Children's Picture Books: Allard

For this A-Z List, I'll be reviewing children's picture books.

These books are from general collections; I'll use another A-Z list to tackle fairy tale books--which are shelved separately in both South Portland and Portland Public libraries.

Since children's books are created as much by the illustrator as by the writer, I was stymied on which name to choose. I took the simplest route: how the books are shelved in the library, which is usually by the writer. When the writer and illustrator are both, this issue will, of course, not arise.

So . . . .

A is for Allard, namely The Stupid books

These books by Harry G. Allard are very funny. They would obviously be far less funny without James Marshall's blowsy bubbly drawings. The Stupids are so patently stupid--and so patently don't care--their adventures and excursions are fun as well as funny. We root for them: Go, Stupids!

I'm not sure if children are meant to feel the same or meant to feel superior. After all, when Mr. Stupid says it is noontime (see image), any (older) child looking at the drawing can see how wrong he is.

My completely inexpert opinion is that people who insist that children are doing this or that specific brain activity when they read want various things to happen when children read picture books. Growth! Progress! Learning!

It is far more likely that children just find The Stupids hilarious.

Because, ya know, they are.