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To @Danny_Freedman and the @wapo regarding your article about The Monster at the End of This Book. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/monster-at-the-end-of-this-book/2021/01/25/e7fbf7a6-5ccf-11eb-8bcf-3877871c819d_story.html
There's a LESSON at the end of this thread!
(Are you scared of lessons?)
(If so, don’t read to the end of this thread!)
There's a LESSON at the end of this thread!
(Are you scared of lessons?)
(If so, don’t read to the end of this thread!)
I enjoyed reading about the 50 year anniversary of The Monster at the End of this Book. It’s a classic, iconic story, and it’s hard to believe it was written 50 years ago. Thank you for spotlighting it and other wonderful metafiction picture books books.
(Still reading?)
(Still reading?)
Their popularity reflects the fact that kids can be trusted to understand metafiction and sophisticated humor. As an author of a metafiction picture book myself, I couldn’t agree more.
(Hey listen, if you just want compliments, not lessons, don't read to the end of this thread!)
(Hey listen, if you just want compliments, not lessons, don't read to the end of this thread!)
However, @danny_freedman, every female children’s author on the planet noticed that you neither interviewed any women experts, nor mentioned any metafiction books written by women.
I’m curious as to why not.
I’m curious as to why not.
Was it because neither you nor your editors are familiar with the hilarious @FuseEight or @MarjorieIngall or their writings about children’s literature generally, and funny books in particular?
(Be careful! You’re starting to get closer to the lesson at the end of this thread!)
(Be careful! You’re starting to get closer to the lesson at the end of this thread!)
Was it because neither you nor your editors read any of the lengthy lists of funny female authors & books that we post several times a year, every year, whenever an article comes out about funny children’s books that inevitably neglects to mention any female authored books?
@Danny_Freedman In case you missed the literally dozens of lists from the last too many years, there’s an exceptional list of funny women picture book authors in response to YOUR article here. https://twitter.com/KateChicago/status/1354598361609990145
(See? You’re dangerously close to the lesson at the end of this thread! It’s almost too late to save yourself!)
Was your omission of the myriad hilarious books by women because metafiction, as literary device, breaks the rules and, as we all know, no one likes it when women break the rules?
You see, most publishers determined at least 5 years ago that the market was too saturated with metafiction stories. Unfortunately for funny female authors, the “metatfiction moment” predated the time when many publisher’s began recognizing that women can write funny books.
That’s why there are SO many more funny picture books by women from the last 5 years, but still too few metafiction books.
(Oh no! It’s too late! You’re hitting the lesson like it’s a brick wall! Are you scared?)
(Oh no! It’s too late! You’re hitting the lesson like it’s a brick wall! Are you scared?)
But they exist and they’re hilarious! To save you the trouble of doing any research or investigation of metafiction in children’s literature for your story, I’ll drop just a few of the most obvious examples you missed here . . .
Chester by Mélanie Watt is a classic!
Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham!
Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) by @JulieFalatko!
The Bear Who Wasn't There by LeUyen Pham
There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach
(Well, look at that! This is almost the end of this thread and the only one left here is me!)
(See, I told you there was nothing to be afraid of.)
As long as next time you and your editors don’t publish an article that makes it look like the only famous people in children’s literature are men.
Wait a minute . . .
As long as next time you and your editors don’t publish an article that makes it look like the only famous people in children’s literature are men.
Wait a minute . . .
