What has Meg and Mog got to do with Polish embroidery? Why is death in picture books so often represented by being eaten?
We've read Green Eggs and Ham, laughed at Mr Tickle and whetted our appetites with The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But what lies behind the picture books that make up our childhood?
Fierce Bad Rabbits takes us on an eye-opening journey in a pea-green boat through the history of picture books. From Edward Lear through to Beatrix Potter and contemporary picture books like Stick Man, Clare Pollard shines a light on some of our best-loved childhood stories, their histories and what they really mean. Because the best picture books are far more complex than they seem - and darker too. Monsters can gobble up children and go unnoticed, power is not always used wisely, and the wild things are closer than you think.
Sparkling with wit, magic and nostalgia, Fierce Bad Rabbits weaves in tales from Clare's own childhood, and her re-readings as a parent, with fascinating facts and theories about the authors behind the books. Introducing you to new treasures while bringing your childhood favourites to vivid life, it will make you see even stories you've read a hundred times afresh.
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Opening a picture book from your childhood can be dangerous. INTRODUCTION
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(@penguinaudio, 1 August 2019, 7 hours 34 minutes, audiobook, bought from @audibleuk, narrated by the author)
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Pollard is one of my favourite writers so I tend to devour everything she writes. Fierce Bad Rabbits has been on my radar for ages. The premise sounded really interesting. Some people dismiss picture books as childish and lacking a deeper meaning. How little they know as the opposite is true. Picture books can tackle subjects as deep as adult books. I've read a decent amount of picture books as an adult and have also been impressed by how deep they can be. I enjoyed listening to this. A wide spectrum of picture books and themes are covered. I'd heard of most of the picture books discussed and referenced here but there are a few that were completely new to me. This is well presented and engaging.
