From boys to men: how picture books can shape the future

From Thank You, Lord, for Everything by P.J. Lyons, ill. by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Tim Warnes

“[T]here remains a genuine and fundamental human need to find our own identity and to define our place in the world. Men, women, all of us.”

— Forbes

Yesterday - Thursday 19th November 2020 - was International Men’s Day (IMD).

Included in the aims of IMD are:

Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys.

Confronting the negative portrayal of men, boys and fathers.

Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity.

So this week I am highlighting some positive portrayals of boys and men in picture books. They feature male characters who don’t fit neatly into typical roles, who demonstrate aspects of masculinity and fatherhood that I think are worth celebrating this International Men’s Day.

But first, buckle up! We’re taking a trip to Richard Scarry’s Busytown!

Here is a familiar Busytown scene: Mummy Rabbit is cooking, while Daddy plays with fire. The sisters sew and play with dolls; the brothers are raring to get outside to Huckle (riding a tractor).

 

From Richard Scarry’s ABC Word Book by Richard Scarry (William Collins Sons and Company Ltd, 1972) | © 1972 by Richard Scarry

 

Nothing inherently wrong with that. Lots of mummies cook. Most daddies love playing with fire. (And frankly, those bunnies should feel grateful there’s no giant pickle truck crashing into their house!) The problem arises when outdated, and gendered, behaviour is repeated over and over to the exclusion of other models - a criticism frequently aimed at Scarry in these more enlightened times.

In Scarry’s Busytown, it was always female characters doing the domestics and pushing prams. What about the daddies?

 

From Richard Scarry’s ABC Word Book by Richard Scarry (William Collins Sons and Company Ltd, 1972) | © 1972 by Richard Scarry

 

I was a hands-on dad, sharing the child care at least equally. 21 years ago that was pretty unusual. (I got pretty used to changing nappies in ladies’ toilets.) Now times have changed for the better. You see lots of dad’s out alone with the kids. It’s common for men to cook at home now (and off the top of my head, I can even think of five men who knit or sew). But picture books are slow to reflect these new attitudes.

Perhaps Scarry - whose work has been updated to reflect a more PC Busytown - has been singled out just because he crams so much into each book? Meaning gender stereotypes are really in your face. (For the record, I LOVE Busytown!)

And to be fair to Scarry, it was a pretty accurate portrayal of the times. But the point is, times have moved on - albeit slower than some would like.

So the question is, where are the new men reflected in kids books?

 Here’s my pick for IMD 2020 of picture books that expand masculine tropes.

The Storm Whale by Benji Davies

Noi lived with his dad and six cats by the sea. Noi himself is shown to be caring, demonstrating positive traits more usually identified with female roles:

 

Noi did everything he could to make the whale feel at home.

He told stories about life on the island.

 

Noi’s dad - a big, burly fisherman - expresses love and intimacy with big hugs and holding hands. 

 

From The Storm Whale by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2013) | © 2013 by Benji Davies

 

Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies

This demonstrates a believable, intimate relationship between a boy (Syd) and his grandfather. It is joyful but bittersweet, with one last farewell from Grandad - and another big hug.

 

From Grandad's Island by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2015) | © 2015 by Benji Davies

 

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

Perhaps the most controversial one on my list - but it carries an important message. A celebration of free self-expression and acceptance.

 

From Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick 2018) | Copyright © 2018 by Jessica Love

 

So Much by Trish Cooke, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

A celebration of a family’s love for a baby - including physical demonstrations of that love by Uncle Didi and his male cousins.

 

From So Much by Trish Cooke, ill. by Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books 1994) | Illustration © 1994 by Helen Oxenbury

 

Why is the family gathering? They are waiting for Dady to come home from work so they can celebrate his birthday.

 

Then Daddy rub the baby face 

against the whiskers on his chin…

 

William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrations by William Pène du Bois

I really like this story (but I have to confess the illustrations don’t do it for me, partly because they look so dated). William wants a doll - and of course, he is ridiculed. 

 

A book that is as endearing for its tenderness as for the message it conveys: there is nothing, but nothing wrong with boys who play with dolls.

- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

 

My Levi had a Baby Dave, complete with a pushchair. My nephews have had favourite dolls, too. But sadly, the message of William’s Doll (written in 1972) still feels pertinent today.

 

[William’s] father was upset.

“He’s a boy!” he said

 to William’s grandmother.

“He has a basketball

and an electric train 

and a workbench 

to build things with. 

Why does he need a doll?”

William’s grandmother smiled.

“He needs it,” she said, 

“to hug 

and to cradle 

and to take to the park 

so that 

when he’s a father like you, 

he’ll know how to take care of his baby…”

 

Such a beautiful sentiment.

My Father’s Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, illustrations by Øyvind Torseter

This is a powerful picture book about grief. It features ‘a gentle, steady father’ who calms his anxious son - and himself - during a long winter’s night.

 

From My Father's Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, ill. by Øyvind Torseter (Enchanted Lion Books 2012) | Illustration © 2009 by Øyving Torseter

 

I climb onto [my dad’s] lap.

He puts both his arms tight under my knees.

My body is curled up like a ball.

I rest my head against his shoulder.

 

So what about my own books? Where and how do they fit in?

 Over the years, I have illustrated many fathers playing with, and taking care of, their children (the latest being the newly published I’m Going To Give You a Polar Bear Hug by Caroline B. Cooney).  

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

 

Then there’s I Love You to the Moon and Back. In my mind, the big bear is male (because I was drawing upon my own experiences as a father). The bear is, of course, often referred to in reviews as ‘mummy’, although the joy of the text is that it can be read any which way!  

I suppose in the context of my own picture books, Daddy Rhino from the Archie/Otto series (written by Tracey Corderoy) is my favourite. At the time, my kids were young - so I pushed for him to be the primary carer in the family. At least, that’s how I view him! (Although to be honest, the domestic roles are pretty evenly distributed with Mummy Rhino.) 

So we see Daddy Rhino doing the preschool run and playing with Archie. Daddy is there to comfort when Archie is sad. Daddy cooks, brushes teeth and of course - reads bedtime stories!

 

From NOW! by Tracey Corderoy, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2016) | Illustration © 2016 by Tim Warnes

 

But the character of mine that feels the most fleshed out is Daddy Munchie from Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary:

 

Fat Tony’s a full-time House Hamster. He cooks and cleans and takes care of us pups, and does a pretty good job, too. I mean, nobody’s died or lost a limb.

Yet.

- Gus Munchie

 

All these examples of male characters are significant. Why?

 

They provide alternative, more liberated versions of masculinity - genuine role models for young boys to aspire to. (As these young boys become men, they will feel less to prove, and society will become safer.)

They challenge misogyny.

They are shaping the future.

They give permission for both boys and girls to express their emotions and fulfil their potential.

 

It’s a two way street. Both boys and girls will reap the rewards.

But once again, it’s up to parents and carers to share the right books and do the hard work.

Because society needs you.

 Good to Read

Picture books that portray masculinity in a positive - and alternative - light.

My Father’s Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, ill. By Øyvind Torseter (Enchanted Lion 2012)

So Much by Trish Cooke, ill. By Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books 1994)

Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2015)

The Storm Whale by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2013)

William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow, ill. By William Pene Du Bois (HarperCollins 1972)

I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! By Caroline B. Cooney, ill. by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2020)

Thank You, Lord, for Everything by P.J. Lyons, ill. By Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2015)

NOW! By Tracey Corderoy, ill. By Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2013)

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick Press 2018)

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* I earn commission from these links #ADSources Should We Be Celebrating International Men’s Day? (Frost, November 19, 2019) International Men’s Day: Male staff discouraged by bosses to take on parental duties if it affects their work (Mcquaid November 19, 2019)My Father’s Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, ill. By Øyvind Torseter (Enchanted Lion 2012)So Much by Trish Cooke, ill. By Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books 1994)Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2015)The Storm Whale by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2013)William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow, ill. By William Pene Du Bois (HarperCollins 1972)I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! By Caroline B. Cooney, ill. by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2020)Richard Scarry’s ABC Word Book by Richard Scarry (William Collins Sons and Company Ltd, 1972)Thank You, Lord, for Everything by P.J. Lyons, ill. By Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2015)NOw! By Tracey Corderoy, ill. By Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2013)Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick Press 2018)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.