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CM . . .
. Volume X Number 8. . . . December 12, 2003
excerpt:
Richard Scrimger, author of Bun Bun's Birthday and Princess Bun Bun, takes a new twist with Eugene's Story and allows Eugene, the middle child, to tell his own tale. However, no sooner has his story begun before his big sister, Winifred, interrupts, correcting him and pointing out his shortcomings. At first, Eugene shrugs off the sisterly advice and simply starts again, but soon it is apparent that Winifred is determined to critique every detail of Eugene's story despite his many revisions.
Eugene's Story once again displays Scrimger's distinctive writing style and sense of humour. In the first two "Bun Bun" books, Eugene played a secondary role, offering a few clever observations but otherwise staying in the background. This time around, Eugene is the main character and the narrator of his own tale. The story is told in a very original way with Eugene's version appearing within rectangular boxes and Winifred's comments and the dialogue between the siblings appearing as regular text. This approach helps to organize the overall story, although young readers may still find the flip-flopping somewhat confusing.
Once again, Gillian Johnson has created the accompanying illustrations and has brought the three siblings to life. In particular, her watercolours emphasize the growing tension in the tale through the characters' facial expressions and body language. Johnson's final painting ties up the story nicely by placing Eugene back in his bedroom where the story first began. The details in the illustrations are best appreciated in a small group setting. Scrimger fans who have enjoyed his quirky take on family life in the past will enjoy Eugene's Story as well. Recommended. Lisa Sykes has worked as an early years teacher and teacher-librarian. She resides with her family in Anten Mills, ON.
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Whether it's concerning his clothing, his dealings with baby Bun Bun or adventures outside, Winifred has something to complain about. As Eugene begins the story over and over, his annoyance with his sister grows, and he tries to distance himself from her bossy comments and teasing. The final straw comes when Winifred criticizes his bike and Eugene realizes he has had enough. In the end, Eugene has the last word, creating a new story which stars himself as an only child. 
Each character's personality is clearly conveyed as are their roles and birth order in the family. Scrimger forms a triangle among the domineering older sibling, the frustrated middle child, and the baby as innocent bystander. As the story progresses, the tension builds between the brother and sister, and readers will notice a sharper edge to Winifred's personality. Humour, always a main ingredient in a Scrimger story, is used to resolve the problem and diffuse the situation. Children will identify with Eugene's efforts to be heard and the annoyance he feels at Winifred's many interruptions and smug criticisms. The conclusion is satisfying, as the younger sibling comes up with his own way to outwit his older sister, and he triumphs in the end by taking back ownership of his story.