Time for Susanna Leonard Hill’s PPBF!
But first, let’s form a new political party, one run by children’s picture book writers and illustrators. It will be the nicest, most generous political party ever. There will be sharing of snacks and toys and saying please and thank you. No hitting, biting, bullying, or other anti-social behavior. There will be copious amounts of laughter at brilliant puns, riotous rhymes, and lyrical bedtime stories sending us into the land of nod.
I don’t know about you but I’m thinking about moving to Canada, a place where reasonable human beings live. Where people are thoughtful and nice to each other. But first, a civics lesson:
“There comes a time in all kids’ lives when
they need to create their own country.
When this happens to you…
The first thing you will do is
decide on your country’s location.”
You desperately need your own space, away from your pesky little brother. So you establish your country on hallowed ground, your room, give it a name, and create a flag. The dog, cat, goldfish, and toys become citizens.
You make rules and create punishments for breaking the rules.
You choose a leader (oh my, we won’t go there). You select a cabinet, write a national anthem, print money, etc.
Now here’s where things start to go off the rails. Civil unrest. Natural disasters. Invasions. Battles.
Just as you regain your equilibrium, you figure out that you must visit foreign countries, where you have to eat the food placed in front of you. And sometimes those visits don’t go as planned.
Which leads to preparations for yet another invasion…
“But be careful.”
This is where leaders should tread carefully.
You discover that those foreigners are really coming in peace!!!!
And surprise! You might want to change the rules to allow them in and make them citizens, because after all “It’s your country.”
And “Friends are more fun than enemies.”
That ends our civics lesson for today. If you feel this message is too political, it’s surely the product of your artist sensibilities. Children’s book writers and illustrators are highly imaginative.
Title: I Need My Own Country
Author: Rick Walton
Illlustrator: Wes Hargis
Publisher: Bloomsbury 2012
Ages: 5+
Jilanne Hoffmann 
Yes!
😀
What a cute concept! Sounds like there’s a lesson for all of us in there. 🙂
Aha! Up early this morning, reading and commenting, I see. I hope that I’m not being too didactic. Or maybe that is my hope. I’d hate to think I no longer have hope. Thanks for stopping by and giving this a Tweet!
Fun and thought provoking picture book–so glad to learn of it. Don’t move away Jilanne! Agreed its easy to get discouraged lately, but let’s hold the line and keep improving this great country!
I haven’t packed my bags yet, so I’m willing to give improvement a try—one picture book at a time! Thanks for reading!
Rick Walton – an excellent children’s writer! Nice pick, especially considering the current news. 🙂
Yes, common courtesy and respect has been on my mind quite a bit lately. Thanks for stopping by!
Wow! This looks great! Will definitely check it out.
Yesterday it was reported there’s a huge upsurge in people googling “move to Canada.”
Yep.
The Great Google Search Engine knows so much about us. Perhaps we should all start Googling “how to be kind,” and that will turn the tide in the other direction. Thanks for stopping by!
A very timely book! Can’t wait to get my hands on this very creative book! A great book for the classroom and for role playing situations.
Yes! It’s a “soft sell,” don’t you think? One that’s more fun than preachy. Perfect to get kids (and maybe adults) to think.
This has so many layers and indeed what a perfect picture book for election season. Terrific choice.
Thanks, Joanna. It really spoke to me. I’ve read it several times, now, and can’t get it out of my mind. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m gonna want my own country if this election goes the way I fear it will.
This book should help you out, then. Don’t say I never did anything for you—you and your squirrel citizens.
Thank you. I am off to build a tall fence around my house to keep the Trumps out.
Is there a companion book – “I Need to Build a Wall”? Or “I Need a New Hairdresser”?
Yes! How did you guess? There’s an entire series.
…ah, somebody’s already mentioned the T-word!
Like Tyrant-o-saurus Hex?
… or, maybe, Toupee Truffle …?
Ha! My 12-yr-old son came home the other day, saying “There will be hell toupee.” Then he spent the next five minutes laughing. Truffles, OTOH, are serious chocolate. Don’t mess with them!
uh, excuse me, but truffles are “a strong-smelling underground fungus that resembles an irregular, rough-skinned potato, growing chiefly in broadleaved woodland on calcareous soils. It is considered a culinary delicacy and found, especially in France, with the aid of trained dogs or pigs” before they are sweets, and I meant every ounce that that implies [I understand that they are especially liked by pigs too – which just gets better and better] … mind you, cred to your son’s giggler
Ah, yes. Now there’s a horse of a different color! I don’t like them or their oil-infused truffle-ness. I will leave them to the trough. In the meantime, I shall defend the chocolate ones down to their theobromine goodness.
This book would generate a lot of discussion in my kindergarten class!
Oh, I hope so! And wouldn’t it be fun for each kid to create their own country? with all of the things associated with that, including a flag, an anthem, a national bird, a cabinet, etc? A terrific exercise!
Keep away from mass media and you’ll fare better! Every country has it’s advantages and things to improve, the trick is we all need to roll up our sleeves. Sounds like a good book!
You, my dear, are a children’s book writer/illustrator, so you’ve clearly used your imagination and misunderstood this to be a political post. All resemblance to any person, event, etc. is entirely your creation. 😉
But yes, you’re right. I should stay away from the media. I should only read kidlit. My mental state would be so much improved.
Cute…mine would be an island which you can only visit by invitation. Too much dram and we move the island, just like in the series LOST. 😉
Oooooohhhhh, I like that! A little smoke and mirrors and—poof!—your country has left the building along with Elvis.
Yep!
Oh my goodness, this sounds adorable. Great lessons for all!
Yes, it is! I really do think the world would be a better place if it were run by children’s book writers and illustrators. Could you imagine such a place? 😀
What fun! My daughter will love this.
Does she have a pesky little brother? or does she just want her own space, free of intruders? 😀
Pesky older brother 😉
Aha! Even worse! Good luck to her. I had two pesky older brothers, but I lived to tell about it.
Girl power lol
Perfect book for this election season! Thanks for sharing – now leave me alone because I’m going to create my own country.
Make sure you have plenty of chocolate before you start. I hear it helps with all kinds of creating. Good luck!