On Bossy Children, or How I Was Forced to Read HERE BE MONSTERS!

My eight-year-old child, a girl of spirit and well-organized opinion, a girl of details, of schedules, of things done on time, approached me the other day.

“Mom,” she said. “I’m giving you a job.”

“I have enough jobs,” I said.

“Mine’s more important,” she insisted. She handed me a book. This book, specifically:

“Here be monsters?” I asked.

“I want you to read it. The whole thing. Here’s your assignment schedule.”

And then she handed me a hand-written schedule of what pages I must read by what day.

“Um,” I said. “Thanks?”

“Don’t mention it,” she said brightly. “You’ll thank me later.”

And you know what? I totally did. This book rules. Also, the website is fantastic. Check it out!

Now, Alan Snow is an illustrator whose work I’ve admired for years.

Take this image for example,

Or this:

Or this: I love this guy.

And I love my daughter for forcing me to read his book.

 

Dear Alan Snow,

Your biggest fan has recruited a new convert. Congratulations.

Love,

Kelly