1989

Jon and I were just kids when we made this book. I had published a couple of children’s books before this and a lot of magazine illustrations but nothing like this. This book changed everything for us. Back in the day, books were either sincere or humorous but no one had really made a straight-up parody specifically for kids, as far as we knew. Many publishers rejected us for this reason but once it got out into the world teachers and librarians embraced it, and within months more cutting-edge books started appearing. Mine and Jon’s subversive selves will forever take pride in that.

The editor who took a chance on us, by the way, was Regina Hayes. Here is a wonderful article celebrating her retirement, and her memories of our book.

—Lane

American Booksellers Association Picture Book Hall of Fame

New York Public Library 100 Great Children’s Books for 100 Years

TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Picture Books of All Time

Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children - National Education Association

School Library Journal - Top 100 Picture Books of All Time

Society of Illustrators Silver Medal

New York Times Best Books of the Year