Please welcome my guest author today, Robin Newman, with her list of children’s books where the character takes over the story. She’ll explain more about how that is done.
Who’s Writing This Story?! by Robin Newman, illustrated by Deborah Zemke
Follow the three little pigs as they argue with the writer over what kind of story to tell. Will the hero become the villain? Find out in this fun introduction to the essential components all great stories need. [picture book, ages 7 and up]
We are giving away a copy of Robin’s new book, Who’s Writing This Story?! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
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As a writer, I must confess that I have a soft spot for stories with characters who take control of the narrative and break the fourth wall.
“Psst, Robin. It’s me. Professor Pigsley from WHO’S WRITING THIS STORY?! What are you talking about?”
“Hey Professor Pigsley! I was about to explain to Mia’s readers that the “fourth wall” is a term that originates from acting. It refers to the imaginary wall that separates the audience from the actors. Actors who break the fourth wall directly address the audience.”
“I get it. So, the characters directly address the readers. And that means the characters’ point of view trumps the narrator’s.”
“Well, let’s not get carried away here.”
“And I guess that might even turn the narrator into the story’s antagonist.”
“Professor Pigsley, I think you’re taking this too far.”
“No, this really works for me. I think the readers are down with it, too. Aren’t you readers?”
“Readers, I apologize for this brief interruption, but I think it’s time for Professor Pigsley to mosey on back to WHO’S WRITING THIS STORY?!”
“NO! WAIT! I was just getting started. The readers LOVE me.”
“Bye, Professor Pigsley! Will talk again soon.”
Now, where was was I . . .
There are a number of AWESOME picture books whose characters take control of the narrative. Two of the most famous are THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith (for ages 3-8), and THE THREE PIGS by David Wiesner (for ages 3-8). Both stories are brilliant beyond words (and I so wish I had written them).
In THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, it’s the wolf, Alexander T. Wolf, feel free to call him Al, who takes charge of the narrative. He explains how the press created this fallacy of the Big Bad Wolf. (You can practically hear Al’s shouts of fake news and I’m innocent from the pen). And it all started because poor Al needed a cup of sugar for his sweet little old granny’s birthday cake. I don’t want to ruin the story, but let’s just say, Al isn’t a completely innocent raconteur since he was busted in an attempted breaking and entering and attempted assault on pig #3. And he admits as much!
Moving along to a more porker friendly narrative in THE THREE PIGS, the wolf huffs and puffs and blows the first pig right out of the story. And of course, pig #1 is more than eager to help guide his fellow pigs write off the page to safety as well. And the little piggies enjoying their newfound freedom decide to fold over the pages of the story into an airplane and fly right into new stories until they literally rebuild their own story. Did I mention how brilliant this was?
Lest you think that pigs and wolves are the only ones hogging the narrative, let me introduce you to SNAPPSY THE ALLIGATOR (DID NOT ASK TO BE IN THIS BOOK), written by Julie Falatko and illustrated by Tim Miller (for ages 3-8). Snappsy is a wonderfully cantankerous alligator who simply does not want to be in the book. He has strong feelings about the narrator. “You’re an awful narrator,” he says at one point. “You’re just describing what you see in the illustrations.” Eventually, Snappsy and the narrator, who turns out to be a chicken with some serious dance moves, come to terms with one another. After all, it’s a picture book. You need a happy ending.
Now the narrator in A UNICORN, A SHARK, A DINOSAUR WALK INTO A BOOK by Jonathan Fenske (for ages 3-8) will want you to believe this is true. But everyone knows sharks can’t walk. “I don’t walk. I prance,” says the unicorn. And of course, the dino stomps. The narrator will also want you to believe that this might be the best book ever, but of course, our cast of unicorn, shark, and dino characters have other ideas, as all good characters should.
In THE PANDA PROBLEM by Deborah Underwood and Hannah Marks (for ages 3-8), there’s a teensy-weensy-itty-bitty problem. Panda does not have a problem. So, how is the narrator going to tell a story if its main character doesn’t have a problem? Readers, you see where this is going.
All of these books will ignite your imagination and tickle your funny bones while challenging and giving you an insider’s view of how stories work.
“Say Robin, Professor Pigsley here again. You forgot to mention the personal connection these characters have created with the readers.”
“Thanks! I couldn’t have said it better.”
“Speaking of a personal connection, do you think Mia’s readers will invite us over for dinner?”
“Professor Pigsley, I don’t think it’s THAT kind of personal connection.”
“I could bring cupcakes. Everybody loves cupcakes.”
“Perhaps if you bring cupcakes.”
Who’s Writing This Story?! GIVEAWAY!
We are giving away a copy of Robin’s new book, Who’s Writing This Story?! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U. S. and A.F.O. addresses.
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Raised in New York and Paris, Robin Newman is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the City University of New York School of Law. She was a practicing attorney and legal editor, but prefers to write about witches, mice, pigs, and peacocks. Author of the award-winning Wilcox & Griswold Mystery Series, she’s a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, National Writing Project’s Writers Council, Bank Street Writers Lab, PEN America (CYAB), and Read Alliance’s Advisory Council. Her latest picture book, WHO’S WRITING THIS STORY?! is about a writer having problems with her characters. She lives in New York with her two spoiled Spaniels. For more information, please visit www.robinnewmanbooks.com.
You can also find Robin here:
Twitter: @robinnewmanbook
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/RobinNewmanBooks/339179099505049
Instagram: @robinnewmanbooks
p.s. Related posts:
8 Funny Picture Books with Puns
Funny Picture Books About Summer Camp
11 Picture Books to Teach Idioms
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My books:
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
I love when characters break the fourth wall! Such a cute interview! WHO’S WRITING THIS STORY looks like so much fun! Congratulations, Robin! If I bring snacks can I come for dinner too!
These are my favorite types of picture books. Snappsy is one of my favorites.
I can’t think of any unfortunately but these have me giggling.
I love Snappsy! This one looks great, too.