Do Not Turn the Page!

Written by Jane Blondie

Illustrated by Marcus Cutler

North Winds Press (Scholastic Canada)

978-1-0397-0206-6

32 pp.

Ages 3-8

February 2025 

 

Charlie is outside playing in the sand and dirt when he notices the reader has appeared. And so, begins a one-sided conversation as Charlie speaks to the reader about what he's doing, what he doesn't want to do, and what he expects of the reader. Unfortunately, the reader will do exactly what Charlie does not want and that is to turn the page. (After all, it is a book.)

From Do Not Turn the Page!, written by Jane Blondie, illus. by Marcus Cutler

Listen. Turning the page gets me closer to the bathtub and there will be NO bath for me. Not today. Nopey, nope, nope!

Charlie is adamant that he wants to play in his sand fort and so instructs the reader to close the book and never turn a page again. And yet with each progression in reading, Charlie is disappointed because the reader is not listening to his directives. It just gets worse.

Ugh! You turned the page again.

This. Is. Serious. 

From Do Not Turn the Page!, written by Jane Blondie, illus. by Marcus Cutler

 

With each turning of the page, the reader is chastised by Charlie for leading him from his sand box to inside the house, into the mudroom, through the living room, the kitchen and up the stairs. Accompanied by his cat and pig stuffie, the dirty child is forced by the reader turning the pages to hide from his mother who is already running the bath water. And even though Charlie makes many lingering stops along the way, from having a snack, doing art, and hiding in a toy box, ultimately his fate has been sealed by the reader and their need to turn pages. 

There is absolutely NO WAY you are getting me into that tub.

From Do Not Turn the Page!, written by Jane Blondie, illus. by Marcus Cutler

Well, the reader may get Charlie into his bath but a kajillion bubbles and rubber duckies help keep him there before he has one more routine to try to avoid.

 

I'm impressed by Jane Blondie's ability to write a one-sided dialogue that engages and interacts with the young reader so naturally. They will be delighted with the possibility that they control the story and where it leads, even though the adults may know otherwise. To connect so effortlessly with the reader in her debut picture book is an accomplishment but one that undoubtedly stems from Jane Blondie's teaching experiences. Still, it's the humour of Charlie as he pleads with the reader not to turn the page and then his disgust that they have done otherwise. The annoyance is evident but so is his good nature in understanding that this is how it usually goes i.e., he's going to get a bath no matter what. Charlie may be a little cheeky but he's still polite and more than appreciative to have the young readers along for the ride.

From Do Not Turn the Page!, written by Jane Blondie, illus. by Marcus Cutler

Marcus Cutler, who also illustrated The Walrus and the Caribou which I reviewed a few years back, gives a playful nature to his digital artwork. From a messy play area outside, littered with everything from an empty box to a discarded crown and a toy dump truck to a sticky snack of blueberry jam on crackers–and on his hands, on the table, and on Charlie's clothing–this could be any family home with children. Even the end papers are rife with yarn, muddy handprints and paw prints, bubbles, and more. Marcus Cutler gives a vitality to Charlie at play and in his routines and, rather than appearing to be unruly or ornery, Charlie charms, taking direction from the reader who moves him from outdoors to a bath, recognizing the inevitability of his story.

 

If you're an adult reading this book to some young readers, be prepared for the howls of laughter when they realize the character is conversing with them. They may be able to tell where the story will end up, probably having experienced similar events, but they'll be pleased to have been invited to participate. I foresee many, many readings of Do Not Turn the Page! just so the page can be turned, and children can witness the impact of their actions.

Wash On!

Written by Michèle Marineau

Illustrated by Manon Gauthier
Translated by Erin Woods

Pajama Press

978-1-77278-018-5

40 pp.

Ages 4-7

April 2018

Though most of us wash off any dirt and colours that stain our skin, a little twist of words and fate have colour splotches washing onto little Petronilla in Quebec author and translator Michèle Marineau's newest picture book Wash On!

From Wash On! by Michèle Marineau, illus. by Manon Gauthier

Petronilla is known in her family to have "a talent for chaos" and probably more so when compared to her perfect sister Babette.  But nothing could have prepared her mother for the twist of process when colours from the washcloth during a bath begin to transfer to Petronilla's skin and then her mother and the whole bathroom.  Joyously, Petronilla continues to exclaim, "Wash on! Wash on! Wash on!' regardless of her mother's demands she say "Wash off!" When her father, Babette and dog come to see what's going on, the colours continue to transfer from one object to another.  Although the family thinks they'll just stay in the house until Petronilla drops her new mantra, no one could foresee the weeks that would pass as the child refuses to relinquish her powerful chant.

From Wash On! by Michèle Marineau, illus. by Manon Gauthier

Finally, the family visits the doctor who declares a case of acute coloritis, a condition so contagious that the whole planet becomes infected.  But, as lovely as all the colours are, everything blends in with everything else and no one can differentiate between objects. Even their dog is hard find except when his bark alerts them to his feeding time.  That is, until they can not locate him because there is no bark.  It is only then, when she is desperate to find their dog, that Petronilla changes her tune and finds "Wash off!" just as useful in enacting change in her home and around the world.

From Wash On! by Michèle Marineau, illus. by Manon Gauthier

Wash On! may be based on a silly situation in which colours are transferred rather than cleaned off but the story actually has several powerful messages hidden in that imaginative scenario.  First, Wash On! focuses on the joie de vivre of a world filled with colour. We all need a little colour in our lives, though some people need more and some need less.  But like anything, it is possible to have too much of a good thing, as everyone learns, including Petronilla.  Once the colours explode and there is no contrast and no way to differentiate objects, that joy is lost, like the dog, in an overabundance of stain.  Splashes of colour are wonderfully invigorating and therapeutic but excesses are debilitating and even harmful.  Second, Governor General award-winning author Michèle Marineau recognizes the power of children in defining the world and their need to manage their own circumstances.  Her family may think of Petronilla as chaotic but she seems to just want a hand in determining the life she will lead.

Michèle Marineau tells powerful stories in her native French language and this translation by Pajama Press's Erin Woods highlights that poignancy with merriment and spirit.  That same boldness is depicted with daring by Manon Gauthier's mixed media illustrations. Manon Gauthier, whose artwork I've raved about in Pajama Press's Elliot (Julie Pearson, 2016), All the World a Poem (Gilles Tibo, 2016), Good Morning, Grumple (Victoria Allenby, 2017) and Middle Bear (Susanna Isern, 2017), continues to do amazing things with gouache, pencil and paper collage, ever different and totally wonderful.

Wash On! may say a lot about living a life in colour but it also reminds us about moderation and having control over the lives we lead.  Young readers will laugh at the silliness of the family's situation but we can all learn a lesson or two from Petronilla and her splashy world.

The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain

Written by Carolyn Huizinga Mills

Illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

978-1-55455-395-2

32 pp.

Ages 3-6

October 2017

Mondegreens, the mishearing of a word or phrase, is typical with songs for which the listener does not see the words they are hearing.  It seems reasonable that the same could be applied to any repetitive rhyme that is misheard like the nursery rhyme "Baa Baa Black Sheep."  When little Sally hears her mother repeating that old English nursery rhyme to her baby brother, she is convinced that she hears,

"Baa baa black sheep
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.
One for my master.
One for my dame.
And one for the little boy...
Who lives down the DRAIN."

From The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain 

by Carolyn Huizinga Mills 

illus. by Brooke Kerrigan

No wonder her ears perk up.  And, boy, does she have a lot of questions about what's happening with that wool and about his living arrangements.  

From The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain 

by Carolyn Huizinga Mills

 illus. by Brooke Kerrigan

As a child who seems to be dealing with busy parents, a  crying baby, and twin sisters who won't let her play with them, Sally is in need of a little companionship and conversation.  That little boy who lives down the drain seems like a perfect friend.  At least, he's available, sitting down the very drain of the tub in which she takes her baths. 

From The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain 

by Carolyn Huizinga Mills 

illus. by Brooke Kerrigan

After the water lets out, Sally shouts down a cheery "Hello" to the little boy.  Her voice echoes and as she talks away about herself and her family, she envisions him using the wool to fish in the drain.  The little boy down the drain listens as she laments the attention she lacks and the annoyance of her brother and sisters.  When she can't hear his responses, she speaks more emphatically into the drain, telling him "I know you're probably trying, but you need to try something different!" 

What she hears back is the echo of her final words "Try something different" which gives her the courage to do just that with her family.  Her own words help bring some resolution to her issues with her family but the story doesn't end there.  You see, Sally eventually hears a different ending for the rhyme and interprets it in her own charming way.

The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain was just nominated yesterday for a Blue Spruce award.  That's high praise indeed for Carolyn Huizinga Mills' first picture book.  Sally is so spontaneous and sweet, honest and innocent, never assuming she's misheard the words.  She is determined to speak with the little boy who lives down the drain, and treats him with such reverence and curiosity.  There is a surprise ending here that will have readers laughing out loud with its simplicity and cleverness.  And Brooke Kerrigan, who has illustrated several Blue Spruce-nominated titles including Fishermen Through and Through (written by Colleen Sydor, Red Deer Press, 2014) and Kiss Me! (I’m a Prince!) (written by Heather McLeod, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2011) brings a sweetness to Sally and her bathtub antics, as well as to her efforts to engage her family.  Just like Sally, Brooke Kerrigan's illustrations have a guilelessness to them.  Her characters are so natural, her settings clean and subtle, and yet they are enriched with detail as appropriate. (See the illustration of Sally trying to get her busy family's attention in the illustration above.) Together Carolyn Huizinga Mills and Brooke Kerrigan have created a picture book about a little girl's naiveté but turned it into a lesson in empowerment.  For good advice about being empowered, you really must listen, like Sally did, to The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain.

🚰🚰🚰🚰🚰

To see a list of all the Blue Spruce nominated titles for the 2018 Forest of Reading® readers choice awards, including The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain,  go to my awards page here.

Rhino Rumpus

Written by Victoria Allenby

Illustrated by Tara Anderson

Pajama Press

978-1-927-485-96-5

24 pp.

Ages 2-4

August 2016

Victoria Allenby and Tara Anderson, the author-illustrator duo who brought us Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That (Pajama Press, 2013), have returned with another picture book for our littlest ones, this time focusing on the sibling antics of three rhinos as their mother attempts to bring them to some degree of harmony.

From Rhino Rumpus 

by Victoria Allenby, illus. by Tara Anderson

From page one, the three little rhinos are forever being unruly: rude, in a mood, tussling.  And Mama rhino has to interject and bring them in line.  Dinner time is not much different, and Mama sends them to get ready for bed.   Even bathtime (whose illustration is the “magic page” i.e., the cover art) involves a lot of pushing and boisterous escapades that Mama rhino rumbles to a stop with an emphatic “Quiet!”  Teeth brushing, a story and song, and a plea to “And when you wake, please get along!” signals the ultimate family hug and the blissful stillness that is sleep.

The text is perfect for toddlers who will delight in its simplicity and sounds, while those children who are just learning to read will be pleased to test themselves on the easy-to-read rhyming lines and repetition of numbers (e.g., One little rhino…, Two little rhinos…, Three little rhinos…).  I suspect that Victoria Allenby who dedicates the book to her nieces “who ALWAYS get along” has witnessed similar naughtiness but, by experiencing it with love and affection, she has given it a boisterous comic feel to it, something that will lighten the mood for any parent (or aunt!) who has to brave it and strive for calm.  Similarly, Tara Anderson, who dedicates the book to her own little one, animates the text with her coloured pencil illustrations that convey exuberance, joy, mischief and affection with each stroke.  Never is there anger or hostility between the siblings or directed at the little rhinos, and the message of patience in parenting is conveyed with fun and warmth and caring.

From Rhino Rumpus 

by Victoria Allenby, illus. by Tara Anderson

Rhino Rumpus will undoubtedly become the go-to book for families with young ones who get into squabbles, both for parents who need to recognize that children learn through play, even boisterous play, and for children who need to see that parental love is a gift that should not be overlooked, even if it does need a rest occasionally.

From Rhino Rumpus 

by Victoria Allenby, illus. by Tara Anderson

Going for a Sea Bath

by Andrée Poulin

Illustrated by Anne-Claire Delisle

Pajama Press

978-1-927485-92-7

32 pp.

Ages 5-8

March, 2016

What is it with so many kids and baths?  For Leanne, “It’s so boring! It’s annoying! It’s a pain!”  But her father has an idea (or more than several) how to make it more fun and it has him running back and forth to bring the sea in to her bathtub.

There’s one turtle, then two eels, three clown fish, and four seahorses.  At the four seahorses, Leanne is exclaiming, “Taking a bath is exciting! It’s the best!”  But her father, delighted in  making his daughter happy, continues to feed her requests for more or different with five shrimps, six hermit crabs, seven sea urchins, eight anemones, nine starfish and ten octopi.  Needless to say, that bathtub becomes a little crowded and they must find a solution to a new problem.

Taking a bath has never been so much fun!  The repartee between father and daughter is priceless. There is such warmth and affection that it’s easy to see why Leanne’s father would take such delight in his daughter’s joy.  He’s a little goofy, with his paunch, flat feet and receding hairline, but he’s all about being a good dad.  And little Leanne, with her head full of curls and splattering of freckles, is the quintessential inquisitive child with eyes and heart wide open.

Though Andrée Poulin’s text is based on counting, and would be a fun way for parents or teacher to help young children with numbers,  Going for a Sea Bath is so much more than that.  It’s a fun romp at bath time, with a tub full of different sea creatures, while looking at their behaviour and physical characteristics (though I didn’t know octopi knew how to use a toilet or that the hermit crab would enjoy playing with toilet paper!) Andrée Poulin, whose award-winning The Biggest Poutine in the World I recently reviewed here on CanLit for LittleCanadians, is staggerinly effective in her story-telling, whether for the very young or middle-grade.

From Going for a Sea Bath by Andrée Poulin, illus. by Anne-Claire Delisle

But the precious factor for Going for a Sea Bath goes beyond priceless because of Anne-Claire Delisle’s illustrations. The details in all the animals and in the scenes she composes of Leanne and her father amongst the backdrop of the bathroom are so full that I continue to look back on the book and find more and more features that delight.  From the shrimp draped in Leanne’s hair and the reclining turtle to the octopus squeezing shampoo from a bottle, Anne-Claire Delisle’s artwork is charming.

And, if there isn’t enough to love about this book, teachers will love talking synonyms with the adjectives, like magnificent, phenomenal and super-stupendous, that Leanne’s father uses to describe each new idea.  Going for a Sea Bath is  some kind of wonderful!