The Good Child
One of the cardinal rules of children’s book illustration is “show, don’t tell.” This means the action in the story, and the pictures that show it, should carry the message as much as possible, rather than depending on dialogue, descriptive language, and narrative.
When I illustrated The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin, it was necessary to reveal the good-natured and unselfish character of the protagonist – a little boy, perhaps seven or eight years old, living in Prague a century ago. This son of a poor man is so unselfish, while gazing in the window of a toyshop he demands no toy or even so much as wishes for one – which serves to foil the opposite traits of the other children in the story, who are spoiled, selfish, and greedy. The beautiful dreidel coveted by these badly-behaved children refuses to spin for them, nearly sending the befuddled shopkeeper into a tailspin of frustration.
The intrinsic good nature of this nameless child is not described in the text, and there was no room to do so. Every page in the book had already been accounted for. Neither the author nor the editor wanted to add any words. Yet without establishing the boy’s basic character traits, the story would not make sense. After some discussion, I suggested we use the endpapers – that is, the inside of the front and back cover – to show the boy engaged in activities that reveal his personality.
In these simple vignettes, readers meet this boy who is kind to animals, assists the elderly, and gives away his scant crusts of bread to feed birds and fish. He plays peacefully, without toys, engaging in the wonders of the city. In the spirit of “show, don’t tell,” the images reveal what words do not. Humble and penniless, the boy is materially poor but rich in the qualities that bring happiness to others and himself. In the end, this sweet child is rewarded for his virtues by the dreidel that spins for him and him only. As it spins, its Hebrew letters mysteriously transform to reveal a special message that surprises the bumbling shopkeeper, the boy’s father, and all the young readers of this story.
The Dreidel That Wouldn’t Spin makes a great gift for Hanukkah! You can purchase a signed book from me in my webstore, or order from Wisdom Tales Publishing or Amazon.
A good week to all!
D. Yael Bernhard
https://dyaelbernhard.com
Have you seen my other Substack, The Art of Health? In addition to being a visual artist, I’m also a certified integrative health & nutrition coach with a lifelong passion for natural food cooking and herbal medicine. Now in its second year, this illustrated newsletter explores cutting-edge concepts of nutrition. I strive to make relevant information clear and accessible, and to anchor essential health concepts in unique images. Check it out, and if you like it, please subscribe and help spread the word. Your support keeps my work going!