Not Me

The representation of humour in creative works can be challenging because people may find different things to be funny and may not necessarily respond in the same manner. Furthermore, humour faces the potential issue of being interpreted in the wrong way, particularly if it deals with a politically charged or sensitive subject, or perhaps something that is culturally specific and may be misunderstood by people unfamiliar with that context. In picture books that use humour, authors would need to ensure that the interdependent components of image and text work together to achieve their desired effect. Particularly memorable picture books may have striking illustrations that contribute to the story’s overall tone and complement the narrative text, such that a special synergy emerges from these elements.

Originally published in French as Pas moi, Elise Gravel’s picture book Not Me unifies both text and image effectively to create an engaging and humourous narrative that will resonate with both child and adult readers. Revolving around a father who wants to find out who has left dirty socks around the home, the story follows a predictable pattern of questions and responses in which the questioned individual denies responsibility and blames someone else. The father asks his two children, both of whom deny responsibility and affirm that it is “Not Me” instead. Gravel takes the literal meaning of this phrase and personifies it as a red monster, named Not Me, whom the children blame for the mess. Although this book’s primary audience is young readers, adults can also enjoy the story because they will recognize themselves in the characters’ behaviours. As a nod to potential adult readers, Gravel also inserts a reference to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) by depicting the children’s father in a red shirt that prominently displays CBC’s recognizable logo.

The text’s content and appearance on the page complement Gravel’s cartoon-like images of the human and monster characters which she gives appropriate expressions and body postures that enhance the scene’s comic effect. For example, when the children’s father tells them that they will both get a “time out” unless they reveal the truth, the next page features a close-up drawing of the two children with indignant expressions and exclaiming “WHAT?” Their comment appears in all-caps with a large red font and is situated prominently in the centre at the top of the page, a placement which visually grabs readers’ attention. Gravel further conveys their indignation by having the daughter place her hands on her hips and having the son raise his arms. Furthermore, by the pair being drawn in a frontal shot with their eyes looking straight ahead, readers are given the impression that the characters are looking directly at and speaking with them. This also draws readers into the story and almost breaks the fourth wall, similar to what occurs in theatrical plays when the protagonist addresses the audience with an aside.

The book’s subsequent scenes use these same techniques. When the children confront the monster Not Me, the next few pages feature a close-up of the red monster with the appropriate words highlighted in large font to emphasize its denial of responsibility. Similar to the previous scene, the children threaten the monster with a Time Out if it does not tell the truth, much like what their father has done. The monster responds by saying “WHAT?” which also appears in a large coloured font at the top of the page. The accompanying illustration enhances the scene’s comical effect as the monster is shown in a close-up shot, frowning indignantly and raising its arms in protest.

The rest of the story progresses towards a satisfying, albeit open-ended conclusion. Although repetition may not necessarily work in a novel, it works well in this picture book. The hilariously predictable progression of the plot and accompanying dialogue will entertain readers and the final page ends on an open-ended note which will leave readers wondering whether the children’s father will find the true culprit of the mess In addition, the book’s front and back covers give readers a taste of the story and Gravel’s humour. The front cover shows the red monster “Not Me” with a defiant expression and hands on its hips, sitting on the floor with colourful socks scattered around it. The back cover states, “WHO is leaving their socks all over the place?” and depicts the father and his two children looking at a pile of scattered socks on the floor.

The book’s simple language, predominance of dialogue, and straightforward plot combine to make Not Me an ideal story for reading aloud, much like Robert Munsch’s picture books for children. The appearance of the story’s text will further guide adults on how they could read this aloud, although they can put their own creative spin on the narrative by, for instance, articulating different voices for each character or incorporating their own gestures.

Not Me would make a good addition for an elementary school library or the children’s section of a college or university library. Teachers could discuss this book in a unit about humour, the picture book genre, or storytelling. Parents could also use the story as a starting point for discussing the meaning of responsibility with their children and what it means to accept consequences for one’s own actions. An additional bonus is that Not Me contributes to the representation of diverse characters in children’s literature. Apart from their physical appearance, there is nothing culturally specific about the book’s black characters, but it does portray the characters as a regular family with typical problems like everyone else.

Readers of Gravel’s previous books and other works, such as her posters, will recognize her distinctive illustration style and humour. Currently based in Montreal, Elise Gravel is a prolific illustrator. More information about her work is on her official website.