Looking at Picture Books

Two kids get together -- Jenny and Alfred. Jenny has a green ribbon that she refuses to remove from her neck; when Alfred asks about this, Jenny just says, "Unimportant...."

Love blooms. In the marital bed, Alfred again asks about the ribbon.

Jenny gives an inch. She *will* tell her story one day -- but now is not "the right time."

Years later, having started to die, Jenny invites Alfred to remove the green ribbon. And her head falls off. The end.

My daughter finds this book so frightening, she has asked that I punt it far, far away from the house. At other times, she demands to hear the story again.

I think my favorite element in "The Green Ribbon" (Alvin Schwartz) is the pacing -- just when your mind starts to wander, there is another curveball. Confrontation, then love, then old age. I also like the "fairytale" opening, which makes me think of Goldilocks or the Three Little Pigs.

I will be doing more research on Alvin Schwartz.

https://www.smekenseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2020/06/Green_Ribbon_story.pdf

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