My cherished genre: allegorical picture books for all ages
I first embraced the genre of “allegorical picture books for all ages” (also known as “children’s books for adults”) when covering the 100th birthday of Dr. Seuss for the Associated Press in early 2004. Years after my aunt gifted me a copy of Oh, the Places You’ll Go as a college graduation present, researching Theodor Geisel’s extraordinary catalogue reminded me that while most of his books spoke to children, he also created meaningful books for adults, including You’re Only Old Once! and The Butter Battle Book.
My Dr. Seuss project inspired me to dive deep into the genre. The four books I cherished and re-read the most throughout my turbulent 20s and 30s were Trina Paulus’ Hope for the Flowers, Shel Silverstein’s The Missing Piece and The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, as well as Dr. Seuss’ My Many Colored Days.
Immersing myself into this creative genre also inspired me to revisit my master’s thesis project at Pratt Institute. I originally produced my motion graphics video in the fall of 2001 while living and working in Lower Manhattan during the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Never fully satisfied with the result, I converted the poetic conceptual story into an inspirational little gift book in 2004.
From that point onward, I continued to conceive several story ideas within the genre. One of those stories first drafted in 2008 (Path to the Palace) and another rough concept from 2010 (Escapades in Caves) are now my first visualized works of fiction available for purchase.
Why has it taken so many years for these stories to leave my computer’s hard drive? For one, I didn’t have the time nor clarity of vision required until recently. Also, a resurgence in the genre inspired my creativity.
When I traveled to London in January 2020, Waterstones booksellers had recently declared The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy their 2019 Book of the Year. On display in every bookstore, the inspirational messages and illustrations begged book-lovers of all ages to flip through the gorgeous visuals, feel meaningful warm fuzzies and ultimately buy the book to re-read again and again.
The popularity of Mackesy’s beautiful 128-page book opened the door for other U.K. illustrator-writers to publish more adult-themed allegorical picture books to great success and acclaim. When I returned to London in May 2023, while exploring the Personal Growth section at Waterstones in Piccadilly Circus (the largest bookstore in Europe), I discovered James Norbury’s Big Panda & Tiny Dragon series and Luke Adam Hawker’s Together and The Last Tree. These books were frequently displayed in the entryway of other Waterstones alongside Mackesy’s bestseller (when not sold out). I later learned that acclaimed children’s book author-illustrator Oliver Jeffers also entered the adult genre with Begin Again.
As for U.S. publications, I adore the work of Peter H. Reynolds, Kobi Yamada and Corinna Luyken. While each of these bookmakers produce work that fit into the traditional publishing constraints of American children’s illustrated picture books (i.e. 32 pages of simple language), their inspirational creations possess an eloquent sophistication for all ages.
While my two companion books, Path to the Palace and Escapades in Caves, fit squarely in this genre of “allegorical picture books for all ages,” they have notable unconventional elements.
• My books incorporate photography instead of illustration. My reason? When looking at my visual source material, I realized that I had already produced the dynamic imagery required to illustrate and illuminate both stories — and my photography felt more powerful than any illustration I could conceive.
• Both stories are about 4,000 words in length, compared to traditional contemporary picture books that come to around 600 words. As fictionalized short stories, my two picture books more closely follow the literary structure of children’s chapter books.
• My books’ themes and vocabulary choices speak to older readers. Like the bestselling U.K. picture books, my target audience is not young children. These books fit best in the Personal Growth section of bookstores, as they aim to give anyone between the ages of 10 and 110 a warm hug after reading (and re-reading and re-viewing).
Purchase Path to the Palace and Escapades in Caves ››
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Read my post about the books’ shared themes and creative process.
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