Dianne White

Over the past few years I’ve been thinking very much about what an amazing gift it is for those picture book authors who are also illustrators.  Most especially those who choose to write for the very young.

I could be wrong, but I have this sense that an ability to call upon the visual creative side enables the author/illustrator to somehow -  perhaps almost organically?? -  whittle down story to the smallest of elements.

Several days ago, I wrote about one such author/illustrator – Olivier Dunrea – and his Gossie (and Gertie) books.  Boots are Gossie’s thing and she can be seen tromping on almost every page sporting her bright red galoshes. Gossie’s problem, as it turns out, is that Gertie *also* likes red boots. The last 1/2 page spread is of the two of them marching towards the edge of the page, one boot on, one boot off.

Piggie and Elephant have a different kind of clothing problem in Mo Willem’s I Am Invited to a Party! It seems that Piggie has been invited to her first party and doesn’t know what to wear.  When Elephant emphatically assures Piggie that he “knows” parties, the two of them make their clothing plans. Then “Zap!” “Zip!” before you know it, they’re suited up in all manner of fancy-pool-costume party clothes.

Clothing is optional in Willems’ latest book, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.  Willems, who has his pulse on young readers, knows that just the title alone is going to get young kids giggling.  The illustrations are a lot of fun in this book.  Some of my favorites include Wilbur the Naked Mole Rat dressed as clown, beatnik, cowboy, and superhero.  By story’s end, Willems assures readers that, naked or clothed, “All of the mole rats had a great time.”