I saw there that he has Not Now, Bernard by David McKee in his upcoming pile, which we have (it's a very forlorn tale due to dismal parenting skills), but we also have this one, I Hate My Teddy Bear (which we call I Don't Really Like My Teddy Bear because Iris is two and hate is not a concept I feel quite ready to embark on explaining or encouraging).
Anyway I digress, it was published in 1982, two years after Not Now.. and it is quite possibly the most bonkers book ever. Where to begin?
Well, there is an inexplicable recurring motif of people carrying huge hands and feet throughout the book. David McKee is really a master of detail, for example on the second page, the childrens' mothers are sitting on the sofa, one of them is weeping whilst the other is holding a letter and a photograph of a bearded man. On almost every page there are people engaged in cloak and dagger conversations, men in KGB-esque overcoats and women holding books, photographs or balls of string and much much more.
I rather love it, it's so funny, surreal, dark and intriguing. Iris seems to like it too, today she said in a very matter-of-fact voice, 'There's a hand, there's a hand, there's a hand and there's a foot.' Well, quite.
There's (a hand, oops, sorry) skewed perspective aplenty and so much to absorb and engross you. This is a quote of his, from an interview I found, "I have always said I enjoy writing for the adult the child will be, and the child the adult still is.” Marvellous and so true!
I really can't believe Elmer is his most successful character!
Look at her mask, aiiiiiiiiii!
