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From: Katcher, Ruth <Ruth.Katcher>
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 11:22:44 -0400
Two recent experiences with a 2 1/2-year-old and Sendak:
Alligators All Around. My son laughed on nearly every page of this alphabet book, which is fairly uncharacteristic of him. The alliterative phrases are full of unexpected juxtapositions and fun to say aloud, even though he had no idea what some of them meant (wearing wigs?, imitating indians?). And the drawings are very funny: a pot on the stove overflowing with macaroni, a tired father alligator watching his never napping son, fawning parents stroking and feeding candy to a shockingly spoiled child. There's a large dose of subversiveness (a word used more frequently in discussions of young adult books) in Sendak's pictures, and I'm sure he was picking up on this.
Little Bear's Visit. There is a story in this I Can Read about a goblin who is scared and jumps out of his shoes, which then follow him as he flees until he stops running and faces them. My toddler really loved the sounds
("bump", "pit pat" go the shoes), and what might seem incongruous to us--that shoes would run after their owner--probably made more sense to him. I think what he finds so funny is the suddenness of the initial scare, the suspense engendered by the goblin's flight, and, more than anything, the relief at finding that something scary was quite ordinary. The best moment is when the goblin, having learned it was his shoes that were following him, hugs them before putting them on: "You good little shoes!" I think this is an amazing blend of humor and emotional satisfaction.
Ruth Katcher Senior Editor HarperCollins Children's Books
*************************************************************** This message is intended only for the use of the individuals to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this transmission in error; any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message and all of its attachments.
Received on Tue 07 May 2002 10:22:44 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 11:22:44 -0400
Two recent experiences with a 2 1/2-year-old and Sendak:
Alligators All Around. My son laughed on nearly every page of this alphabet book, which is fairly uncharacteristic of him. The alliterative phrases are full of unexpected juxtapositions and fun to say aloud, even though he had no idea what some of them meant (wearing wigs?, imitating indians?). And the drawings are very funny: a pot on the stove overflowing with macaroni, a tired father alligator watching his never napping son, fawning parents stroking and feeding candy to a shockingly spoiled child. There's a large dose of subversiveness (a word used more frequently in discussions of young adult books) in Sendak's pictures, and I'm sure he was picking up on this.
Little Bear's Visit. There is a story in this I Can Read about a goblin who is scared and jumps out of his shoes, which then follow him as he flees until he stops running and faces them. My toddler really loved the sounds
("bump", "pit pat" go the shoes), and what might seem incongruous to us--that shoes would run after their owner--probably made more sense to him. I think what he finds so funny is the suddenness of the initial scare, the suspense engendered by the goblin's flight, and, more than anything, the relief at finding that something scary was quite ordinary. The best moment is when the goblin, having learned it was his shoes that were following him, hugs them before putting them on: "You good little shoes!" I think this is an amazing blend of humor and emotional satisfaction.
Ruth Katcher Senior Editor HarperCollins Children's Books
*************************************************************** This message is intended only for the use of the individuals to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this transmission in error; any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message and all of its attachments.
Received on Tue 07 May 2002 10:22:44 AM CDT
