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Writer's Room => Picture Books (PB) => Topic started by: anita on May 12, 2016, 01:33 PM

Title: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: anita on May 12, 2016, 01:33 PM: I'm looking for Picture Books where the main character changes from one thing to another. (like from one animal to another type of animal). Does anyone have any examples?

thanks
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: Vonna on May 12, 2016, 02:54 PM: The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the only one I can think of, or perhaps at a stretch The Ugly Duckling.
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: Vijaya on May 12, 2016, 03:02 PM: Can't think of any except for insect metamorphoses as Vonna points out, but these are natural transformations. It's coded into your DNA. It would be kind of delusional if a cat turned into a dog, no?

Imaginative play is a whole another thing. I've seen many PBs where a character (child or animal) imagines being different things (either animals or type of person, like pirate, or a cat thinking it's a lion) but it's very clear that a cat is a cat is a cat.

Sorry not to be more helpful.
Vijaya
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: lrzajac on May 12, 2016, 04:00 PM: A Bad Case of Stripes
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: Darcy Miller on May 18, 2016, 11:24 AM: http://www.amazon.com/Mixed-Up-Chameleon-Eric-Carle/dp/0064431622 "The Mixed Up Chameleon" was the first one that came to mind, but there are others, typically that follow a caterpillar growing into a butterfly, or an ugly ducking type story.
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: anita on May 18, 2016, 11:28 AM: Thanks for the suggestions. I'm looking for things more like Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, where Sylvester wishes to be turned into a rock and is. Or Brush, where a boy wants a pet and ties a Brush to a string and the Brush starts to act like a dog. Or The Little Rabbit that Wanted Red Wings, in which a rabbit wishes he were different types of animals, ends up sprouting red wings, etc.
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: Melissa K on May 18, 2016, 12:51 PM: Skippyjon Jones comes to mind. Not sure it's quite on target, but maybe.
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: DianaM on May 18, 2016, 09:40 PM: Hmmm. Piggie and Gerald: I am a Frog, by Mo Willems.

And maybe, Fish is Fish, by Leo Lionni. ? Not sure that's exactly right.

Oh, and a non-fiction possibility is "Little Skink's Tail".
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: Anne Marie on May 19, 2016, 03:54 AM: In IMOGENE'S ANTLERS, she grows antlers. :)
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: Christine B. on May 19, 2016, 06:46 AM: I Wish That I had Duck Feet -- child turns into all sorts of other animals
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: anita on May 19, 2016, 06:58 AM: Quote from: Christine B. on May 19, 2016, 06:46 AM
I Wish That I had Duck Feet -- child turns into all sorts of other animals

That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for! Thanks, everyone. Edited to add,

I thought that it sounded right, but that's a kid wishing for various appendages, I want something where they actually turn into something. Imogene's Antlers is a little closer, I think. Sylvester is the best one I've come up with. Thanks for all the ideas!
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: heatherayris on May 22, 2016, 03:22 PM: I'm not sure if this is the type of thing you're looking for, but in my book, BEDTIME MONSTER, the boy turns into an actual monster.

Also, maybe GREEN WILMA by Ted Arnold?
Title: Re: PBs where the character physically changes
Post by: anita on May 22, 2016, 06:09 PM: Quote from: heatherayris on May 22, 2016, 03:22 PM
I'm not sure if this is the type of thing you're looking for, but in my book, BEDTIME MONSTER, the boy turns into an actual monster.

Also, maybe GREEN WILMA by Ted Arnold?

Thank you. Those sound great!