November is
Picture Book Month--Yay! Thinking about some of my favorite picture books, I realized that many deal with the experience of being lost. The classic
The Story About Ping, for instance
, tells how a little duck winds up spending a scary night along on the Yangtze River before he is reunited with his family. And then there's William Steig's
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble in which poor Sylvester the donkey turns himself into a rock and can't switch back. You can't get more lost than that!
No picture book explores this theme better than
The Tub People by Pam Conrad and illustrated by Richard Egielski. When my daughter was in preschool I bought a copy at my local bookstore and had it with me when I went to pick her up. Seeing a new book peeking from its wrapper, she demanded to hear it there and then. Since we weren't in a hurry, I found a quiet spot and began to read. Around us four-year-olds and their parents milled about packing up and putting on coats. Slowly, one by one, kids drifted over, plopped down, and listened, spellbound, to the story of the little tub boy who is sucked down the drain. Until he was rescued and back safe and sound with his family you could have hear that proverbial pin drop.
As demonstrated, the power of the picture book is mighty. What are some of your favorites?
Hi Catherine, I found The Tub People in bargain books when my son was little. It became one of our favorite books, and I've read it at many a story time ever since. The story and the art have great appeal. I love reading it, and the illustrations use perspective to create dramatic and visual interest. Kids are always fascinated, so I can see how you drew an audience!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many good books out there for children now, compared to when I was a child. For me it is about the illustrations, the right amount of text on a page and of course an engaging story. I never tire of reading to my children.
ReplyDeleteI have never even heard of this, and I just placed it on hold but I can't believe their is only one copy in the the entire Brooklyn Public Library and already 2 people are in line ahead of me. I might be off to the bookstore today.... Thanks for linking up again. I'm pinning this post, too.
ReplyDeleteI love The Tub People (not the sequel so much). Perhaps you like books about being lost (and found) due to a fateful trip to Rockaway Beach.......
ReplyDeleteLoved Don Freeman's books, but my all time favorite was DANDELION, who was not lost per se, but was unrecognizable to his friends when dressed up in fancy attire. Just as bad as being lost and alone, really.
ReplyDelete- Cathy
That sounds like a magical book experience :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Uptown Girl, you are correct. Being lost was an all too frequent experience as a child.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book. I will have to find it.
ReplyDeleteLove The Tub People. We checked it out a while ago from my library and my kids enjoyed reading it so much. Thanks for linking up to The Children's Bookshelf!
ReplyDeleteGreat premise. Must try track it down
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