The Goody by Lauren Child
Orchard, 2020. ISBN: 9781408347584.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. A new book by Lauren Child always
creates interest as the expectation of a challenging read is ever
present. She draws the reader into a false sense of security, lulls
them into thinking this is a story of sibling rivalry, but she
challenges us to see more than this, as it becomes an expose of
expectations, of labelling, of not seeing difference. And as with
many of her books, we are impelled to consider the wider issue where
children behave as they are expected to, labelled and boxed in by
that expectation.
Siblings, Chirton and Myrtle behave in the way they are expected to
behave. Chirton is good, reliable, dependable while Myrtle is
forgetful, naughty and a refuser.
Chirton eats up his broccoli, Myrtle isn't even given any as she
won't eat it, Chirton cleans the rabbit hutch every week because
Myrtle forgets, and Myrtle stays up late at night because she
doesn't want to sleep. All of the things Myrtle does, Chirton would
like to do, but he is seen as the goody in the family and so
expected to behave well without exception.
One night Chirton gets up to have a glass of water and finds his
sister eating choco puffs and watching TV. He would love to do this
too, and wonders why he is not allowed. The next day he decides that
he is a goody no longer and changes his behaviour, so much so that
he is not allowed to go to a birthday party. When Myrtle goes
instead, the birthday girl does not know of Myrtle's reputation and
treats her like anyone else, and Myrtle decides she likes being
treated thus. So the two come to see the advantages and
disadvantages of being labelled, deciding that there is a middle
road, and their parents are encouraged to see them as different
people with their own traits.
Child's illustrations are always a treat and these with their blocks
of patterns make a wonderful talking point for readers already most
amused by the story.
Themes: Siblings, Humour, Difference, Expectations, Image,
Behaviour, Family.
Fran Knight