I DON'T CARE... DO YOU?

On this national holiday commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. and his immeasurable contribution to a better country and world, I'll feature a new picture book that embodies everything important about his messages for young audiences. 

Neal Porter Books, 2022
Holiday House Imprint

I DON'T CARE is written by multi-award-winning Julie Fogliano, and illustrated by a pair of award-winning illustrators Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal. 

Among the best of all interviewers is Scott Simon of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. In December, Simon hosted both illustrators, Molly and Juana, for an interview that knocked me flat. I was entertained, informed, uplifted, and... disappointed.

 WHAT?!?!?  Disappointed? Here's why. I had been offered a chance to submit interview questions for all three creators, but after hearing their conversation I realized that nothing I could offer would be more engaging and powerful than that session together with Scott Simon. Whether you read anything else here or not, (and I hope you will), do yourself a favor and listen to this remarkable interview, HERE.

Foregoing an interview allows me space to dig even more deeply into the work itself, trusting you to read/listen to the discussion linked above. It will reveal back story and details about the choices for color, style, even paper! All of these make the experience of the book itself all the more powerful. Don't let my gushing endorsement of their illustration work and of the interview content suggest I'm overlooking the brilliance of the text itself. That can't happen.

Julie Fogliano has produced some of my all time favorite picture books, including THESE. The common trait among them is the author's gift for using the "just right" words in the "just right" order to focus readers on the heart of each particular story. She often writes in rhyme, but that approach never overwhelms or even leads the way for readers. She allows the unfolding text to reveal the heart of what is happening, what is at stake, and what is resolved. Those qualities are most often "quiet" in her works, and "quiet" books are reportedly not easily sold in today's market. 

Ha!

As with rhyming, another approach writers are  frequently cautioned to avoid, the secret to success is to do it well, even perfectly. Julie does just that. Her books often, and especially this one, provide ideal mentor text for anyone attempting to write for children. 

In this case, her full text is voiced by what she had envisioned as a single child, addressed to a "you". That "you" would seemingly be another child who the speaker is evidently rebuffing, assuming the "other" likely thinks negative things about the speaker. About their hair, boots, clothes, drawing, what they have or where they live or what they eat. The speaker's guard is up from the first moment the other, the "you", appears

 The speaker's words imply suspicion, defensiveness, and (likely) a bias toward others who in any way seem different. The text continues to allow the "I" voice to see and consider a possible connection to the other, one that might actually be an opportunity for company, for play, for... friendship. 

This development allows for caring: about what matters most, and about the other as much as about themselves. The lines and language, gently rhymed and paced, provide time for growth, inner reflections, and the possibility for change. The childlike pattern used (and the use of lower case /i/ for the pronoun stating the characters feelings) remind readers of any age that  such a suspicious, tentative approach to new encounters, to change, to expectations that remain unpredictable, are common negative reactions at any age, to one degree or another. If the illustrations had developed with this single perspective, I have no doubt that I'd still love and praise this new offering. 

But, as the interview linked above reveals, handing text to an illustrator allows for an entirely expanded interpretation, and that was the impact on Molly Idle when she was asked to illustrate. The text spoke to her entirely as an interactive dialogue between TWO characters, alternating that /i/ voice and those cautious feelings, allowing both to gradually recognize themselves as being safe in the other's company and, in fact, very much caring about the newly developing friendship. 

This delightful, gentle, powerful exploration of inner and interactive emotions is a perfect reflection of the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s lifetime efforts. Neither character tried to reshape the other, but each is able to overcome cautious defensiveness and give the other a chance. 

This is no quick transition; no abracadabra moment occurs. But sustained "tolerance", close observation, and human curiosity serve as magnets to explore further. What this seemingly simple picture book captures is a human being moving through initial discomfort, sitting with those feelings long enough to explore and overcome them. None of that would happen if the initial response was to shut down and go away, or to find like-minded folks and reconfirm that anything other than the familiar presented danger.

Interior spread, I DON'T CARE, 2022

That gave the two a chance... for what? To be who they are, and to accept the other fully, finding safety and respect in the process. And, in this case, making new friends. Transformation of our historically silo-evolved society comes one encounter at a time. This new book not only provides mentor-text and mentor-illustration for creators, it is a mentor offering for life, for all ages. 

Don't miss it. then share it and actively practice. Seek out opportunities to spend time outside your usual circles, habits, locations. Be patient and fair. Change CAN come, given a chance.