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On Children

 A tour-de-force picture book looks easy--but of course the task isn't easy.


Russell Hoban wrote "Bedtime for Frances" and landed a "win," and so, superstitiously, he gave "B" titles to several subsequent books: "Bread and Jam for Frances," "Baby Sister for Frances," "Bargain for Frances."

Frances is a great character; she isn't a brat, and she isn't perfect. She doesn't want to go to bed. Her parents send her off--and the emotions drummed up by bedtime lead Frances to feel confused. "Did you kiss me, Mother?" Frances asks. The question is a stalling tactic, but it's also a real question: Frances is living through an inner storm, and she doesn't actually recall whether she has been kissed.

Next, Frances invents reasons to be awake. The cloak near the bed is a monster. The wind on the glass is a monster. The crack in the ceiling holds a monster. Frances never seems really horrified; instead, she seems sort of delighted by the chaos all around. Her parents respond with fondness, or exasperation, or a mix of both.

Finally, Dad says, "Go to sleep, or I'll spank you." This isn't a bright and shining moment for Dad--but why should all characters show exemplary behavior, all the time?

Frances does go to sleep--not because of Dad's command, but because the drama of nighttime has finally taken its toll.

I love everyone in this book, and I wish all writers would spend some time with the words of Russell Hoban.

P.S. I'm away for the weekend. I'll see you next week!






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