Charlotte Zolotow is one of the world's most well known children's authors. Although her tales were mainly written in the sixties and seventies, they have become re-issued classics over the years. Combining her lyrically honest prose style with the memorable art of such famous artists as Arnold Lobel, Garth Williams and William Pene du Bois, Zolotow has created timeless books for children aged between four and ten.
Memories and Dreams
Two of Zolotow's books that commemorate the past and hope for the future are My Grandson Lew (Harper & Row 1974 ALA Notable Book) and Someday (Harper & Row 1965). The first book is about a six year old boy who suddenly misses his grandfather who died when the boy was two. The boy recalls his grandfather's beard, eyes and the trip to the museum he took with him. In the process, his recollections help his mother to grieve her father's loss and grow closer to her son.
Someday, rather than recounting the emotially-charged past, envisages a joyously-free future. The protagonist is a girl of about six or eight who imagines the positive changes that lie ahead for her. Each page begins with the titular word in curlicue script, followed by the girl's wishes, such as "Someday, I'm going to catch a high, high ball and my team will win because I did it."
Celebrations
Zolotow also writes about the importance of remembering the seasons and significant occasions. One of these books, published in 1962 (Harper Trophy, Caldecott Honor Book) , is among her best loved stories, Mr Rabbit and the Lovely Present. Illustrated whimsically by Maurice Sendak, the tale concerns a little girl and her quest to get her mother a birthday present. In this aim, she is assisted by Mr Rabbit who helps her think through the colours towards the perfect gift: a fruit basket.
The other book, also quite recently reissued (1957, 1985 Harper Collins), follows another girl who is learning about time and the seasons. Her mother reminds her of all the memorable celebrations during the year, from Christmas to her own birthday, thus shaping her daughter's comprehension of the months. The story is longer than many of Zolotow's and told with loving detail, as in the descriptive passage where the girl celebrates Easter by finding, "a big chocolate egg with white icing on it. And there were some little fuzzy yellow chicks and one little bunny who played music when she wound him."
Learning Manners
Zolotow perhaps shines the most as a vital children's author in the realm of social etiquette stories. Such tales often end up being preachy and dull, but Zolotow maintains her sense of humour while counseling consideration and empathy. Four books best represent her forte in this department: The Unfriendly Book, The Three Funny Friends, The Quarreling Book and Big Sister and Little Sister.
The first story (Harper & Row 1975) looks at the relationship between two supposed friends, Judy and Bertha. Bertha is jealous of Judy's other friends, however, and constantly criticizes them. Judy has not noticed these faults as she focuses on positive attributes. The tale ends with the erosion of their friendship due to Bertha's judgmental nature.
The Three Funny Friends is another Zolotow classic (Harper & Row 1961). It is perhaps the most imaginative of her tales, featuring a girl who has three friends no one else can see: Guy Guy, a teddybear, Bickerina, a princess and Mr Dobie, a wooden doll. Each of these companions provides the girl excuses for bad behavior, wishful thinking or the desire to escape responsibility. It is only when Tony, a little boy, moves into the neighbourhood, that the girl begins to interact with the real and accept her true life.
Zolotow's The Quarreling Book (Harper & Row 1963) is the funniest of these tales. It deals with a day in the life of a family, Mr and Mrs James and their children, Jonathan and Marjorie. Tracing the spiral downward of rude behavior where a missed kiss turns into an angry response, and an insult turns into a shove, Zolotow also shows how one action can resolve all. In this case, it is the dog, Eddie, who doesn't take offence and teaches the humans how to be kinder to one another.
The last book is a sweet story of two sisters (Harper & Row 1966), the younger of which grows tired of the elder's overwhelming knowledge, bossiness and dominance and runs away to a field. There, she feels momentarily free. However, when the little one sees the big one crying as she tries to find her, empathy develops. The little sister then replicates the elder's pattern of caring, saying, "Here, blow" and holding out her handkerchief. They reunite over lemonade.
Other Zolotow books your children may cherish are William's Doll, Do you know what I'll do, and The Storm Book.
