Bright and Early Thursday Evening: A Tangled Tale

by Audrey Wood, Don Wood (Illustrator)

This oxymoron-laden tale is sure to amaze and delight one and all.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Kids

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

Audrey Wood studied art and drama at the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has owned an operated a book and import store, taught chldren's drama and art, and traveled throughout Mexico and Guatemala studying Indian folk art. She now lives in Hawaii with her talented family (husband Don and son Bruce, who have both collaborated with Audrey by illustrating some of her books).

Reviews

[Jennifer Honahnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright and Early Thursday Evening, is a book of contradictory phrases like that of the title. It begins as a woman wakes up in a cemetery where she dreamed that she was dead, bright and early Thursday evening. It continues with unbelievable situations as a rooster laying an egg and the woman getting dressed to go to her own funeral. There are interesting characters such as a poor billionaire and a naked potato wearing pants. Throughout the story the woman attend her funeral, goes to a party, falls in love and gets married all in that order. If you ever weren't confused enough in life this is a great book, I like the playfulness of the pictures and story. The contradicting phrases tells you that you should not take life too seriously, humorous is a good way to describe this book.

One literary element of this story is that it is told in the first person point of view. The woman who is the main character tells the story as she is going from one event to another. She gets dressed to go to her funeral and she tells how she fell in love at first sight. Another literary element of this story is the theme which is stretching the truth about the eventful situations. Near the end of the book she says that she is a liar but her story was true, again stating another contradiction.
There are many visual elements of this book, like the recurring motif of the sun and the moon. To go with the theme the sun and the moon are shown in the same picture throughout the book. The illustrations are on a double page spread surrounded by a border on every opening. The illustrations are vibrant and colorful detailing the events that the woman describes.

Bright and Early Thursday Evening is a Postmodern picture book that is full of parodies. The character telling the story talks about her noble red rooster laying an egg and her joyful guests weeping at her funeral. The characters also address the reader at the end of the book, she tells the reader if they believed what she said to begin again at the ending. The illustration also shows her looking at the reader when she says to begin again and it has the same illustration on the first page and last page. The book has many interesting characters which I would say is appropriation but I cannot place them as borrowed from another text.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book says it is dreamed by Audrey Wood and imagined by Don Wood. The strangeness of the tale goes on from there --- The illustrations are beautiful and there is something new to see each time you look at a page. The rhyme and rhythm of the book make it fun to read even thought there is not a traditional story line. I would read this with my own children but I would not use this as a read-aloud in a classroom. The book touches on the subjects of marriage, birth, and death but is not inappropriate.

[Cassandra Arrotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Bright and Early Thursday Evening to be a bit morbid and inappropriate to be labeled as a k-2 children's postmodern picture book. The book begins by the narrator stating that she woke up bright and early Thursday evening at her own funeral. The book also depicts a character who is naked but wearing pants. While this book seems a bit too dark and morbid for younger readers, I can see an older student finding the humor and irony found within its pages to be as interesting as I personally did.

This book is cleared through the Lexile as a K-2 children's postmodern picture book, so I guess it is made for the enjoyment of all ages. I can personally see myself teaching this book at the secondary level as part of an inquiry-based lesson or unit lesson plan. The author is the recipient of the Caldecott medal for another work and her husband, the illustrator has been featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Society of Illustrators Annual Exhibition. I believe that for these two reasons alone, both the author and illustrator's works should be analyzed and discussed within the educational system.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If you are sitting down to dance with a poor billionaire while attending your own funeral, then it must be Bright and Early Thursday Evening.”

Whimsical paradoxes and playful contradictions. A lot of stuff going on in the illustrations

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about checking-out this book to children. I understand the nature of dreams and imagination but this book is completely non-sensical and could be frightening for some children. I am surprised it was published.

[Ursula · Rating 5 out of 5]

 
What a totally silly read! This one is not quite this team's norm, but of course the illustrations are amazing, and the story truly is tangled and "out there." FUN! :D
 

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very weird, but enjoyable.

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting visuals and impossible narrative. Just weird.

[Cecile · Rating 1 out of 5]

in the first three pages is the word dead; not something to which my preschooler is going to go to sleep. So, no.

[Kennedy Kahle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genius!

[Daniella Variale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright and Early Thursday Evening is a story much like its title—full of contradictions. The oxymorons are consistent throughout the whole book, appearing on every spread and even on the flap copy of the dust jacket. There it says the book is “…guaranteed to make more sense today than it did tomorrow—and less than it will yesterday.” With contradictions like these, readers have to be open to silly ideas and the humor created from it, otherwise the book will be frustrating and confusing.
The medium used in this story is Fractal Painter and Adobe Photoshop on a Macintosh Power PC computer with a Wacom digital art pad. This is Don Wood’s first digitally illustrated picture book. His illustrations immediately gave me an Alice in Wonderland-type feeling, which matches well with the nonsensical storyline. The illustrations are very colorful and are always enclosed with a border. The pictures are double page spreads with a thin border of the most prominent color of that spread around the picture in addition to a border of white space. Perhaps the double border is present to remove the audience from the story, since the story aims to talk to the readers instead of including them.
The illustrations are a vital addition to this story. They enhance our understanding of the text by providing us with setting that is never mentioned otherwise. For example, when the potato is rescued by force, we understand how this happens only because of the picture. It shows that the crocodile is the one to rescue him, and he does so in a mad-scientist type laboratory. Illustrations are so prevalent that it even makes its way into the text on some pages with illuminated letters.
The images in the story provide some sense and understanding to the book while also adding to the contradictions, which is also another contradiction! This concept is exemplified with the clock motif. In the first three images and the final two images there are always two clocks. They both have arms and legs and dance like people. One of them always has the correct time and face, and the other clock is backwards. Starting at the beginning of the story, the clockwise direction counts down from twelve, the numbers are written backwards, and two digit numbers like 12 are written 21. Perhaps these two clocks represent the personality of the narrator. One clock is correct because the character imagining these occurrences is not crazy, but the other clock is backwards to symbolized her wild imagination and set up the chaotic mood for the rest of the story. At the last page though, the backwards clock becomes normal, maybe showing the entrance back into full reality. In addition, at the beginning of the book, reading the backwards clock says it is 5:50. I cannot tell if it is the morning or nighttime because both the sun and moon are out. The story seems to take place in the limbo time of night and day, which continues to add to the paradox and ambiguity of the story. By the last page of the book, the time reads correctly at 5:55. This leaves the reader to consider, did the dream/fantasy last five minutes or 12 hours and five minutes? The correct clock reads the same in both the beginning and the end. This leads to another contradiction—did time even pass at all?
This book is very creative and gives the readers many things that are open to interpretation and discussion. It also has good humor because of all the contradictions; however, I am not sure how well children would react to it. What if this book makes them think roosters can lay eggs? What if they use context clues to determine that a billionaire means poor? Overall, I think the humor in this book makes it more suitable for children 7-8 years old. I think it might be too confusing to read with children any younger, unless you explain first that this is just a “silly” world.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bright and Early Thursday Evening," the title alone tells so much of this nonsense story by Audrey Wood. I was killing time at the used bookstore one day and naturally, being the slightly obsessed educator I am, I happened upon the kids section. After looking around a couple of other favorite authors, I moved on to see what they had by Audrey and Don Wood. I've read a few of their books in the past and love when those two collaborate on projects. I found this title in hardback for a really good price, and since it was one of their collaborative efforts, I bought it without even bothering to read.
Got it home and oh what a delightful surprise I had! Don Wood's illustrations are what usually draw me in to their books, and this was no exception. The style reminds me of something similar to a Tim Burton creation, which at first seemed out of place for a kid's book, but it worked so well that I actually have to list this as a favorite for the artwork. The story is likewise unique. The entire plot is filled with word play and oxymorons (yes, I wholly intend to use it to teach the concepts of opposites and oxymorons). It's also a little on the dark (again I say, Burton-esque) side, but for children who like humor in things like plays on opposites and such, it is a brilliant read.
Though not too terribly long, the fact that the premise of the story is the narrator's dream about her own funeral and that some younger audiences may not get the word play that the whole story centers around, I would not recommend this book for anyone under the age of about 6, and even at that, the one selecting it may need to use individual judgment. However, by the age of about 8, most children will be able to enjoy this story. For those older children, I highly suggest this title. And as I mentioned before, for teachers (homeschoolers and parents included) this is a fabulous teaching book for use on discussing oxymorons and opposites!

[Audra Sein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bright and Early Thursday Evening: A Tangled Tale is a very avant-garde picture book written by Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood.

As I looked at the cover of the book, I noticed that the title is an oxymoron, and there was an image of a rooster laying an egg. This gave me the impression that I was not going to be reading a "serious" picture book.

That initial impression turned out to be correct. The book is full of humorous oxymoron, much like the title, Bright and Early Thursday Evening. Reading these phrases that combine contradictory terms creates a surreal quality, because they describe things that could not actually happen in reality.

The illustrations support the surreal quality of the text. The illustrations depict a reality that is obviously not our own. The colors are intense- more intense than the colors in reality, which also supports the surreal quality of the text.

One of the illustrations creates the type of oxymoron that is in the text. When the text indicates that the girl "woke up and dreamed she was dead," the illustration that goes with this text contradicts the text, because it is a bright and cheery image instead of the dark dreary image I would expect to go with this text.

Bright and Early Thursday Evening: A Tangled Tale is a circular picture book. The first and last image are the same. It is an enhancing picture book.

The illustrations were created digitally, which is another quality that makes this picture book avant-garde.

I think this would be a wonderful picture to share with students, who would be drawn to the surreal text and images that support it.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This picture book blow my mind away. I was expecting a good reading because I have read other stories by Audrey Wood and Don Wood. Yes! The images are crazy but if we could illustrate our dreams, this is how that would be. She played with contradictions and paradoxes throughout the story.

The illustrations are computer generated images of real and unreal things and all are full of details. All the illustrations are double page size. This feature gives the reader a panorama view of the scenes which is a bette way to perceive images(180 degress wide).

This picture book is one of the few that mentioned death in it and the only one I have read that dares to put skeletons in it. The places in the book are a sunflower field, a cementery, pond, a dancing hall, a cat walk stage hall, theater, and a dungeon chock-a-block room full of old mechanical apparatus. All places that have no connection in real life but here they are all interconnected to the story line. The girl in the story sometimes is a real size person and some other times she is so small she can stand on top of a wedding cake.

If I had to compare this picture book with something, I would say Bright and Early Thursday Evening is like eating a rich, very rich piece of cake.

It would be interesting to make this picture book a research study to see what is the reaction of children towards the book.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follow me--You go first!--into a whimsical dream of talking vegetables, sad weddings, happy funerals, and poor billionaires, a place where we can all sit down to dance. This oxymoron-laden tale combined with illustrations rendered using state-of-the-art digital technology is sure to amaze and delight one and all. “A potent combination of technology and creativity.”--Publishers Weekly

It seems odd to classify this book as an educational fantasy, but that is what it is. I read this with the third graders and discussed contradictions as we read through it. It made them think and squirm as it is rather odd, but they really got into. The computer-rendered illustration and photoshop+ were amazing and I had to redirect them to the text a few times because the fantastical detailed pictures would totally distract them. But they liked teh book and I think they really understood it by the "end of the book back at the beginning". :)

[Megan Drees · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bright and Early Thursday Evening is a very strange picture book that really makes no sense at all. Its text present a series of oxymorons that create a humorous touch to the story. The illustrations are very life-like but crowded with silly and unorthodox images. They are bordered illustrations that create the sense that the reader is an onlooker and not part of the story. Because of the ridiculous nature of the story and illustrations it is easy for the reader to realize the non-reality of the plot. Its a very interesting story and idea that is somewhat confusing, but makes more sense at second glance.

[Taylor Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was made in landscape orientation. Both pages were used to create one large, long image. For the most part, the images were made of darker shades of reds and oranges, with a few exceptions. The images are all bordered, which I think just reminds the reader that they are not a part of the story, because I found myself getting lost in the book. The relationship between the text and the images would be enhancing. Although the image shows what the text says, I think the images adds a little to the story. Although I found the content of this book very strange, I surprisingly liked it a lot. I like the idea of using oxymorons in the story.

[Molly Mardany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This cover really freaks me out, it almost made me put the book back down. But then I thought "what could this book possibly be about", which I guess could be the point. This book is CRAZY! All the pictures are realistic looking but make no sense in the real world. The poetry uses a lot of wordplay such as "poor billionaire". This book is like one big party. The pages have very big borders, pictures are usually on both pages, with the words separate below the boarders. At the end of the story, it tells us that we should not believe anything that was said.

[Leah Mullenaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the weirdest, coolest book I have ever read. I had to read it over multiple times to try to make any sense of it, but I don't think it is supposed to make sense! It's about a girl who "woke up dead" one day, and goes through some crazy adventures, like marrying a potato, and going to her own funeral. It is also full of funny contradictions, like "that stranger is my best friend". The pictures are very colorful and interesting. Ver post-modern! I loved it.

(This was done to replace Black and White in the post-modern section)

[Rosa Cline · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was totally unexpected out of Ms Wood. Usually my children and I LOVE her books but as I read this one to my 2 year old granddaughter my adult daughter was listening too and she and I would sigh out 'wow' and 'oh my' and 'geez' all through the story. Now with that said that is our opinion... IF you like really weird and unusual books then you will LOVE this one... As my grown daughter stated when I was done "That is what I would imagine a 70's high with the strobe lights and weed would have been like...wow!"

[Brittney Warf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bright and Early Thursday Evening is an absurd book! First off how do you wake up dead? That's and oxymoron in itself. Then the first thing you see is you're red chicken lay an egg? Again that's just wierd. Finally why would you marry a potato? My criticism may be harsh, but this also engages the imagination of young readers. Although I may not agree with the story line it is great for children to read.

[Monique Franco]

This is honestly the weirdest books I have ever read. With its digitally created illustrations and contradictions throughout, this quirky picturebook takes readers on a silly adventure of a young lady who claims that, although she is a liar, her tale including marriage to a potato, an egg laying rooster, and a bald headed baby with hair in his eyes is all true.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fairly strange and kind of crazy. I loved the unique graphic arts and the fairly disconnected story. The book doesn't make a lot of sense, but it describes the real nature of dreams. I enjoyed it!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comical and nonsensical rhyming story. Since it is a young girl's dream, it is as quirky and full of nonsense as most people's dreams are. Very colorful, very large illustrations that were created on Don Wood's computer.

[Cami Putnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow is this tale tangled! I read it to my kindergartner. It made him really think it was a bit confusing to him at first we had to read it over and over for him to catch on that it was all suppose to be confusing. Awesome illustrations too. We really enjoyed this book.

[Melki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I normally love Wood's paintings, I'm not a fan of the "digitally illustrated" art here.
I guess it could be said that the pictures work well with the LSD trip of a story, but all the same - glad I didn't spend my money on it.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

My three year old is to young to find the contradictions in the story, but the pictures are great.

[Christy watson]

i love this book. it makes you thank about what your reading.you wont to read itover and over again.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

read June 21, 2012
Vivid illustrations, full of contradictions, good for children who are beginning to 'joke' around by saying opposite things.

[The Brothers · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book where almost every sentence is a paradox. A little much for Asher (5 y.o.) and Dex (3 y.o.).

Illustrations are just weird.