YOU BROKE IT!

Various anthropomorphized animals and natural phenomena scold their children for behaving in accordance with their natures.

A chick cracks through its shell, only for its parent to admonish it for breaking its egg. A wolf tells its howling cub to be quiet. A cloud wants its child to stop crying (raining). Over and over again, these parents voice their disapproval. The repetitive structure allows both tension and comedy to steadily build, leaving readers wondering exactly how these series of demands and reprimands will be resolved—after all, aren’t these children simply being true to themselves? A pig scolds its child for wallowing in the mud, a frog chides its offspring for leaping into the water, and a worm tells its little one to “stop squirming!” It all culminates when a young octopus finally speaks up: “I am just being me.” The enveloping hug from the parent octopus says it all. This brief, simple story wastes no words, instead delivering a wallop of humor and emotion that will both entertain and foster empathy in adults inclined to punish youngsters for simply following their natural inclinations. Squiggly illustrations with minimal outlines and brief splashes of color emphasize the silliness of the demands. The visuals effectively get the action across while letting the absurdity of the parents’ orders and concerns speak for themselves.

A hilarious and heartwarming exposé of adults’ often ridiculous expectations for children.