Kristyna Litten: I Wish I’d Written
Kristyna Litten chooses a picture book with love at its core.
The book I wish I had written is…. NO! by Marta Altés.
I vividly remember the day I bought it. I had started working full time as an illustrator and my passion for picture books was growing, as was my collection. I wandered into my local bookshop having made a deal with myself that today I was there only to browse. However, as soon as I flicked through the first few pages, I was in trouble. I started poring over the beautiful textures in Marta’s illustrations and I ended with a little giggle. I knew I had to have it.
Like all good books that make you think, ‘I wish I had written that,’ NO! has a simple but cleverly executed concept – a dog who thinks his name is No – and a clear message at its core: love.
What makes it so charming is that the story is written from the dog’s perspective, giving us a humorous insight into the dog’s mind and leaving us to wonder what on earth our own pets think when we talk to them. Dog explains he is a very good boy, and he knows this for a fact because his family ALWAYS seem to be calling his name. Like when he assists with the laundry – ‘No!’ Tastes their food before they eat – ‘NO!’ Or warms their beds before they go to sleep – ‘NOOO!’ These lines couple hilariously with Marta’s expressive illustrations of the mischief and mayhem involved in his ‘helpful’ tasks.
The ending is truly heart-warming. Although Dog is confused about why the name on his collar reads Spike, the one thing he’s certain of is, ‘They must love me very much and I love them too.’ A feeling I’m sure anyone with a furry family member can relate to. We love them despite them having peed on the bed or nibbled the sofa, and they love us back.
No! by Marta Altés is published by Child’s Play, 978-1846434174, £7.99 pbk.
Ivy and Bearlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones by Kristyna Litten is published by Magic Cat Publishing, 978-1917768177, £9.99hbk.
