Time to finish off my reviews and get voting!
Knot Gnome At This Address - A dark, fractured set of nuptials form the basis of this tale. Children playing at being grown-up means grown-up behaviours - such as marriage - can be viewed through the distorted lens of the innocent mind. But when the marriage is as broken as this perhaps the lens is just as crumpled as the veil, and the innocence has gone awry. A childhood tale just askew enough to be slightly disturbing.
More trouble From Albert - wonderfully, Carrollesque, nonsensical verse, filled with numerous nods to classical nursery rhymes, as well as a lovely
non-sequitur structure as things move in unexpected directions and end, naturally, with Pa piddling 'neath the Moon. Full of lovely images and childlike arcs.
An Embarrassment of Sisters - As well as creating the perfect collective noun for sisters (Girls?
Eurgh, yuck!), this delightful tale adds just the slightest, sweet taste of cliché in the way only childrens' tales seems to be able to get away with. As all we writers know, the pen is mightier than the sword, and in the end our heroes and heroines are able to live to write another day.
Family First - girls can be mean. There's no dilemma for Annabelle here; she knows exactly which side her bread's buttered. It's telling that the device by which Annabelle sees the sinister, hidden old man is a mirror. Is she looking at a distorted and cruel reflection of herself, one that enables her to find the ruthlessness needed to sacrifice her sister to the flames? A dark and foreboding inversion of sibling competitiveness.
The Fake Sound Of Progress - ah, the innocent daydream of the idler. If our plucky pianist could channel some of that focus in creating the mini-army of tiny tinklers into his practise, he'd be halfway to knocking out La Polonasie by now. But reality's for losers; why not enjoy just enjoy the tune in your head?
Bus Ride - One of the few stories here that doesn't possess the dark undercurrent that pervades much of childrens' literature and fairytales, and is none the weaker for it. Buoyed by a light, childlike humour, this is a fun adventure. But there's a hint of something more; the story's sweetness is ever-so-slightly salted by the realisation of a future beyond childhood that makes us, the adult reader, look back with more wistfulness that we otherwise might.
Toy Story - Poor Barbie. To paraphrase Jessica Rabbit - she's not dim; she's just made that way. I'm reminded of the Barbie from
Toy Story 3, who goes from whinging throwback to fierce, independent woman ("authority is derived from the consent of the governed, not through the threat of force!"). But I'm nitpicking. Susan makes for a funny whirlwind of an MC, and the dilemma is a good one. But why does a girl who supposedly doesn't believe in gender stereotypes go for a GI Joe doll of all things!?
Now, where did I put my knitting?
The Price of Peace - there's always a third way. Sometimes the wisdom of children can overpower anything the supposedly intelligent adults can come up with. Seems to me Alexandra has more common sense than the King of Shedania and the Queen of Cookeria combined. This left a soppy grin on my face. If only more political negotiations could end this way.
A Friend Of Need - Look at all these sinister secret friends running through these stories! Cali's the latest of 'em, and is a real nasty one. If we're continuing the theme of the imaginary friend being a reflection of the child's outlook, then I wouldn't fancy Mom or Dad's chances much. But at least the kid's level-headed enough to ensure that they'll be left with one parent to raise them. For now.
Letting Go - a slight twist on the imaginary friend motif sees two of them turn up in the final tale; the lilting Elf representing Mike's sense of fun, the grumpy Dwarf his sense of responsibility. When the girl shows up - and doesn't just show up but shows an interest in what he's doing, I bet a lot of boys remember feeling this way, standing on the cusp of something you can't quite identify, but when you try to go back, you find your old world is gone forever. And any story that recycles the old Stan Laurel
Terra Firma / Terracotta gag is ok by me!
And here are my shortlists:
Honourable Mention:
Letting Go
Finalists:
Toy Story
PALS
Vote:
Tooth or Dare
