As much as I enjoy – nay, DELIGHT in writing picture books, I do have one beef to pick.
In a character-driven narrative, the main character must overcome an obstacle (or at minimum show growth that comes from encountering the obstacle) and the main character, ideally, must resolve the conflict on their own. (Hmm… is that two beefs?)
I get it. Our stories should empower the young reader to imagine what is possible.
Black-and-white, zero-sum games are easy stories to both tell and sell.
My beef is that this set-up keeps us on a cultural hamster wheel of 1) expecting immediate results from our efforts; and 2) misrepresenting real life to kids.
Life is messy and complicated. Black-and-white, zero-sum games are easy stories to both tell and sell. Perhaps this explains the fantasy genre.
But if we hope to cultivate virtues like perseverance, patience, fortitude, and tolerance, we need to make room for stories where there isn’t necessarily a happy ending. Stories that honestly reflect life as a work-in-progress. Stories that show how to live with struggle and disappointment because real change takes time.
I believe we can do this even in picture books and they don’t have to be dark and sad. It’s an opportunity to put the spotlight on healthy responses that plant the seeds for hope, especially when a perfect ending isn’t an option.
Patricia Franz is a kidlit writer and published poet. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 