Customer Reviews

Waffle

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Waffle," by Chris Raschka, is a children's book about the title character. Waffle literally "waffles" before demonstrating his power to fly. Throughout the story his waffling is accompanied by a sort of silent chorus of multicolored faces.

The artwork in "Waffle" is surreal. Waffle himself is a sort of amorphous humanoid figure who appears to have been drawn with a deliberate crudeness. I have to admit, I found the artistic technique quite weird, but I give Raschke credit for trying a different approach to children's book illustration. And the book's message--about believing in your own abilities--is a good one.

An excellent book --for adults-- this is a triumph of concept over story, of imagination over clarity. "Waffle," the title figure (and he is just a figure--drawn in a very diffuse style), is a worrier, a wiggler, and a waffler. At least Chris Raschka's

acrylic and ink illustrations reveal the doubt and introspection in Waffle's eyes and body language. On pages that opposite the pictures of Waffle, repeating faces pose in contrast to waffle's Hamlet-like hesitation.

While the smiling faces forms such shapes as a circle, a tic-tac-toe template, and other organized Busby Berkeley-esque moving patterns, Waffle continues to struggle. "Waffle want to, well--"... "Waffle wobbled." ... Waffle Waffled. He felt awful (that's the cleverest line in the book, by the way). He was a waffler and wafflers waffle." Rather abruptly, Waffle is surround ed by the word "Waffle," repeated about 50 times. Turn the page, and Waffle begins to levitate, as the word "waffle" begins to fragment into syllables and single letters. Clver, this dissapation of Waffle's worries represented by the broken word "Waffle," but pretty heady stuff for a toddler or young reader.

Waffle eventually flies, and now the faces look astonished, then defeated (or something like that, it's hard to tell), and then they disappear. We're left with this comforting message, "Now, Waffle flies, Stilll a little fearfully, but [turn the page] Waffle worked a wonder (within)," and the new, improved Waffle flies vigorously, looking confident in his newfound buoyancy.

I can thnk of three main audiences for the book (although I now see from the other reviews that I underestimated the tastes of other buyers): Adults looking for a "quality" book bu a name author/illustrator, taken with the high concept approach; toddlers too young to get confused, but who will giggle at the word repetition and all those smiling, colorful faces; young elementary shool-age children who may be handed the book by a well-meaning adult. I wonder whether those in the latter group--especially those who tend to worry--will be able to understand or relate to Waffle's sudden and somewhat baffling triumph on the "worries (within)." (That "within" really bugs me; it's written for adults, and sounds like shallow poetic narcissism.) Maybe in conjunction with a good therapist or other talented adult, a child can fill in this Raschka-test. Without that kind of sensitive collarboration; however, "Waffle" is something of a "trophy book," something that adults can point to proudly, but which children may seldom read.

I bought this book for my 5 year old in attempt to help him gain confidence in his ability to take on new tasks. This book was too abstract for him to get anything out of it. The pictures were very bizzarre, what is waffle supposed to be anyhow? Even my three year old did not get anything out of this one. We won't waste any more time on this one. Buzzy the Bumblebee was a much better pick and really got the message across.

"Waffle worried/Waffle wiggled/Waffle wondered what if/Waffle wished that he would..." Surrounded by encouraging smiley faces, indecisive, anxious, fearful Waffle suffers as he tries to get up the courage to take that next step. "Waffle waffled. He felt awful. He was a waffler and wafflers waffle." But then he works a wonder from within and triumphs over his fear..... Award winning artist, Chris Raschka has authored a very creative and ingenious picture book that young "wafflers" will easily be able to relate to. His alliterative text is very spare. The real story is told in Mr Raschka's wonderful artwork. Waffle's face, just a smudge of paint on a bold solid background with pen drawn features elicits strong feelings as we watch him agonized over his decision to try. The faces, whirl around him, always watching, forming shapes (a circle, a pinwheel...)until the big moment when their collective smiley faces change to those of awe and amazement. Perfect for youngsters 5 and older, Waffle is a simple, little book that speaks volumes and should be a springboard to interesting, thoughtful discussions.