesting, and yucky to look at. And all of those things made me want to write a book about them because I knew that nobody else was going to write a book about naked mole rats. Because they’re just so weird!
- Mo Willems Talks “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed”
Naked mole-rats are, to quote Gus Munchie, ‘the nudists of the rodent world, going about their lives, naked and free.’ This is the premise of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, which begins:
There is so much to learn about the fascinating little creatures known as naked mole rats.
But, for this story, you only need to know three things:
1. They are a little bit rat.
2. They are a little bit mole.
3. They are all naked.
Using his ‘[t]rademark child-like cartoons, zany humour, and endearing characters’ (The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature), Willems upends the naked mole rat’s cultural norm, and introduces an exception to the rules: Wilbur, the naked mole rat who likes to get dressed!
“But not everybody else in the naked mole-rat colony thinks that’s a good idea. As a matter of fact, they think that is a terrible idea. And so they get angry.”
- LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems! Episode 07
The scandalised mole rats run away in disgust.
Mortified by Wilbur’s behaviour, they mock him.
Then they take him to see ‘a giant portrait of Grand-pah, the oldest, greatest, and most naked mole rat ever.’
From Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (Hyperion 2009) | © Mo Willems 2009
‘What sets Willems’s books apart from most other children’s books is that they are very funny’, writes Rivka Galchen in The New Yorker. ‘[His] humor depends on word choice, on timing, on getting repetitions just right.’
From Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (Hyperion 2009) | © Mo Willems 2009
Willems describes himself as a cartoonist.“Look at that picture!” they demanded.
“Look at his heroic face!
“Look at his regal bearing!
“Look at his total lack of clothing!”
And we share a childhood hero - Charles M. Schulz, creator of Peanuts, whose influence can be seen in Willems’ work. For example, one mole-rat bears a striking resemblance to Marcie.
From Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz | © 1979 by United Feature Syndicate, Inc
From Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (Hyperion 2009) | © Mo Willems 2009
And poor Wilbur (you know - the naked mole rat who likes to get dressed?), is bowled over when his fellow mole rats shout in bold, large capitals, “NAKED MOLE RATS DON’T WEAR CLOTHES!” A definite nod to Charlie Brown.
From Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (Hyperion 2009) | © Mo Willems 2009
Willems himself even likens Wilbur the naked mole rat to Snoopy, with ‘sort of a big, off-balanced head.’
So it seems rather apt that Willems the illustrations with a pen nib that had belonged to Schulz!
(And, if you look really close, you’ll even see Charlie Brown’s trademark top in Wilbur’s pile of clothes…)
Wilbur acts as the guide in this book. The hero, who brings about change, is old Grand-pah, who proclaims,
From Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (Hyperion 2009) | © Mo Willems 2009
“Fellow naked mole rats! I had never worn clothes until I heard Wilbur’s simple question: Why not?
“Why not, indeed? Do clothes hurt anyone? No. Are they fun? Well, they may not be for everyone, but this old naked a mole rat wishes he had tried getting dressed earlier!”
(Then Grand-pah complimented Wilbur on his socks.)
And so the book ends with a quiet revolution - and three new things you need to know about naked mole rats, which bring the story full-circle.
Kids’ books may appear two-dimensional on the surface, but they can raise some deep and philosophical questions. “As a children’s book writer,” says Willems, “you have to think the deep thoughts because that’s the philosophical age. A five-year-old is asking questions: Why are people mean? What is death? Can I drive a bus?”
So, aside from the fact that Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed is a funny, well crafted and original story, it’s Good to Read because of the themes it brings up:
Peer pressure
Conformity
Thinking for yourself
Empowerment
Naked mole rat gets dressed is a story about a naked mole rat, who wait for it, gets dressed. And what was interesting to me about that was, it wasn’t a story about a character discovering something. It was a story about a whole colony - a whole community - discovering something. And that something is: you can accept mole rats, who are different from the mole-rat that you are.
-Mo Willems Talks “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed”
Because kids have deep thoughts, too.
From Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (Hyperion 2009) | © Mo Willems 2009
SourcesNaked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems (Hyperion, 2009) Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary by Tim Warnes (Self published, 2020) Mo Willems Talks “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed” (YouTube, 2020) THE OXFORD COMPANION TO CHILDREN’S LITERATURE BY DANIEL HAHN (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS SECOND EDITION, 2015) LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems! Episode 07 , (YouTube, 2020) Mo Willems’s Funny Failures by Rivka Galchen (The New Yorker, Jan 30 2017) Author Mo Willems' magical menagerie (YouTube, 2014)
July 3, 2020
Using Gus Munchie to talk to kids about COVID-19
From Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary by Tim Warnes (self-published) | © 2020 by Tim Warnes
A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.
— C.S Lewis
Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary is now available in fourteen daily instalments, each representing a day of lockdown. The initial email campaign wasn't without incident, and on Day Four, I received a somewhat negative email.
As a general rule, I try not to read reviews. However, this landed straight in my inbox, so it was hard to ignore!
The reader's primary concern, which I would like to address for the benefit of everyone, is this:
'I feel that a lot of children are concerned about the pandemic without scaring them any further.'
I agree! So it's worth our while exploring how much truth there is in their concern.
We are all - children included - affected by the global pandemic.How could our children not be concerned, surrounded as they are by 24/7 news and daily death tolls?
With their schools shut and playgrounds closed.
With social distancing in place. Unable to meet or hug friends and family.
This week the World Health Organisation warned Europe to prepare for a second deadly wave of the virus. Meanwhile, the White House's infectious disease expert is "very concerned" that new US coronavirus cases could hit 100,000 a day. "It is going to be very disturbing, I will guarantee you that," said Dr Fauci.
My intention will never be to harm anyone emotionally. And it is true that the reality of the pandemic (though not dwelt upon), is acknowledged in my story.
But I find it hard to believe that Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary will add to a child’s fears.
Gus is merely holding a mirror up to what he sees around him:
"It's highly infectious, and thousands will die."
I wrote that line early on into lockdown. At the time of release (June 19th), there had been 463,781 deaths,and over 8.5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus.
"The rising death tolls being reported every day - these kids have seen all of that and internalised it." Those are the words of the chief executive of the Childhood Trust, who says some children are displaying signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including vivid nightmares. Dr Maria Loades, University of Bath, agrees, adding, "Current social distancing measures enforced on children because of COVID19 are likely to increase the risk of depression and probably anxiety..."
So no - I don't believe I am a fearmonger. By naming our worries or concerns, we create a space to talk about them. And that's why Gus Munchie is more than just a great story. It's there to help children process these emotions, and know that they are not alone.
From Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary by Tim Warnes (self-published) | © 2020 by Tim Warnes
Death is a bit of a taboo subject for kids books.
(There are exceptions, of course, but that's another post all in itself.) I think it's a bit of a taboo subject in general - it makes many adults feel uncomfortable, and in denial of the reality, will quickly brush it aside:
"Me no wan' die!" says Lunchbox.
"You won't die, Munchkin!" says Mama.
"Well, he might," I say.
"Gus, how is that helpful?" asks dad.
Helpful or not, the truth is, nobody really knows what the heck's going on.
Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary by Tim Warnes
The pandemic is the catalyst for the story, used to provide the inciting incident (Lunchbox's cough) that destabilises the Munchie's world. After the initial reality check in Chapter Two, I don't mention coronavirus a great deal. It's the hook I hang my story on - what it’s really about is Gus, and his relationship with his dad, Fat Tony.
Dad’s not used to having us at home all day.
Mama’s what my Grampa calls ‘the bread-winner’, so she goes out to work. (Dad tells people she fiddles about on computers.) I go off to school, which leaves him and Lunchbox to do their own thing.
“We’ll settle into a routine,” says Mama. “You won’t even notice I’m here.”
“If there’s one thing you’ve taught me, Dad, it’s that Nature is adaptable. We’ll learn to coexist.”
“Like beavers and muskrats?” asks Dad hopefully.
“Exactly,” I say.
But really, I was thinking of sea lions and orcas.
Dad puts on some music to cheer himself up.
“Baby, I was bo-orn to ruuuuun…” he wails.
Seriously, I can’t ever remember seeing Fat Tony run anywhere…
Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary by Tim Warnes
I believe Gus Munchie is a well-crafted story, with recognisable scenarios that add humour and drive the story forward. I close my open story loops and affirm the identity of my characters, bringing them together for an ultimately satisfying and uplifting ending.
From Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary by Tim Warnes (self-published) | © 2020 by Tim Warnes
There is, however, a note of uncertainty to Gus's concluding passage. And I think it reflects how we're all feeling:
"Whatever the new normal brings, we'll face it together."
COVID-19 affects us all.
We can pretend that our kids are excluded in an attempt to feel more in control. Or we can accept the reality that we are experiencing it together.
I don't think Gus Munchie will make children's fears any worse. But it might help them externalise them. It's also funny, touching and poignant, and I encourage you to share it with your children. Sure, you may face some uncomfortable conversations as a result of reading it. But that's a far healthier place for your kids to be, than keeping those feelings bottled up inside.
One thing's for sure: the pandemic is not over yet.
I would highly recommend this brief article by the Child Mind Institute, which guided my writing of Gus Munchie:
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus Crisis | Kids worry more when they're kept in the dark by Rachel EhmkeSupport your kids - sign up to Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary(Recommended ages: seven - adult)14 daily instalments delivered to your inbox.
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Sources Second more deadly wave of coronavirus expected 'to hit Europe this winter' , aNNE gULLAND (tHE Telegraph, 9th June 2020) Dr Fauci in 100,000 daily coronavirus cases warning , Dr FaucI (BBC, 30th june 2020) Coronavirus Worldwide Graphs (WorldometeR, 2nd July 2020)Coronavirus Worldwide Graphs (Worldometer, 2nd july 2020) Coronavirus: Children 'developing post-traumatic stress' from pandemic , Ashitha Nagesh (BBC, 22ND JUNE 2020) Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus Crisis | Kids worry more when they're kept in the dark , Rachel Ehmke (Child Mind Institute) © 2020 BY TIM WARNES (UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.
June 12, 2020
Why we need more books like ‘The Snowy Day’
Illustration © 1962 by Ezra Jack Keats
…[T]o give young readers who are black, brown, or any sort of different only books about their difference is burdensome. It looks like inclusiveness, but is an insult.
— Rumaan Alam
I have strong memories of visiting my local public library as a young child.
It was a ten-minute walk away, and we regularly went with my mum. I can remember the pride of owning my own 6 library tokens; of sitting at the low table to read; the quiet hush. Looking back, I wonder about the open-minded librarian who curated the picture book collection. Because it included some real gems, including some quiet, everyday stories featuring a boy called Peter. Set in urban New York, these books were groundbreaking - because Peter is African-American.
Let me put this into context for you. I grew up in the seventies, in a white community in the Home Counties (UK). It was little more than a village back then, and there was, to my recollection, just one black family. So I find the fact that this small, 1970s’ provincial library contained the work of Ezra Jack Keats - and his character Peter - is quite remarkable.
There is a severe lack of ethnic representations in children’s books. Diversity, particularly in everyday stories of families and classrooms is lacking. That’s not to devalue or disregard the importance of those books that educate kids about slavery, the civil rights movement, or influential black figures. Or those ‘storybooks with the noble aim of teaching [black] children that their skin, their hair, their noses are beautiful.’
But there is a dire need for picture books where the black protagonist is merely doing what kids do.
Dressing up.
Playing make-believe and taming dragons.
Going to parties, for a walk in the woods or through the neighbourhood.
Stories which work regardless of what the protagonist looks like.
And that’s what Ezra Jack Keats’s picture books do: he casts minority characters as the protagonists. “None of the manuscripts I’d been illustrating featured any black kids—except for token blacks in the background. My book would have [Peter] there simply because he should have been there all along.”
This is such an essential truth for us to embrace. Because children are validated when they see themselves reflected positively in books. It gives them a sense of belonging. Don’t believe me? Then keep reading for a beautiful (and surprising) example of this being borne out.
Detail from Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats | Illustration © 1964 by Ezra Jack Keats
Keats is perhaps best known for the book that introduced his character, Peter, to the world: The Snowy Day (1962)
This was during the height of the Civil Rights movement. But despite being recognised with the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book in 1963, Keats was criticised:
for tokenism - because he was white;
for not addressing Peter’s race in the text;
for being too integrationist;
for not truly representing or celebrating African-American culture or racial identity.
Keats held to his view:
Ezra Jack Keats’s entry in The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature reads:
Keats grew up in urban New York, where his books found their inspiration. The Snowy Day was notable for featuring a young African-American protagonist in the early 1960’s, when racial tensions were rife, and representations of ethnic diversity were scarce.
Consider how tragic those facts are:
Racial tensions were rife … representations of ethnic diversity were scarce.
58 years later, not an awful lot has changed.
Racial tensions are still rife. Ethnic diversity in children’s publishing is still scarce.
That’s the point.
Keats’ work is timeless - but for all the wrong reasons.
It’s easier to look away and to decide that this is a problem for someone else. It’s actually a problem for all of us.
- Seth Godin
Detail from Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats | Illustration © 1964 by Ezra Jack Keats
All children deserve to see themselves reflected in the books they read. It validates them and gives them a sense of belonging, as this revealing quote shared by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation reveals:
Now is the time for those of us working in children’s publishing to push forward into being more inclusive in our representations. We need to ensure that kids of colour see themselves in the books we produce, so that they hear the message: You are important.
Your lives matter.
Find out more about the legacy of Ezra Jack KeatsGood to ReadEveryday Black Kids
The New Small Person by Lauren Child (Puffin 2014)
Only You Can Be You! by by Nathan and Sally Clarkson, ill. by Tim Warnes (Tommy Nelson 2019)
So Much by Trish Cooke, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books 1994)
Leon and Bob by Simon James (Walker Books 2008)
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Viking 1962)
Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Walker Books 2018)
Sources We Don’t Only Need More Diverse Books. We Need More Diverse Books Like The Snowy Day by Rumaan Alam (slate.com, August 02, 2016)The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation 'The Snowy Day': Breaking Color Barriers, Quietly (NPR, January 28, 2012)The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature by Daniel Hahn (Oxford University Press, Second Edition 2015) Without ambiguity: Black Lives Matter by Seth Godin (Seth’s Blog, June 08, 2020)June 5, 2020
United we stand
Detail from Only You Can Be You! by Nathan and Sally Clarkson, ill. by Tim Warnes (Tommy Nelson 2019) / © Tim Warnes 2019
I want you to know that you matter. I want you to know that your lives matter; that your dreams matter …
— Former U.S. President Barack Obama
Next Tuesday, June 09, is Empathy Day 2020.
Empathy is a good thing. It is a great thing.
It is empathy that sparked the current wave of anti-racism protests, triggered by the recent death of African-American George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis.
Empathy is about being seen, heard and understood.
That is the essence of empathy.
We saw what happened to Mr Floyd.
How he was constrained.
We saw the police officer kneeling on his neck.
For eight minutes.
We heard Mr Floyd plead for his life.
We heard the other officers trying to intervene.
We don’t understand why the other three officers were unable to intervene.
We do understand that this was totally avoidable.
That we have witnessed a murder.
No wonder people are so angry.
I empathise with other police officers as they try to maintain law and order. But I do not condone the violence - whether perpetrated by a minority of civilians, or by individuals in authority.
However, merely feeling empathy is insufficient. Empathy in and of itself does not lead to change.
Action leads to change. And ‘[a]mid the chaotic scenes convulsing the [United States], there have been glimmers of hope, unifying gestures and stirring displays of solidarity.’
Watch these uplifting moments from peaceful protests and be encouraged.
Detail from Only You Can Be You! by Nathan and Sally Clarkson, ill. by Tim Warnes (Tommy Nelson 2019) / © Tim Warnes 2019
There has been a significant move in the world of Children’s Books to be more diverse and inclusive. To show and reflect different cultures (at its most basic level, people of colour). Because as a general rule, the world of picture books, at least, is dominated by light-skinned characters.
Consider these 2018 stats from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE). Of the 9,115 children’s books published over the previous twelve months, only 4% featured Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) characters.
But positive changes are being made. BAME voices are being heard. Publishers and creators are starting to understand that it is not enough to just acknowledge the evidence. Changes are being made to the books on our children’s shelves.
I agree that all children deserve to see themselves reflected positively in picture books, regardless of race or ethnicity. The value extends beyond skin colour to hair colour, religion, disabled children, gender - even personality types. As former U.K. Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell explains, books allow us ‘to see and understand the world through the eyes of others. A good book is an empathy engine.’
In the last year, I have been deeply moved by books about African-Americans, beginning with the gripping YA trilogy, Seeds of America by Laurie Halse Anderson. This series of historical novels tracing a young, Black American slave’s fight for freedom during the Revolutionary War. They led me to listen to 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup (a beautifully written memoir from 1853), which I followed with the contemporary YA novel, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
These stories allowed me to see and understand the world through the eyes of others, and I was moved deeply, to the point of tears.
Concerning children’s books: What of the argument that there’s more to African Americans than their enslavement and oppression? What about the lack of diversity in the everyday stories of wizards and classrooms and dinosaur tamers?
- Former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman
I want children to feel like they belong!
And I understand how important it is for all children to see themselves reflected in the books they read. So let me share how I have begun to redress the imbalance in my own work.
From I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! by Caroline B. Cooney, ill. by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2020) | Illustration © 2020 by Tim Warnes
Later this year a companion book to I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug! is being released in the United States by Zonderkidz.
I had an email once from a mother in the U.S., who wrote to me about the first book. It held special significance for her because she saw herself - and her young son - reflected in the pictures: a dark-haired, white mom with her blonde haired kid.
The new title, I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! by Caroline B. Cooney, features an African-American family. Also scheduled for release is It’s Bedtime, Charlie!, commissioned by my Chinese publisher (DMind Education) in Hong Kong. This story, which I have written and illustrated, features a mixed-race family: the father is dark-skinned, the mother is lighter-skinned. Charlie is somewhere in between.
Detail from It’s Bedtime, Charlie! by Tim Warnes (DMind 2020) | © 2020 by Tim Warnes
Concerning the actual stories, it’s totally irrelevant whether the characters are black, white or purple. They could have bears!
What is totally (and tragically) relevant is the contribution they will make to how the next generations perceive themselves, their friends and neighbours.
Don’t underestimate the role picture books play in shaping the unconscious attitudes of our kids. Because a little empathy goes a long way. And whether we acknowledge it or not, we can all be part of the solution.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute. It feels good.
Because enough is enough.
Good to read for DiversityOnly You Can Be You! by by Nathan and Sally Clarkson, ill. by Tim Warnes (Tommy Nelson 2019)
*Rated 5 Star on AMAZON *
‘a sweet reminder to both our children and ourselves that there is so much beauty in diversity.’
‘Being the mom of three (two of which are special needs) makes me love this message even more.’
‘be inspired by the diversity of children and animals throughout the book’
‘The message … is so needed in this divided world.’
BUY UK
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May 29, 2020
Social distancing with the Gruffalo
Illustration © by Axel Scheffler 2020, based on characters from The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler © 1999 (Macmillan Children’s Books)
I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo.
‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
— J.R.R. Tolkein
It’s funny how quickly we can adapt to new situations.
Before COVID-19, I found video chat pretty uncomfortable. Now it feels quite normal. Yet there are still great feelings of uncertainty about the future.
How long will we need to remain socially distanced?
When will a vaccine be found?
This is how one young boy, Jaheim, expressed himself in a recent BBC News video:
“I’m really scared of this coronavirus because it kills people. And I am also sick of it and worried.”
- Coronavirus: When can we hug our friends and family again?
Mixed and muddled messages from the government and media don’t help either. This statement, in an article yesterday on the staggered reopening of UK schools, left me very confused: If any pupils or staff - or anyone they live with - develop coronavirus symptoms, they will be advised to stay away from school.
Advised? I thought we still had to self isolate if we displayed symptoms! No wonder people still feel confused.
Perhaps the recent COVID themed work by The Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler should have been mandatory reading.Because it’s really rather good.
It was Scheffler who had the idea of updating some of their iconic characters (Stick Man, Zog et al.) to reflect how life was changing:
Donaldson didn’t want to appear preachy, and Scheffler’s work is naturally humorous. So the results are a lighthearted way to instruct kids on the new norm: twelve illustrations ‘depicting their famous characters adjusting to social distancing, home-schooling and helping others during the COVID-19 crisis’.
I especially enjoyed their reimagined scene from Room on the Broom. It features appropriately distanced characters - the witch is wearing a protective face mask (although her nose remains uncovered) and her cauldron is full of loo rolls!
Artwork and verse © Axel Scheffler and Julia Donaldson 2020, based on characters from Room on the Broom © 2001 (Macmillan Children’s Books)
But I think Scheffler does himself a great disservice by saying, “It’s really more about entertainment than serious information.”
Sometimes serious information is best served in a fun package.
Like sugar-coating a bitter pill.
Text © Nosy Crow 2020 | Illustration © Axel Scheffler 2020 | Shared under a Creative Commons Licence
Scheffler has also illustrated a free coronavirus booklet for primary school-age children. Coronavirus: A book for children (Nosy Crow 2020).
Written with input from a child psychologist, two headteachers and a Professor of Infectious Disease, it answers key questions in simple language:
What is the coronavirus?
How do you catch it?
How can I help control it?
Why have some places closed?
What might happen next?
Text © Nosy Crow 2020 | Illustration © Axel Scheffler 2020 | Shared under a Creative Commons Licence
Professor Graham Medley, (Professor of Infectious Disease Modelling at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) advisor to the project, explains why products like this are so important:
This pandemic is changing children’s lives across the globe and will have a lasting impact on us all. Helping children understand what is going on is an important step in helping them cope and making them part of the story – this is something that we are all going through, not something being done to them. This book puts children IN the picture rather just watching it happen, and in a way that makes the scary parts easier to cope with.
Text © Nosy Crow 2020 | Illustration © Axel Scheffler 2020 | Shared under a Creative Commons Licence
‘Fear and worry and feeling scared are totally normal and appropriate at the moment,’ says Dr Radha Modgil, GP and Wellbeing Expert. ‘Tell a trusted adult, a parent, a teacher, or a carer how you feel.’
That’s why resources like those described her, aimed at families, are invaluable. They help address our fears and make sense of what is becoming the new norm. By putting children in the picture, we are including them in these conversations.
Coronavirus: A book for children concludes with the line:
I can relate to Scheffler’s sense of helplessness: What can I do? When the pandemic really kicked off, I asked myself the same question.One day, this strange time will end.
And, like Scheffler, I concluded I should continue doing what I do best.
Tell stories.
Because that is what I can do.
So I have read to my nephew (via video chat), several times a week.
I have written several articles on this blog, guiding parents and carers to books that might help them support their children.
And I have been busy working on my own creative response: Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary.
I planned to release Gus Munchie before lockdown lifted, which is not going to happen (I am still writing it). But things will take a long time to really get back to anything like ‘normal’. And with predicted future spikes in COVID and localised lockdowns ahead of us, it will remain relevant for some time.
To quote Gus Munchie: ‘My Lockdown Diary might become historically important, like the Secret Diary of Samuel Pepys or the Wimpy Kid.’
From Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary © by Tim Warnes 2020
Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary will be released in fourteen daily instalments online, beginning June 19th, 2020.
Sign up below to get it delivered to your inbox.
Download a free copy of Coronavirus: book for children hereSourcesThe Lord of the Rings Book 1: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkein 11 LITERARY QUOTES THAT SPEAK TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC by Lily Dunn (Bookriot.com, Mar 31, 2020)Coronavirus: When can we hug our friends and family again? (BBC News) Coronavirus: When are schools reopening? by Ben Milne & Paul Kerley (BBC News) Stay in your cave: the Gruffalo lends a claw to the coronavirus effort by Esther Addley (The Guardian 04 April 2020)The Gruffalo on Facebook The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson shows her characters social distancing (BBC News, 03 April 2020) Actor Hugh Bonneville voices audio for Nosy Crow’s coronavirus book for children (Nosy Crow Blog April 20, 2020 Coronavirus: A book for children by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson and Nia Robert (Nosy Crow 2020) The Gruffalo, Stick Man and the Smartest Giant in Town lend a paw, a stick and a hand to help with the coronavirus effort (BookTrust, 06 April 2020)Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary by Tim Warnes (2020)May 22, 2020
How Kind!
Detail from Only You Can Be You by Nathan and Sally Clarkson, ill. by Tim Warnes (Tommy Nelson 2019) / © Tim Warnes 2019
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 - and the UK charity, Mental Health Foundation, is celebrating kindness.
Kindness to ourselves; to others and in a broader sense, within our communities and society as a whole.
Why kindness?
Because it has real benefits for our mental health and wellbeing.
In a recent Mental Health Foundation survey, 63 % of UK adults agreed that when other people are kind, it has a positive impact on their mental health. The same proportion agrees that being kind to others also has a positive impact on their own mental health.
Creative people are notorious for suffering with mental health problems. And poor mental health (both directly and indirectly) has impacted my career over the years. Fortunately (in terms of my own depression), I never quite reached the point where I was unable to work at all. But at times, my productivity has undoubtedly been affected negatively. Unable to think clearly and with depleted energy, depression has burdened me with lethargy and loaded me with self-doubt.
I’m surprised by how many projects I’ve worked on while being in a really bad place.They include:
Chalk & Cheese
It’s Christmas! (featuring Archie/Otto the rhino)
I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug
Silent Night (aka I Love You to the Moon and Back)
The Big Book Adventure
The quality of my work was not affected by my poor mental state. If anything, these books feel infused with something else - a warmth; some extra empathy. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I’d say it was the work of the Holy Spirit.
‘When I am weak, I am made strong.’
You may explain it away as you like.
Detail from I Love You to the Moon and Back by Amelia Hepworth, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2015) / Image © 2010 by Tim Warnes
On rare occassions, I let my publishers down. Unable to be creative, I would at times just sit and cry. They would be understanding and supportive. The commissioning publisher of The Big Book Adventure in particular showed me such grace and love, telling me to put the project away and take some time out.
In effect, they were saying, Be kind to yourself.
Studies suggest that when we are kind to ourselves, we are better positioned to be kind to others.And ‘we are more likely to be kind to ourselves when we receive social support and kindness from others’.
It’s a circular thing: Kindness begets kindness.
How Kind! by Mary Murphy (Walker Books) | © by Mary Murphy
This was beautifully depicted in the picture book, How Kind! By Mary Murphy (Walker Books). With bold, bright graphics, it was a well-worn favourite when the kids were young (as was Murphy’s I Like it When…), though sadly it seems to have disappeared.
‘Great children’s books speak [in the language of children] to the most elemental truths of existence’ writes Maria Popova. This language, she points out, is one ‘of absolute sincerity, so deliciously countercultural in our age of cynicism.’
Perhaps the simplicity of Murphy’s How Kind! is what makes it feel so sincere.
Described by The New York Times as ‘[a] circular tale of good will in the barnyard’, it begins with Hen giving Pig an egg.
How Kind! by Mary Murphy (Walker Books) | © by Mary Murphy
But Pig does not eat the egg - instead, he keeps it safe and warm. Inspired by Hen’s generosity, Pig thinks, ‘I would like to do something kind too.’ So Pig gives Rabbit a carrot (‘How kind!’) - and there begins a series of small, but meaningful, goodwill gestures.
‘Pig is so kind,’ thought Rabbit. ‘I will do something kind too.’
He picked some flowers.
‘These flowers are for you, Cow,’ said Rabbit.
‘How kind!’ said Cow.
How Kind! by Mary Murphy (Walker Books) | © by Mary Murphy
The acts of kindness eventually come full circle, and Hen is presented with a surprise gift from Pig. (Hint: he’s been keeping the egg nice and warm…)
If you have young kids, this is definitely one for the bookshelf. With its ‘bouncy text that seemingly jumps off the page,’ it’s a satisfying book for storytime. I guarantee small children will join in with the repeated refrain of ‘How kind!’ and be enchanted by the story’s ending!
So during this week celebrating kindness, let’s be encouraged.
There is light at the end of dark tunnels. And as we step back into the light, let’s stay alert!
Alert to those small acts of kindness, so they may inspire us to be kind in turn.
Good to ReadBooks about Kindness
Boris Gets Spots by Carrie Weston, ill. by Tim Warnes (Oxford University Press 2013)
How Kind! by Mary Murphy (Walker Boooks)
On Sudden Hill by Linda Sarah and Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2014)
Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson, ill. by Jane Chapman (McElderry Books 2007)
One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth (HarperCollins 1989)
Buy How Kind! for someone you love.Buy UK
Buy USA
DISCLAIMER: THESE ARE AFFILIATE LINKS WITH WATERSTONES (UK) AND INDIEBOUND (USA) SUPPORTING LOCAL BOOKSHOPS THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW Find out more about the creator of How Kind! atMaryMurphy.ieSourcesONLY YOU CAN BE YOU - WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT MAKES YOU GREAT! BY NATHAN AND SALLY CLARKSON, ILL. BY TIM WARNES (TOMMY NELSON 2019)Mental Health Foundation Kindness research briefing (Mental Health Foundation)I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK BY AMELIA HEPWORTH, ILL. BY TIM WARNES (LITTLE TIGER PRESS 2015)How Kind! by Mary Murphy (Walker Books)Maria Popova: By the Book (The New York Times Feb. 07, 2019)How Kind! on Good Reads
May 15, 2020
How the Colour Monster can help your family during lockdown
But I see your true colors, shining through
I see your true colors, and that’s why I love you.
So don’t be afraid to let them show
your true colors, true colors
are beautiful, like a rainbow.
— Billy Steinberg
It’s not always easy to articulate our emotions, even at the best of times. COVID-19 has stirred them up good and proper (as they say here in Dorset).
Young children, in particular, may not have the words to describe how they’re feeling (which is why they end up having tantrums). One of the many benefits of picture books is that they can enable children to find ways - and words - to help them express what’s going on inside. My Good to Read this week is a fantastic example of a book that does just that - in a gentle and entertaining way.
Meet the Colour Monster!
The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas (Templar 2016) is described by Book Trust as ‘[d]eceptively simple, surprisingly powerful and satisfyingly reassuring’. A book about feelings - and colours - it features a friendly, fuzzy monster. You know, the kind you’d find inhabiting Sesame Street. (Come to think of it, he does resemble Oscar the Grouch with that big, animated monobrow!)
Llenas’s art is so expressive - childlike in its simplicity and sheer exuberance, with intensely scribbled crayon marks and wild brush strokes. It’s a joy to behold!
Her story begins with the introduction of the Colour Monster (we turn the page and discover the narrator’s a little girl):
This is my friend the colour monster.
Today he’s all mixed up and very confused.
He doesn’t know why.
(His shaggy fur is a rainbow of red, yellow, green and blue.)
Look at you, you’re all over the place!
That’s because the monster’s ‘feelings are all stirred together’ - so his colours are too.
I think probably lots of us feel like that at the moment.
The girl then proceeds to help Colour Monster sort himself out. She names and describes how the emotions might feel, then divides them by colour, putting each into a separate jar.
Such a beautiful idea!
This is happiness.
It shines yellow like the sun and twinkles like the stars.
You feel bright and light. You laugh, you jump, you dance! You want to share that feeling with everyone.
So often children are taught that the negative emotions are wrong (or they are denied and brushed aside).
Stop crying.
Pull yourself together.
Calm down!
In a very visual way, the colour monster expresses emotions that we often pretend - even to ourselves - we don’t have.
Abject fear.
Sorrow.
Out and out RAGE!
The strength of The Colour Monster is that Llenas doesn’t pass judgement on whether they are good or bad.
They just are.
This is anger.
It blazes red like fire.
Anger can make you want to stomp…
…and Rooooooaaaaaaarrr!
and shout, ‘It’s not fair!’
What’s lovely about this book is how it could be used to spark discussion about feelings. We don’t all think the same - and might disagree with the colour associations presented in the story! For example, Llenas presents blue as sadness, ‘gentle like a rainy day.’
But for my seven-year-old nephew Isaac, blue is his Happy Colour!
Isaac is autistic - and he sometimes describes feelings as colours. (He also assigns colours to people. His mum is peachy, I’m dark blue.) For Isaac, red is quite a grumpy colour (‘because it’s as hot as the sun!’). But sometimes, red’s his second Happy Colour, and makes him think of kisses:
My Happy Colour is blue. ... It makes me feel [like I’m] flying in the sky like a bird and swimming a long way in the water.
Orange makes me feel calm, very calm I mean because it’s an inviting colour to me.
Yellow makes me feel happy, summery and smiley.
Green is my favourite colour. It makes me delightful! It’s a really comfortable colour to me. I love green plates as well. And black makes me feel as [if] I’m in the dark.
- Isaac, aged 7
(Which apparently is a good thing - Isaac likes the dark.)
A first-grade teacher explains why being able to discuss our emotions is so important:
Learning about feelings and emotions is part of developing positive self-esteem and better relationships with others. As a child’s emotional intelligence grows, they are increasingly able to use their emotional information to guide their own thinking and behaviour; in other words, to calm themselves down.
- Grade Onederful blog
The teacher goes on to explain that children who can name and understand their feelings are better able to handle the ups and downs of childhood. They are more confident and display a maturity that their peers lack.
So it came as no surprise to read that The Colour Monster’s creator, Anna Llenas, cites her art psychotherapy training as an influence. Llenas ‘currently acts as a teacher and art therapist specialising in art and emotional education.’ Her experience in these fields shines through her work - and makes The Colour Monster a valuable addition for any bookshelf.
I also think that kids, stuck at home during these socially-distanced times, will find it creatively inspiring. I know I do! It was the cover art that first attracted me to it: the charming monster sits peacefully blowing a series of coloured button-like bubbles. Llenas’ technique is unusual and noteworthy. Her illustrations are created using collage. Often with quite thick bits of card (they look like pieces of old cardboard boxes) which cast pleasing, soft shadows onto the backgrounds. It almost feels like you could pick the bits up from off the page!
Look, kids! it shouts. You can make some awesome art using things from around the house.
Colour in some old bits of card, cut out some shapes, piece them together and see what you can create. (Interestingly, this is very similar to the way that Chris Haughton develops his art for books like A Bit Lost and Shh! We have a Plan.)
The Colour Monster concludes with a new colour.
‘You look different, Colour Monster! Er…how do you feel now?’
Radiating hearts, coloured with shades of pink and smiling from ear to ear - the illustration says it all!
Good to Read
Books about feelings and colours
The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas (Templar 2016)
My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss, ill. by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher (Red Fox 2001)
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DISCLAIMER: THESE ARE AFFILIATE LINKS WITH WATERSTONES (UK) AND INDIEBOUND (USA) SUPPORTING LOCAL BOOKSHOPS THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOWFind out more about the creator of The Colour Monster atannallenas.comSourcesTrue Colors - lyrics by Billy SteinbergThe Colour Monster by Anna Llenas (Templar 2016)The Colour Monster review - BookTrustFeelings Are Important: The Color Monster Book Review and Activities (GradeOnederful)
May 8, 2020
The dangerous 'No Brain'
© 2020 by Tim Warnes
We need to look on children’s books as a gateway to learning, and to happiness as well.
— Lauren Child, Children's Laureate 2017-2019
Less than a mile from my home is a beautiful bluebell wood.
I regularly see hares and roe deer in the surrounding fields, and even caught sight of a stoat the other day. It’s breathtaking inside the ancient coppice at this time of year.
A sea of wild bluebells.
Spangly garlic blooms of white and their diminutive counterpart, starry stitchwort.
Heavy drops of rain drip down from the branches overhead.
Robin, wren and blackcap sing, despite the rain.
Further along the track, a blackbird chimes in.
- Journal (April 28, 2020)
The bluebells are past their best now, but it’s still such a tranquil place to sit and stop and be still.
To become immersed by nature.
Earlier in the week, I went there with the sole intention of filming myself reading my book, DANGEROUS!(With respect to social distancing, the closest interaction I had was with a squirrel. In fact, I’ve only ever seen one other person walking through there.)
With an audience of none, I told the story of Mole and his discovery of ‘something unusual’ on the path.
From DANGEROUS! (Little Tiger Press 2014) © 2014 by Tim Warnes
“What is THIS strange thing?” [Mole] wondered.
He poked it gently.
Then he stuck a label on it: lumpy.
And another: bumpy…
From DANGEROUS! (Little Tiger Press 2014) © 2014 by Tim Warnes
…and then a few more.
But he still didn’t know what it was.
The enormous Lumpy-Bumpy Thing wakes up, yawns a terrifying yawn, and scares the heck out of poor Mole! As the story unfolds, the mysterious Lumpy-Bumpy Thing becomes more of an annoyance than a threat.
Mole doesn’t attempt to interact. He tells the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing to go away - with disregard for its feelings. Perhaps this would not have been the case, had Mole spent a bit more time reading stories.
Because countless studies show that reading fiction creates empathy. ‘As we read about the minds, experiences, and feelings of another, we feel with them.’
From DANGEROUS! (Little Tiger Press 2014) © 2014 by Tim Warnes
By exposing our kids to diverse experiences and characters through stories, we can positively influence the development of one of two basic mindsets - the ‘Yes Brain’ and the ‘No Brain’.
Mole has a ‘No Brain’ mindset.
The Lumpy-Bumpy Thing has a ‘Yes Brain.’
Here’s why:
The ‘Yes Brain’The ‘Yes Brain’ allows our children ‘ to be receptive, open, curious, and creative in the face of life’s problems ’.
It has four fundamental characteristics:
balance;
resilience;
insight;
and empathy.
These are the qualities we all need to be successful in life (and I believe are the qualities to be found in people successfully navigating COVID-19).
The ‘No Brain’The ‘No Brain’ leaves our children feeling ‘reactive, shut down, rigid, and fragile.’
This is not conducive to being creative.
It forms children who are too scared to engage with the world; closed to new experiences, opportunities - and friends.
It’s a no-brainer which we’d prefer for our kids!
The good news is it’s easy for you to promote a ‘Yes Brain’ in your child - by reading with them!
‘Each Yes Brain fundamental emerges directly and spontaneously when you dive together into the pages of a book.’ And the benefits are enormous.
Wherever Mole went, the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing went too.
It wanted to play...
It thought Mole was wonderful!
Mole did not feel the same way at all. And the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing was still gobbling labels!
In the end, it all becomes too much for Mole.
He has a total melt-down, causing the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing to cry. Mole finally feels empathy, makes himself vulnerable - and opens himself up to a new friendship.
From DANGEROUS! (Little Tiger Press 2014) © 2014 by Tim Warnes
(Two other quick examples of Yes and No brains from kids’ books: Mole and Weasel from A Little Bit Worried. Or Pooh Bear and Eeyore.)
Here’s the good news - you don’t need to overthink this.
Because no matter what book you choose, ‘reading together can help you raise kids with resilient minds and connected brains.’
Just the act of physical closeness that occurs when we pull our children close and join together to share the moments that unfold as we read together — laughing, looking at the same pictures, talking about what we wonder about, and sharing the joy that comes from wonderful books — helps create a Yes Brain.
- How Reading with Your Children Can Help Them Develop a ‘Yes Brain’ by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., & Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.
Personally, I find this so encouraging. I’m regularly reading with my 7-year-old nephew (who incidentally provides the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing’s burp for my video) during the COVID-19 lockdown. It’s good to know that it all goes towards helping him develop a positive mindset!
Nominated for the greenaway medal 2015, shortlisted for the Independent Bookshop week Book Award 2016, DANGEROUS! is a great story to share because:It’s fun to read aloud.
It makes kids laugh.
It’s a little subversive.
It’s tender.
It helps promote discussion about feelings.
DANGEROUS! Available in various formats, including e-book, paperback with stickers & paperback with read-along CDI’m at a loss to find the right words for how great this book is. In the vein of Mole, I’m going to string together a bunch of labels; great, original, quirky, tasty, heart-warming, splendid.
- Children’s Librarian, Lucy
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Based on art from DANGEROUS! (Little Tiger Press 2014) © 2018 by Tim Warnes
This article is based on the work of Dr Daniel Siegel M.D. and Dr Tina Payne Bryson PH.D. Check out their books, The Yes Brain , The Whole-Brain Child , and No-Drama Discipline Sources Children’s laureate Lauren Child on her new role, motherhood and creativity by Claire Armistead (The Guardian June 09, 2017)DANGEROUS! by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2014) How Reading with Your Children Can Help Them Develop a ‘Yes Brain’ by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., & Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D. (Brightly)DANGEROUS! book review - MyFriendLucy (Aug 28, 2014)DANGEROUS! book review - ReadingZone
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