Two Sides To Every Story... in Two AMAZING Picture Books, and ONE MORE.

 I'm a fan of poetry-- reading it, writing it, and enjoying the many forms available to talented poets. In a picture book reviewed HERE, two years ago, I celebrated the remarkable teamwork of a pair of poets and an illustrator, Kate and Jol Temple and Terri Rose Baynton. This book, ROOM ON OUR ROCK, is written in a lesser-used poetic form, the REVERSO. Stated simply (and appearing to be much simpler than it actually is!), a reverso poem reads in two parts, with the first half appearing to be the end, but with an expectation to continue reading it from that "ending" backwards, concluding with the first line of the poem. Only in this way will readers fully grasp the layers and levels of meaning. 

Kane Miller Publishing, 2021

Now, two years after their original success with that REVERSO picture book, this creative team returns with a companion  book in similar form and art style, MOVE THAT MOUNTAIN.

With the identical tagline, THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, the simple text appears to confirm the visual and common sense reality that even the most caring and committed puffins will not be able to rescue a beached whale...except. The REVERSO form is triggered on the final page with the line "Read it again from the back to the start." 

Clinging to the hope that directive provides, readers can proceed from a melancholy ending to a marvelous celebration of the powerful impact of cooperation and persistence. As with the original ROOM ON THE ROCK, what we expect, what we believe, and what we are willing to work for can reshape the reality in which we live- together. 

Both picture books in this pair have that quality I so appreciate and celebrate-- something to offer any and every age. Even the youngest will engage with the expressive animals, especially the colorful and caring puffins, with their empathic and remarkable eyes and energy, as well as that magnificent whale with its surprising grace and grateful, pleading eyes. Older readers will respond enthusiastically to the challenge of constructing a REVERSO text, while appreciating the impact and subtlety of flipping line orders and expectations. 

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021

Another new picture book offers a slightly different take on a TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY tagline. TURTLE IN A TREE is written and illustrated by Neesha Hudson. In this case, the story involves contrasting views of reality, as voiced by disagreeing, slightly disagreeable dogs. One sweater-wearing wagger insists that there is a turtle in the tree, while a necktie-wearing voice of reason insists it must, instead, be a squirrel. Their reasoned, reasonable discussion escalates to a shouting match, shaking the truth from the tree, not once, but twice. 

I can't describe the joy I felt when first one dog then the other admitted their presumed mistakes, accepting each others' acknowledgements graciously. Then their shared amazement and the recognition that they had experienced things differently offers each a wider world view. 

From cover to cover, the simple text, font choices, illustrations with expressive features and body postures all invite connection and identification by readers of any age. In contrast to the REVERSO "bounce back" endings above, this delightful ending, a page turn past the final copyright page, suggests that conflicting observations and arguments like these are far from over. Throughout, grins and giggles are spontaneous and immediate. 

This, too, will win fans in little lap-sitters, but also extends invitations to older readers to discuss and debate the ways in which argument, observation, evidence, and even common sense can foreclose our willingness to honestly investigate the truth. These appeallng little characters demonstrate the damaging impact of rejecting whatever is outside our own experiences. 

Some schools are already back in session, while others will resume soon. Kids may be returning to school from an extended period of semi-isolation and being surrounded by singular, strongly-held points of view within their families and social circles. Issues related to vaccines and masks have been treated as absolutes with accusations and arguments. Could there be a better time to share  picture books as we  appreciate and discuss and explore the many ways in which things are not always cut-and-dried, black-and-white, turtle-or-squirrel? 

Making the World We Wish For: ROOM ON OUR ROCK

I've been worried that my lifelong optimism and idealism are at risk. I leave you to draw your own conclusions about what might have triggered my drooping mood in recent years. Nevertheless, I cling to unflagging faith in young humans, and speak up about that optimism when adults of any age bemoan "today's kids". 
As the subtitle of this new picture book says, "There Are Two Sides to Every Story". Finding the welcoming, open-hearted, willing-to-share side of life comes more naturally to kids, but our future depends on people of EVERY age shifting attitudes and speaking up. In life, as in quality picture books, EVERY age can find inspiration and truth, if they are open to making connections with their own lives.

Kane Miller Books 2019

ROOM ON OUR ROCK is a perfect example of that, created by Kate and Jol Temple and Terri Rose Baynton. It is formatted in an unusual way, inviting readers (REQUIRING readers) to read it both forward and backward. Two separate and simple story lines are revealed in the identical text and images, relying on readers to start in the conventional way and read left to right pages, turning to the end, then REVERSE at the final cover and read to the front, from right to left. 
I wrote about REVERSO POEMS in an earlier post, HERE. These, too, reflect alternate points of view: conflicting characters, creator/craft, etc. 
In this book, though, the alternating approaches reflect much deeper differences.Central values.

The frames through which we view the world. Without reading in both directions, either message is diminished. The concluding/launching line directs readers:
"No room on this rock? Can it be true? Read back to front for another point of view."
The gull reminders are an added nudge to readers about when-where-how to proceed:

The other illustrations throughout take on entirely different emotional resonance as the point of view reverses. The degree and awareness of threat throughout the story also diminish or magnify depending on which point of view is promoted. 
Without giving too much away, this distinctly expressive seal colony and family-in-need either question their commonalities or embrace them. One story, without the other, feels valid. it is only when both are viewed in sequence, and even with repeated explorations, that readers (of any age) can identify the realities that formed various perspectives. 
Either way, the desperate seal pair are escaping undeniable dangers. Either way, the sanctuary rock has clearly been claimed as home by others, possibly long before the approach of strangers is evident. The difference in result is found not in circumstances but in attitude. 
Discussions this book will generate are worth having, at any age. 
Most especially, this book could launch a successful school year, allowing connections to ways sharing supplies and turn-taking and game participation and empathy and acceptance can reshape the experiences of a year spent growing and learning together. 
The book also offers an opening to science discussions of predator-prey, climate change, and how supply-demand in nature creates tensions that challenge investigators to find alternatives to either-or solutions.
It's a book that could launch a thousand discussions of the current refugee crisis in older classrooms, too, and among adults. I can see a role for this book in religious services of various denominations, echoing the questions of needs versus resources but reminding participants of that important frame-shifting process. Consideration of what ethical and spiritual commitments require is bound to arise.
Harking back to the assumption that picture books are meant for "little kids", ROOM ON OUR ROCK will be a delight for read-aloud times with even the youngest groups in preschools and library story times. Its wide double-page spreads mirror the expanse of the ocean, while its limited text and simple color palette allow focus on the characters and crisis. The reverse in directions of reading will be especially appealing to little eyes and hands who are still developing concepts of left-to-right and other concepts-of-print awareness. 
In other words, this is a book that fulfills its primary purpose: to entertain and absorb, to invite repeated readings and discussion. 
And, like the very best picture books, it is COMPLETE, COMPACT, and COMPELLING, offering something for every age and audience.

Thank you to Kane Miller Books for reaching out to offer a copy of this book for review, with no promise in return. I will be donating it to our local library.