After thoughtfully reading more than a hundred elementary and middle school nonfiction nominees for CYBILS AWARDS in the last month or two, I feel more than ready to put up a strong showing as a JEOPARDY contestant, regardless of who is currently the host. Just don't assume that nonfiction equals solemn or dull or heavy. The range of styles, topics, formats, and perspectives is something to celebrate and the reading process was never a burden.
In fact, quite a few nominees involved exactly the elements that are likely to hook readers' eyes and minds and encourage hand-to-hand recommendations. That is especially true of HUMOR. I shared several funny nominees in prior posts, HERE, HERE, and HERE. Each was witty and wonderful in distinctly different ways. Much comic skill and writing wizardry were utilized, including wordplay, surprise details, illustration twists, and more, Cheap tricks and winks were not overdone as simple props for shortcut laughs.
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Beeker & Mayer Kids/Quarto Group
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Let's check out a genuine star in this approach: A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS, written by Christine Van Zandt with illustrations by the inimitable Harry Briggs. This dynamic pair is much more exciting than a simple pair of underpants... until you read the book and find out how amazing underpants really are!
For starters, check out that cover with a spinner-interactive wheel to replace the underwear turn after turn. Page after page of his slim little volume is every bit as clever from cover to cover. From earliest records, with more "deep digs" into the history of underpants, it seems that the very scratchy, spiky, messy, rash-causing world demanded the invention of some kind of protection from the start of humanity- especially as mankind developed upright ambulation.
Ladies, one of the fun revelations of history is the report that these garments were exclusively for males, until just a few hundred years ago. Conventions of female clothing across many cultures assumed that the clothing itself was sufficient protection for females, while males needed the little something extra due to horse riding, flailing weapons, and the consequence of coarse armor or leather on their nether parts.
The inside scoop on drawers begins thousands of years ago with fun furry facts about early Inuit ancestors, then spans centuries, continents, and circumstances in chronological order, right up to present day and space travel. The accounts are brief, illustrated with spot insets, using ridiculous but kid-magnet wordplay and a cavalcade of comical characters and critters. At only forty-eight pages there are four chapters with a conventional table of contents and extras in back, so that the total package is a delicious laugh-fest. Among the chuckles, eyes will widen with unexpected exposure-- to facts, folks. The line-drawn situations and participants manage to enhance understanding and reveal/explain details.
In all seriousness, this is a must-have nonfiction book across ages. Expect that readers, even adults, will be tapping others on the shoulder and asking, "Did you know...?" Do yourself and any kids you know a favor and purchase this book. Loads of kids are already fans of the CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS series, by David Pilkey. which is a timeless hook for kid-readers, especially those who cringe at calling themselves readers. The word "underpants", on its own, especially with and related drawings in those books, will hook those lifelong Pilkey fans, spanning generational families. A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS competes for such fandom while using wordplay that is just a notch above the Pilkey series in "sophistication" and "subtlety".
As Reading Rainbow's star host, LeVar Burton, always said, "Don't take MY word for it!" Oh, how I wish that series were still offering current titles. I can imagine Burton's face when introducing this one to his audiences. Check it out in time for holiday gifting. A kid you love could have that same look, and just imagine the dinner table conversations!
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