Title: After the Fall
Author/Illustrator: Dan Santat
Age Group: 3-8
Synopsis: A look at the consequences and lessons story of Humpty Dumpty with an amazing twist.
The Lowdown:
Teaching kids determination is rough. When Bug was smaller and fell down, all I needed to do was hold in that gasp and encourage him to get back up. But as he gets older the challenges morph into more complex situations. And truthfully, I’m not always the best at working through issues like this either. I routinely get frustrated and have to go grumble to myself in the other room before I come back, or risk hitting my limit and giving into the temptation to throw something out the window. I’ve really worked hard to temper this in front of Bug. It’s something I’d rather not pass on. This book was a favorite not only for me in the AMAZING message it portrayed but also that Bug loved and responded to it as well.
The story of Humpty Dumpty is well known but Dan Santat gives it a unique twist. Why was Humpty Dumpty up on that wall to begin with? Well, he was a champion bird watcher. But while Humpty survives the accidental fall, he’s scarred by the event, and understandably so. He refuses to sleep in his top bunk or climb the ladder at the supermarket to reach his favorite cereals. Finally he discovers something that he thinks might help, making a perfect paper airplane that can fly with the birds. He fails a lot at first, but in the end he succeeds, only to lose his plane on top of the very wall he fell off. Humpty almost walks away but he spent so much time and effort to make it that he decides that even though he’s scared he won’t give up. When he reaches the top of the wall, he filled with such a feeling of accomplishment and success that he feels as though he’s transformed. I’m not going to say what happens at the very end because it is so magical and fabulous that it would be tragic to take that surprise away but suffice to say it’s the perfect end. I gasped with joy and Bug stared at the page in wonder.
Dan Santat breathes new life into to this old story, which honestly has never been my favorite. Humpty’s expressions and world are so chock full of life and detail that it’s easy to understand his feelings even for young ones. Santat latches too, on to the strength of childhood and feeds that through his drawings, speaking directly to his young readers. The illustrations are hands down fantastic with clever ideas and details thrown in for the attentive readers. And the surprise ending is delivered through a series of emotions: shock, fear, relief and wonder, not unlike Humpty’s own journey.
It’s truly a magical moment when a story can transcend its pages and reach into our own lives. And Santat’s rendition of Humpty Dumpty does just that. Through a deep, yet simply surprising story and stunning illustrations he delivers a message of perseverance and new beginnings to young readers in a really remarkable way. I knew this was especially true a few weeks ago when Bug fell off his bicycle, that he’s been learning to ride. As I wiped away his tears, he told me he wanted to walk his bicycle home, that it was too hard, he didn’t want to ride a pedal bicycle anymore. I hugged him and then gently asked him what he thought Humpty Dumpty might do. He, looked up at me, swallowed, then climbed back up on his bike, and fairly flew the rest of the way home. That, right there, is the power of a good book.
Story Tips:
- Let your little one figure out what emotions Humpty Dumpty is dealing with in the story. You can brainstorm other things Humpty might be afraid of now (going down the slide, climbing stairs, etc.)
- Point out the moments when he’s really working hard, even if he’s failing.
I need more!
Dan Santat is the author/illustrator for the book: Beekle, the Unimaginary Friend, The Cookie Fiasco, Are We There Yet?, and The Guild of Geniuses. He’s illustrated numerous books and has a definite quirky sense of humor. Check out more on his website: http://www.dantat.com/
