Celebrating Laughter And Fantastical Creatures

Regardless of the creatures we choose to share the hours of our days, other than humans, there will be those who wish for the impossible.  When the word impossible is used, it can be for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps the community or home in which we reside does not allow certain animals.  Perhaps our family does not have the monetary means to support our heart's desire.  Or perhaps, this particular animal we have selected has characteristics for which we have been warned but decide to ignore.

There are those who have for generations longed to look out their window and see a unicorn grazing in the grass outside their home.  As long as we are imagining, there might be a note around the unicorn's neck saying this marvelous being now belongs to you.  After reading You Don't Want a Unicorn! written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Liz Climo all thoughts of this pursuit are dispelled, but that story ends with another warning, a wish, a poof, and the image of a fire-breathing dragon emerging from a cloud of green.  You Don't Want a DRAGON! (Little, Brown And Company, June 9, 2020), a companion title by this collaborative team, proves a point amid loads of laughter.

NOW you've done it!

SLURRRP!

I TOLD YOU not to wish for a dragon!

When it comes to having fantastical critters, this boy simply does not learn any kind of lesson.  His memory is short, truly short.  The narrator is quick to remind him of all the unicorn complications, while adding a dragon is even more problematic.  Despite the fun of flying, fire-breathing and eliminating danger in a single gulp, dragons can exhibit dog-like characteristics . . . only much, much bigger.

In case you dear reader might be wondering where charcoal originates, you won't wonder any longer.  People will be puzzled by your unwillingness to enjoy cookouts any longer.  Wagging, digging, and scooting are amplified.  Did I mention the fire already?

The most unplanned outcome is about to happen.  It happens again, again and again.  It's back to the wishing well for this little guy.  The narrator is encouraging though, because nearby is a Pet Adoption Day! event.

Within no time at all, the charming chap finds his super-duper pet.  As readers start to breathe a sigh of relief at the outcome, the new little explorer gets out of its cage.  Our hero is still in the midst of cleaning up the mess from the unicorns and dragon.  There is one particular item, this new resident cannot resist. 

POOF!


If there is one lady in children's literature who can conjure up hilarity, it's Ame Dyckman.  The unseen narrator does not waste a single second before beginning commentary loaded with comedy.  The voice begins with grudging acceptance of the joyful moments having a dragon can bring, but that ends abruptly.  The parallels between a dragon and a dog heighten the humor.

As the negative attributes begin to overwhelm our already traumatized protagonist, the narrator becomes even more determined, but also compassionate and willing to assist.  This is a lull, a tricky technique leading us to believe the story is to be quietly resolved. HA!  The pacing is precise and perfect as it takes us to a magical funny conclusion.  Here is a passage.

I know.  You're doing
your best!  But I haven't
even gotten to the most
GINORMOUS problem
with having a dragon: 

Dragons . . .
POINK!
get . . .
POINK! . . .


Rendered

with digital magic

laughter and love, the illustrations by Liz Climo start with the boy grasping the dragon's tail, a tad bit of trepidation in his demeanor.  Observant readers will notice he is still wearing his I ♥ Unicorns t-shirt but the word unicorns had been crossed out to make a place for the word dragons.  The dragon is thrilled to have been wished into existence.  The flames along the bottom are a huge hint of the scorching yet to be revealed.  The green on the dragon's body and the title text DRAGON! are shimmery.

To the left, on the back, on a canvas of red an interior image is displayed.  This is the first incident of the dragon being not quite so much fun.  The words:

BE CAREFUL
WHAT YOU WISH FOR . . .
AGAIN!

are in white.

The book case uses a white background, left to right, to highlight an enormous interior illustration.  It's the dragon in a huge pool of drool, sound asleep.  It's super gooey as the boy's hands demonstrate.  His facial expression is one of disgust.  An arrow points to the dragon with the word

ERNIE.

(These names are priceless.)

On the opening endpapers Ernie and the boy are portrayed in six different positions.  Flames and charcoal complete the pattern.  On the closing endpapers the six stances of Ernie and the boy are spread between the two pages.  The flames and charcoal are still there, but so are the newest pets.  They are all named. (I am still laughing.)

A double-page picture of the boy and his newly-wished-for dragon in the park by the wishing well greets readers on the title page.  White is used throughout as an element to great effect.  It helps the other images to appear to leap off the page. 

Small images, single-page pictures, and dramatic double-page visuals, highly animated, are laden with humor.  The looks on the boy's face and the dragon's face are certain to have readers laughing out loud.  The added details, the toilet paper roll on the dragon's foot, the burnt lampshade, the dragon eating BBQ CHIPS and the boy's broken piggy bank elevate every funny moment.

One of my favorite illustrations of many is a double-page image.  It's the inside of the boy's home after the unicorn party and the dragon's scooting.  The walls are white except where they've been burned, or the drywall is off, or the unicorns left a drawing and writing.  The pictures, still hanging, are askew.  There are still some balloons near the ceiling and some streamers.  Cupcakes and charcoal are scattered on the floor.  So is the broken piggy bank.  The boy, looking totally harried, is holding a fire extinguisher.  The dragon, behind him, is munching on chips.


Every day with laughter is cause for celebration.  This book, You Don't Want a DRAGON! written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Liz Climo will have you grinning, giggling, and guffawing.  You will have many requests for read it again.  This duo has created a wonderful companion title.  I highly recommend it for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Ame Dyckman and Liz Climo, and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their respective websites.  Ame Dyckman has an account on Twitter. Liz Climo has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter.  Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher, hosted the cover reveal at his site, Watch. Connect. Read.  You'll enjoy the conversation between him and Ame Dyckman and Liz Climo.  The publisher has a downloadable four-page storytime kit.  Ame Dyckman was featured at Picture Book Spotlight on March 31, 2020.

You Were Warned...

The thing about wishes and wishing is they can be a tricky enterprise.  When we wish for something we tend to think of the outcome and not how it is achieved or what may happen if and when a wish comes true.  It's hard to remember it's a rarity if something happens in isolation; good or bad, there are consequences.

Nevertheless if we see a falling star, the first star of the night, or witness a rainbow or when it's 11:11 on the clock, we pull a turkey bone, we find a penny, or when we blow out birthday candles on our cake, we will be making a wish.  You Don't Want a UNICORN! (Little, Brown And Company, February 14, 2017) written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Liz Climo is an adventure in the unexpected.  It can be said this is a ride on the wild side filled with first-rate hilarity.

WAIT!
You were gonna wish for a unicorn, weren't you?
Wishing for a unicorn is a 
BIG MISTAKE!

An unseen narrator continues to offer advice but the little guy, clearly a huge fan of the mythical beast, lets go of his coin.  Within mere seconds of it dropping beneath the fountain waters,

POOF!

A unicorn of his dreams springs forth from a blaze of rainbows.  The voice continues with dread dripping from every word.

It would be safe to say the boy, riding upon the back of his new friend, does not heed one single syllable.  His wildest dream has come true.  When they arrive inside his home, the joy becomes tinged with problems, HUGE problems.  Did you know unicorns shed gold glitter?  And it sticks to everything...like glue.

If you think house-breaking a puppy is difficult, unicorns can't learn.  (You'll never look at a cupcake the same way again.)  You'll have to be extra careful giving them anything carbonated to drink.  Their burps are an explosion of color with no pot of gold at the end.  Just when you believe you might be able to handle all these "little" idiosyncrasies, the biggest surprise of all pays you a visit again and again and again and again.

Thankfully the narrator has continued to offer wisdom.  His final words must be heeded to undo what has been done.  It's not going to be easy.  Whew!  OH! NO! WAIT!


Using an unseen narrator to tell this story is sheer genius on the part of author Ame Dyckman.  The words she selects to use and their delivery make us active participants in this story.  Before the fourth sentence is even finished you will be laughing... guaranteed.  How many times have you warned a child not to do something and before the sound of your warning has faded away, they've done that very thing?

The cadence in which the narrator speaks through purposeful punctuation gives the story splendid pacing.  The repeated use of

Trust me.

increases the comedic effect.  It will also have you wondering why this particular narrator seems to be so well-informed about wishing and unicorns.  Here is the continuation of the first part.

Just step away and---
(PLIP)
Uh-oh.
Things are about to get--- (page turn)
POOF!
ugly.
Trust me.


All of the illustrations rendered

with digital magic

are animated with a high laughter factor on the dust jacket, book case and pages in bright cheerful colors.  The expression on the boy's face on the front of the jacket most definitely matches the title but we are not sure yet why or how the unicorn and boy are currently together.  The unicorn and the word Unicorn shimmer when tipped back and forth in the light.  To the left, on the back, with a purple background, the seated unicorn is burping a burst of color which bleeds over the spine.

The book case is an interior picture on a background of white.  Extra text with arrows has been added.  My lips are sealed as to the content of this image.  On the opening and closing endpapers, amid turquoise, pink, green and orange clouds (eighteen in total), are unicorns in various attire with unique physical characteristics.  There is a distinct difference between the two sets of endpapers reflecting the conclusion of the story.  (Tiny spots on these illustrations shimmer too.)

A large double-page picture provides the canvas for the title page as well as beginning the story.  Three children are playing in a park with a fountain.  Liz Climo alternates between two-page visuals, single page pictures and smaller pictures on one page to match and elevate the narrative's rhythm.  The characters stand out on the crisp white paper with few other details in the scenes colored.  The expressions on the boy's face match his every emotion and the activities of the unicorn.

One of my favorite illustrations is on a single page with a white background.  The unicorn is standing tall, golden horn surrounded by vivid sparkles.  Next to him is the boy grinning.  His eyes are wide open with happiness.  There is pink frosting in his hair and on his I ♥ Unicorns t-shirt.  They are both looking at the next page where the first of several surprises has appeared.  You just know from previous moments that this happiness is short-lived.


I have been smiling since I first read this book, when I read it again and as I was writing this post.  I can't help it.  You Don't Want a UNICORN written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Liz Climo is filled with laugh out loud episodes from beginning to the oh-uh end.  It's about wishing, learning and hope.  You have to hope that your next wish might be a little bit different.  Right?  I can already hear the requests for read it again.

To learn more about Ame Dyckman and Liz Climo and their other work please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  At the publisher's website you can download a storytime kit. John Schumacher, Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, featured the cover reveal and book trailer premiere on his blog, Watch. Connect. Read.  You have to read and watch both of these!