Any Questions by Marie-Louise Gay

This distinctive children’s book begins more non-fiction. The author speaks in the first person and describes how when she was a child, she had endless questions. She believes children today are the same way. Then many children “in the book” begin to ask her questions. One question is “Where does a story start?”

She then goes on to describe how a story always starts on a blank page, sometimes with colors, sometimes with words or phrases. She talks about getting stumped, having ideas that don’t work, and then finding one that does. This is when the story within a story begins and we switch to fiction.

“The Shy Young Giant” is the story the author “writes” during the book. The giant is terribly shy and takes care of the trees in the forest.

Then one day, the giant hears something coming through the forest towards him. It is growling and stomping. He hides behind a rock. Then…the author ask what you think should happen next. A boy “in the story” has an idea and writes about a huge, horrible, beast. This beast is angry and is destroying everything in its path.

The author then puts the ferocious beast together in the story with her giant. The giant ends up coming out from behind the rock and yelling “STOP!” The giant asks why the beast is doing these things. The beast tells him that he is lonely, angry, and sad. So, the giant befriends the beast and reads him a story along with the trees.

The children “in the story” don’t want it to be The End, so they go off to write another story together.

I happen to stumble across this book at our library, and I am so glad I did! This is such a fun and imaginative story. My children adored it. Many different “people” in the book take turns talking, so there is opportunity for fun voices and added interest. The illustrations are equally fun and creative. This is a bit of an investment of time for a picture book, 13 minutes or so, but it’s a wonderful way to spark some creativity in your children. My older 2 wanted to write their own stories after reading this book.

There are two teeny, tiny things to make you aware of in this book. #1: While brainstorming, they say something happened a million, trillion year ago. #2: Also while brainstorming, they mention a powerful wizard. Neither of these are expanded on, just mentioned in passing.

I highly recommend this book for your family!

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1. What are some questions you would like answered?
2. What is one of your favorite stories? Why?
3. If you made up a story, what would it be about? Can you draw pictures with it?