I’m remembering Sid Fleischman, who died this week. He said, “Humor is the oxygen of children’s literature. There’s a lot of competition for children’s time, but even kids who hate to read want to read a funny book.”
My favorite book of his is The Whipping Boy, which I often use when I teach writing to grown ups. First line: “The young prince was known here and there (and just about everywhere else) as Prince Brat. Not even black cats would cross his path.”
Here’s to Sid Fleischman and all the stories he left for us to love. Heaven just got a little funnier.
3 responses to ““Humor is the Oxygen””
Hello Mary;
Natalie and I want to wish you a Happy Easter! What a great memorial and we will read…
Warmly,
Marcia and Natalie
Mary, The Whipping Boy is my favorite work of his as well. I ate up your vlog about Invisible Lines. I’m going through a complete rewrite of my MG, and it is inspiring to know successful children’s authors do/ have done the same, felt the same frustrations. Cannot wait for it to hit the shelves! (Your son is an amazing artist, btw.)
I just finished revising one book and am on to a revision of the next. Each one frustrating (and rewarding) in a different way. That’s the thing about writing…just because you figure out how to solve a problem with one book doesn’t mean the solution will work on your next! Keep at it. That’s the only thing to do.