Stuck: Picture Book Review

Post first published in my personal newsletter

I Broke my mom's snow globe when I was 8. After that I immediately told her what I did....

yeah right, of course, I didn't tell her.  Like any smart kid I was going to cover it up. Without thinking, I grabbed the first piece of cloth I could find to mop up the mess before I could stop my hand, my moms favorite shirt was ruined. I ditched the shirt never to be seen again and cleaned up the glass. I found out glass was much sharper then it looks. I needed a band-aid. I was so stupid... if I had the chance I'd do it differently. I'm much smarter now. I would probably get away with it.

Problems are solved best by thinking first and acting second.... most of the time. I understand you can't always choose that course, but when time is on your side there is no reason to not think it through first. 

I have been following Oliver Jeffers's work for about two years and have come to appreciate his work of the highest quality. I first came across him when looking at paintings on a website. for some reason, I was really drawn to his work. His painting process is very interesting. He will paint a Victorian style painting for you, let you see it once. Then dip it in a bucket of paint. It seems crazy, but it's why I love his work so much. I Once read, he believes it to be freeing for people to let go of material things. Ironically I think I was drawn to the simple look reminding me of a Pantone swatch.

Jeffers is of course very skilled with a brush, there is not doubt about that, but that's not what sets him apart. The value in his work is his ideals. When I found out Jeffers was also a children's book creator I didn't hesitate to buy the book. I just knew it would be good. 

This book is insane
Einstein said insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting new results. Stuck uses repetition showing a boy throwing things at a growing problem. The way Oliver Jeffers plays with our expectation is what makes this book a treasure. I won't ruin it for you but this book might actually make you laugh out loud. Maybe not, but I bet kids would.  

There is something to the stick-to-it-ness of the boy. his repetitive action is for sure insane, but in the end he accomplishes his goal. it's only insane because he leaves a ton of equally important things in the sticky tree. I harp on this quite a bit so I didn't want to bore you but if you stick to your guns long enough. eventually you will get to your goal as long as it is in your power to do so. 

THE ART:
Oliver Jeffers makes amazing design decisions in his work. He takes a risk putting out art as seemingly simple as this, but it is truly done with purpose. The more of this simple work I see the more I fall in love with it. I can't wait to see more.