From: MalibuInc at aol.com <MalibuInc>
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 23:41:36 EDT

This thread about the subversive nature of Unger's illustrations is very fascinating. And its interesting to note that as an adult I worry about showing No Kiss For Mother to children, yet when I was a boy my favorite part of The Hobbit was the chapter where Bilbo and Gollum play the riddle game. If Bibo can't guess the riddle he gets eaten by Gollum. I also loved the Conan novels which were full of mayhem and violence.

These stories gave me an outlet for all the anger and resentment I felt towards adults for forcing me to live by their rules. I think Unger's books work on that same primal level. His sense of anarchy and mayhem is liberating and naughty. And as we all know, naughty is fun to a child. (And some adults I know as well)

What does a child do when the substitute teacher takes over? He or she becomes anarchistic and naughty. Unger's illustrations deeply reflect this kind of behavior. This may be the reason why children find his books so appealing, Unger's work
 is delightfuly naughty. :)

Preston McClear http://members.xoom.com/MalibuBooks
Received on Fri 13 Aug 1999 10:41:36 PM CDT