…riding around the range. Suddenly Bad-Nose Bill comes up behind you with a gun. He says, "Would you like me to shoot a hole in your head?"
What do you say, dear?
Early Sendak tickles me. The pages are graphic, open, and perfectly composed. Characters strike just the right emotional chord, yet nothing is labored. The economy of line makes the drawings fresh—like they were dashed off. Figures move with whimsy. This text, by Sesyle Joslin, is wonderfully absurd.
Give me any early Sendak book (don't care for the fussy later ones). These books all shaped my sense of what a picture book or early chapter book should be.
9 comments:
Christy! I don't know this particular Sendak! I love it! I will look for it. The Little Bear books are what I grew up with and read over and over again. I also see the influence in your work in the "open and perfectly" composed pages. Nice to read this bit of insight into you and your inspirations.
There is also a companion book, What Do You Do, Dear? The first one was from 1958, but was reissued a few years back. Both are great--really silly! As big sister, I read the Little Bear books over and over again to my little brothers.
Christy,
I haven't heard of any of these books, so now I'm going to have to go out to look for them!
P.S. I doubt that a book offering to shoot a hole through someone's head would go over in today's publishing world, absurd as it's meant to be. Very interesting how things have changed...
Edie, this book was just reissued in today's publishing world. Dark humor is still with us--think of the young appeal of Lemony Snicket.
Oh, that's very interesting, Christy! I do like the clean, economical lines of the illustrations.
Oh Christy, how I am smiling and smiling. Seeing the words and illustrations broadens my little kid grin -- ear to ear.
Oh Christy, how I am smiling and smiling. Seeing the words and illustrations broadens my little kid grin -- ear to ear.
Little Bear was my fave, I still have it. In fact, until I got waylayed by Tanz being sick on Monday, I was trying to decide between it and another. I will do the other this weekend:)
I didn't come across "What do you say, Dear?" and "What do you do, Dear?" until I was an adult, but I totally agree with your high praises. And I, too, prefer the early Sendak over most of his latter stuff
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