The Long Chalkboard: And Other Stories

I really love this book. Its something a little different to put on my coffee table and I enjoy looking through it often. The fact that a husband and wife team created it is touching, and the charcoal artwork is fabulous. The work really is setup in the format of a children's book, however it is much more mature, and it would take an adult to understand the complexities of the story. The main character has a great deal of depth, and as the reader, I grew to feel that I understood and cared about how she felt. The artwork and the storyline fit together like a hand in glove, interweaving and playing off of each other. I recommend it highly.

This was one of the most enjoyable books I bought for myself this year! In format it is almost like a graphic novel or manga, but differs somewhat from those genres. It more resembles a picture book, text and illustration on each page, but aimed at adults instead of children. The three seperate stories are wryly humorous and wondrously inventive, and the illustrations are lively and expressive. Ms. Allen is almost scarily adept at the small witty detail that speaks volumes, not unlike Mr. Feiffer's own keen yet sensitive line in drawing. In fact I marveled at how beautifully Mr. Feiffer's drawings and Ms. Allen's stories complemented each other. My favorite of the three tales is the middle one, "What Happened", the tale of two rival writers of children's books. But I loved them all. My only complaint about The Long Chalkboard is that, despite its generous size, I wish it were longer! I'm hoping there are more books like this to come by this talented duo.