Historically Hysterical

John, Paul, George & Ben
by Lane Smith

Reviewed by Deb Clark

Sometimes I find myself attracted to children’s entertainers. Not just any old birthday clown or balloon twister. It’s got to be someone who holds my kids in rapt attention for at least 15 precious, precious minutes.

I had a crush, sight unseen, on Elmo’s puppeteer. I thought it would be fun to go to a Wiggles concert and throw granny panties on stage. And whoever was behind that Baby Van Gogh video— the only thing that calmed my colicky infant—has a place in my heart forever.

But those affections were mere trifles compared to the latest target of my mommy love. Because this new guy, well, he entertains me, too. I’m talking about Lane Smith, writer and illustrator of several funny, witty, silly books for children. He is the illustrator of one of my all-time faves, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. I loved that book so much I owned it a decade before I even thought I wanted children.

His latest, John, Paul, George & Ben, tells the story of four of our founding fathers (Hancock, Revere, Washington & Franklin, with Thomas Jefferson thrown in) when they were children and the childhood traits that proved mighty useful in their grown-up roles making history. I especially like the part about Paul Revere being so addled from frequently ringing church bells (his hobby) that he talked extremely loud, much to the annoyance of customers at his shop.

“EXTRA-LARGE UNDERWEAR? Sure we have some! Let’s see, Large…LARGE…EXTRA-LARGE! Here they are! Great, BIG extra-large underwear!”
Paul was like a bullhorn in a china shop…
It took many years and a midnight ride for people to finally appreciate his special talent.
“THE REDCOATS ARE COMING”
Everyone except that big-underwear lady.
She was still mad.

Combine that with faux-antiqued oil illustrations that look like manic Peanuts characters in 18th-century garb. Oh, it makes me laugh every time. Okay, so obviously Smith plays pretty fast and loose with historical facts in this book. If you don’t like that, try reading your young kids some straightforward history and see how far that gets you. There is a true or false section in the back of the book that sets the record straight with entries like:

The Revere shop sold extra-large underwear.
[FALSE] The Revere shop sold silver. But extra-large underwear is always funnier.

The book is for readers 5 and up, but I think grade-school kids will get more out of it than my four-year-old did. She’s just too young—and too unaware of American history—to get the jokes. Although she thought the extra-large underwear was funny, too.

I will keep this book. And I will read it. Sometimes to my girls. Sometimes to myself after yet another command performance of Disney’s Five-Minute Princess Stories. Oh, Lane Smith, I can’t live without you!

Rating: *\*\*\*\

Comments

[web]

This is the guilty secret of many a mom. I can't tell you how many weird friends I have who wanna do one of the Wiggles.

Now for me.... Steve. Steve, all the way.

[Deb Clark]

Oh, I'm so glad to hear I'm not alone. When I've been brave enough to mention my feelings to another mom, she'll just look at me and smile and say nothing. It jut makes me feel like maybe I don't get out enough.

And those Wiggles! I don't know their names but the little curly-haired one is a cutie.

[Little Willow]

I posted about the Cybils in my book blog today. I'd love to write up an article about it and submit it to the local papers and those which I contribute to regularly - Might you and Kelly email me some quotes for the piece? What inspired you to create the awards? A list of rules and deadlines as you wish them to be printed would also be fantastic. I'll post this to Kelly too. -- Little Willow

[Roberta Hahn]

To Anne Levy,
Please contact me in regards to the name Historically Hysterical.
That has been used by my business since 2003.
[email protected]

[Poetry]

Squid Sauce and Chopped Gobo

Hairy trees with beared boughs

Roaming the ailes in search of fish eyes.

Why do some lights cast point sources (images, shadows made of light) on the surface of the water and others are search lights bridging the gap from shore to shore.