Sometimes, what sparks a child’s imagination cannot be contained to a practical or linear story. Maurice Sendak, one of the 20th century pioneers of surrealism in children’s literature, certainly believed this; he once told The Guardian that “craziness” was “the very essence of what makes my work good.” Through iconic titles such as In the Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak explored surrealistic and dark themes as a means of being honest with children about the perils — and wonders — of the adult world: “I refuse to lie to children.” In honor of Sendak’s revolutionary works, we’ve gathered a list of seven titles that continue the grand tradition of surrealism in picture books.
Another by Christian Robinson
In the dark of night, a portal opens up into a little girl’s bedroom, and a small black cat — identical to her own but with a different collar — pops in. When the feline swipes a toy, the girl and the cat decide to follow it into the portal, which opens into a crazy negative space with very few rules. Up is down, left is right, and the world is a strange and wonderful collection of more portals, more kids, and more doppelgängers. Adventuring through this topsy-turvy world, the girl finds her own double, who kindly returns the toy. Then girl and cat head home for a good night’s rest…or did they? Robinson does a great job of telling a purely visual story without dialogue, playing with orientation and direction in a way that allows readers to physically become part of the story through turning the book and re-examining the art from another perspective.
Sam & Dave Dig A Hole by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Jon Klassen
On Monday, Sam and Dave — with trusty pet dog in tow — decide to dig a hole. They agree to stop when they find something truly spectacular, but no matter which direction they dig in, they just can’t seem to find anything worth digging up. Even splitting up doesn’t help, and the hole only gets deeper and deeper, until suddenly, they are falling, falling, falling. They land safely and take a look around, and find themselves in their yard once again — with a few differences. While nearly all of Barnett and Klassen’s stellar collabs have some element of surrealism, this odd little title is a particular favorite: the humor is outstanding, a mix between visual gags and dry, droll wit. Plus, there are wonderfully sneaky visual clues that the ending is much darker and stranger than it appears, igniting the imaginations of young readers to consider what comes next.
The Dark by Lemony Snicket, Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Klassen makes a repeat appearance on this list, as he’s a master of surrealist children’s illustration and we couldn’t leave out this delightfully spooky and surprising gem by Lemony Snicket. Afraid of the dark, yet respectful of the distance it typically keeps — staying mostly to the basement or odd closet during the day — young Laszlo does his best to keep on good terms with his unwanted roommate. Every morning, he greets the dark by opening the basement door and calling “Hi, dark,” down the stairs. The two then politely keep their distance, until the day that Laszlo needs a lightbulb for his nightlight from the basement. A wonderful look at childhood fears, the story of Laszlo and the dark blooms into something more profound through the lens of surrealism, asking the reader to examine why we even feel fear of the unknown in the first place.
Journey by Aaron Becker
Becker is another modern-day master of surrealism in children’s books, and this title — the first in the author-illustrator’s beloved Journey trilogy — is a wonderful example of why. One day, while her family is distracted by the electronic devices, a young girl uses a red crayon to draw a door on her apartment wall…then opens it and walks through. Encountering incredible landscapes of towering trees and bustling cities filled with architecture marvels, the girl uses her red crayon to devise ways of continuing her journey: a boat, a magic carpet, a hot air balloon. After helping to free a beautiful purple bird from captivity, she follows her new feathered friend back to her city, and meets another companion with a similar gift. Sweeping and engrossing on every page, young readers will be inspired by the girl’s incredible voyage, and fans of classic children’s literature will appreciate the homage on the final pages.
I Want to Be a Vase by Julio Torres, Illustrated by Julian Glander
It’s a quiet day in the apartment when the plunger makes an unexpected announcement: “I want to be a vase.” The other objects react with various levels of surprise and disapproval, none more so than the vacuum cleaner. Yet the plunger is undeterred; it ventures into the kitchen, procuring some fresh-cut flowers and tape, and reinvents itself. The pot readily accepts the plunger’s new identity; after all, it has always dreamed of being a trash can. Suddenly, objects all over the apartment are happily finding new uses and identities, much to the vacuum cleaner’s dismay. While some of the objects’ dreams are played for laughs (“I want to be a pillow too!” cries a mirror, “A sharp, breakable, dangerous pillow!”), the argument for rejecting an assigned identity that is uncomfortable or unfulfilling — as well as the final understanding that accepting those identities makes everyone happier — tell a bizarre yet oddly universal story about self-actualization.
Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez
Sandy is a little girl who loves to draw. For her, drawing is like watching the air fill with the spark of her ideas and dreams — she calls them “nightlights” — then putting pen to paper to recreate them. One day, she meets a new girl at school, Morfie, who loves her drawings. But there’s something very strange about Morfie…sinister, even. When Morfie tries to take control of Sandy’s imagination, the young artist must think of a way to escape from the nightmare that her new companion has dragged her into. A very gothic and creepy tale with some truly nightmarish visuals, this title also offers a powerful metaphor for self-doubt and how it can limit our talent and confidence. Sandy’s courage and cleverness, as well as her creativity, make her a phenomenal heroine for young readers, and Alvarez’s jaw-dropping anime-inspired art sets an epic atmosphere.
Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers
Finn lives by the sea, and the sea lives by him. He loves the ocean, a love he once shared with his grandpa, who would have been 90 today. In honor of his grandpa, Finn has built a ship from scraps and flotsam, and he hopes to one day take it on a voyage of his own to find the mythical place his grandfather once spoke of: a place where ocean meets sky. After nodding off in his boat, he awakes to find that he has been swept out to sea — the journey has begun! Another pair that have mastered modern surrealism in picture books, The Fan Brothers create a detailed world straight out of a child’s imagination, with sights, landscapes, and creatures that fascinate and amuse. The story is soft and gentle, but rich with meaning, working in perfect concert with the art to explore moving themes of remembrance, family, and Chinese American culture.
We hope that you and your young readers enjoy these surrealist adventures, and that they inspire your imaginations to wonder, and wander. Happy reading!
For more of our favorite kids’ books that embrace the unusual, check out this article on Astonishing Picture Books for Little Science Fiction Fans.
For all of our recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
