posted on 05 Nov 2016

A rule is to break by John and Jana

I am drawn to books that are a bit risky in subject matter and this certainly one of them. We came across it at a Radical Book Fair in London and I notice that it features in the Letterbox Library catalogue because it fits very nicely with their alternative philosophy. All the same I can't imagine that it will be stocked by mainstream bookshops because it's subheading is ' A Child's Guide to Anarchy'  - hooray for a dangerous book!

The little child wearing a wolf suit is a clear reference to Max in Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, which was itself a controversial picture book when first published in the early 1960s. Like Max, this child looks mischievous as she/ he stares out from the front cover and continues cavorting through the book challenging various conventions like dressing like everyone else, being obedient and having a bath. This is obviously intended to provoke discussion and I can imagine using it with imaginative young children. There are strong anti capitalist and environmental statements in the mix which will chime with some adult readers and probably annoy others. It also has a warm and funny atmosphere overall and coveys some very positive and important messages about community, reading, spontaneity, generosity and compassion.

I liked the bold illustrations throughout and the motley cast of weird colourful creatures that the child plays alongside with - presumably her toys. They are the willing audience for her/his happy antics and towards the end of the book they join in with music making following their leader who is banging a drum and singing exuberantly as they stay up all night, naturally following a Wrong Way sign. The final shouty message is 'Do what you want!' but the very last page shows us the child and the toys now very small at the bottom of the page with the tiny line ( or do nothing if you prefer) as if in reassurance that the adults are after all in charge of things.

All books are political to some extent in the way they convey a view of the world and I think that this one should be admired for being overtly so. I note that the same American authors have written a picture book called ' Happy Punks 123 - another interesting one to look out for.

Karen Argent

November 2016