Absent Minded Rabbit
On the value of picture stories
Drawing Prompt:
Illustrate the text by Richard Scarry about Mr Rabbit
Mr Rabbit Walked down the street. He wasn’t looking at the
workmen who were making a new, hot, sticky, gooey street.
No! He was looking at his newspaper.
- Richard Scarry
Eventually the rabbit got stuck and inconvenienced a whole bunch of townspeople and promised to learn his lesson. But did he?
This whole story played out across two spreads, using 10 Vignettes, and ending on a full page image.
It was one of 11 short stories in Richard Scarry’s funniest storybook ever.
Oliver Jeffers Tells a similar story across a whole book, in “Stuck” in what could be seen as an expanded version of Mr. Rabbit’s story in a single book.
Oliver Jeffers book feels more like an art object.
And Richard Scarry’s like a book for children.
I’m not saying that Mr Jeffers’s story is inspired by Scarry’s, I’m just pointing out what I noticed about the two books.
If either artist did both, a collection like ‘The Funniest Storybook Ever’ and a Single story like ‘Stuck’, I’m pretty sure one would outsell the other by miles.
It makes me think about what kind of thing is worth writing.
Is it wrong to have commercial considerations when creating?
You know I would love to see the 44 page Funniest Storybook ever expanded into a 200 page volume meticulously painted by Oliver Jeffers, that would be a sight, it would probably have to go for $80 a pop tho! Sigh!
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I'm prejudiced so I pick Richard Scarry. HIs illustrations speak to me more, but what I love about his stories is they're pretty much all subtext. Kids reading them tell themselves the story he doesn't tell. They get to participate in the creation.
Picture stories are just as valuable as wordy stories. Stories are stories, and they all have value. "I Want My Hat Back" by Jon Klassen comes to mind- barely any words, but it's fantastic.
Also, less wordy stories are more accessible- language barriers, dyslexia, brand new readers. The less barriers to enjoying more wordy literature in the future, the better IMO!