A Little Called Pauline

Poetry is “a continuous adventure with your own mind,” writes artist and poet Stone (The Möbius Strip Club of Grief, for adults) in her afterword to this ambitious illustrated volume: “All it asks is that you do.” What Stone does is pair fluid ink and wash sketches with Stein’s radical-as-ever, 106-year-old poem from Tender Buttons, creating a story about a girl who knows her own mind. Nearing her birthday, Pauline is willful in ways that every kid can recognize: she refuses to wear the floofy dresses sent by a grandparent (“A little/ lace makes/ boils,” says Pauline, standing stubbornly in her underpants. “This/ is not/ true,” responds her mother) and throws a tantrum when she’s denied an expensive crown at the market. Unhappy at her birthday party, she ditches it by commandeering a boat, and narrowly avoids a watery demise (“Cough out/ Cough out in the leather”) thanks to her mother’s heroism. When the coveted crown makes a surprise arrival via delivery bird, Pauline knows who really deserves it. As words and pictures sometimes sync up and sometimes mischievously thwart easy connection, readers may feel they’ve traveled far beyond their comfort zones. Luckily, they have excellent companions in Stein and Stone. Ages 7–11. [em](Apr.) [/em]