Neil Gaiman’s Instructions follows The Dangerous Alphabet, Blueberry Girl, and Crazy Hair as the author’s fourth children’s picture book in the span of two years. It’s also his second collaboration with artist Charles Vess in a little over half that time, with both Instructions and Blueberry Girl being adapted into children’s books from Gaiman’s popular poems of the same title. (Crazy Hair, illustrated by Dave McKean, was also based on a previously written poem, so this appears to be a new picture book trend for Gaiman.)
Instructions is essentially a list of survival tips for anyone who finds themself wandering through a fairy tale world, much like Alice tumbling into Wonderland, and covers all the common situations that have become beloved clichés of fairy tales. Written in 2000, Instructions was first published in the anthology A Wolf at the Door and appeared on the Endicott Studios website, where you can still read the full text. The poem is a natural fit for a children’s picture book, since its charm and humour is best appreciated when read aloud, as demonstrated in one of Gaiman’s live venue readings or his narration of the animated book trailer.
This is actually the second time that Instructions has been professionally illustrated. An exclusive poster version of the poem was included as a special feature in the 2007 book Brian Froud’s World of Faerie, with original art created by British artists Brian and Wendy Froud. Charles Vess’ artistic interpretation is just as fantastical, but better suited to a younger audience. While both styles draw heavily from traditional fairy tale designs, the Frouds’ art is more adult-oriented, with a darker palette and themes that may be slightly scary to children. Vess’ watercolours are light and whimsical, full of bright colours and fun hidden references. Children and adults alike will delight in spotting archetypal characters, such as Red Riding Hood and the Three Billy Goats Gruff, who make subtle appearances in many of the backgrounds. In Blueberry Girl, the main character’s age and race was depicted differently on each page, which made her relatable to a wide spectrum of readers. Vess goes a step further in Instructions, choosing to portray the protagonist as an anthropomorphised fox instead of human, a sort of Puss in Boots who transcends age, nationality, and even gender. Besides serving as a readily accessible stand-in for anyone who picks up the book, the classic animal guide gives the paintings a timeless feel, like they were reprints from lavish old volumes of fairy stories rather than modern works.
Instructions is a much smaller picture book than Blueberry Girl, which is handy, because it’s the sort of book you’ll want to carry everywhere, just in case you suddenly have need of the valuable advice it contains. Kirkus Reviews notes that the poem “could be instructions for a child, a writer, a newly minted adult or an elder,” with publisher HarperCollins adding that “its message of the value of courage, wit, and adventurousness makes it a perfect gift for anyone embarking on a journey, especially graduates of any age.”
Whether your travels take you through the otherworld or real world, be sure to read your Instructions and have a safe and wonderful journey!
Recommended Reading Level: All Ages.
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Instructions (Canada)
Instructions (US)
Instructions is distributed by HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollinsCanada and HarperCollins Publishers. For more information on the book and its author, visit the Neil Gaiman website and its related website for young readers, Mouse Circus. Neil Gaiman may also be followed on Twitter.