Pierre: A Cationary Tale

In my family, there is a sin for which there is no name. If someone asks you to state an opinion one way or another, whether you're asked if you'd like a slice of cake or how you would like your hamburger cooked, you give an answer. If you chose to say, "I don't care", however, you are to be subjected to unending torments. For two minutes. The classic Sendakian classic, "Pierre", understands the horrendous nature of this sin. Taking a sort of "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" type of extremist cure (in this case, getting eaten by a lion) the book examines Pierre's sin of noncommittalness and treats him accordingly.Pierre is a well dressed lad. Sporting a jaunty blue suit and no shoes or socks whatsoever, he lives with his respectable mama and pop. In the first chapter, Pierre's mother attempts to elicit some sort of a decision from her son aside from, "I don't care!". Failing to do so, chapter two follows Pierre's father, who attempts the same thing. In chapter three a lion appears and the oblivious Pierre is eaten, after much dialogue with the aforementioned feline. By chapter four the parents have discovered the sickly lion (Pierre didn't go down so well, I suppose) and swiftly take the lion to the hospital. Happy ending, chapter five, the doctor merely shakes the lion and out pops Pierre. From then on, Pierre cares.The book has much in common with the classic Little Red Riding Hood tale. Fortunately, rather than cutting Pierre out, the doctor (looking like nothing so much as a slightly modified Mr. Magoo) removes Pierre by upending the lion. The lion has seemingly learned his lesson as well, and serves as a mode of transportation for the transformed Pierre and his loving, well dressed parents. The story is small, simple, and easy to read. It's also one of the odder morals out there. But then again, maybe it's a lesson that we all should have learned long ago. It is better to care than to remain indifferent. A difficult thing to teach, but by no means impossible. In my opinion, one of Sendak's best books ever.

Here's a way to get America's little couch spuds back into books. Get ones that can be sung as songs. And ones where the rotten little boy gets gobbled up by a lion (of course, he's okay in the end). "Pierre" is a great little tale with Sendak's usual great little drawings.I always get choked up at the part where the mother tells her boy that he is "her only joy" and Pierre said, "I don't care."

I am the school librarian in an elementary school in California. (a wonderful, if not well paying job) At the end of every school year, I SING this book to EVERY class for their last library visit...the children get to sing the I Don't CARE! parts. (Watch the video "Really Rosie" with lyrics and music by Carol King to learn the way it is sung) It is a JOY. The next year, all the kids want to know.."Can I check out Pierre?" Not to mention that it is a somewhat autobiographical account of Sendaks own childhood...He IS Pierre! You will love it!

As a child of age 5, I memorized this book word-for-word, to the amazement of my parents and all who would listen to me recite it. I am now buying it for my 2-year old, who is already at the stage of repeating lines from songs and books. Looking forward to another generation of "I don't care!" floating through the house!

When my daughter was young she fell in love with "Pierre". Night after night "Pierre" was her favorite bed time story. This Christmas I asked what book to get her son. Fondly she said, "I don't care".