We are so excited to have Mandy Yokim join us today to share information about metafictional picture books!
Mandy Yokim is a nationally published writer based in the Pittsburgh area. Her work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, and online publications across the United States and in Canada. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She’s striving to get her picture books published and into the hands of young readers. You can find her online, posting photos on Instagram, occasionally tweeting random stuff on Twitter, and sometimes musing about life on Facebook.
Hi, blog reader! How are you feeling today? Give two thumbs up if you’ve had your coffee, and you’re fully awake. Awesome! I see you. Now, give just one thumbs up if you’re perpetually tired, but hey, you’re still here reading this post. Ahh, I see lots of you need a nice, long nap. Welcome to all of you, and thanks for taking the time to read my post here on Stef’s blog.
That paragraph above is an example of meta fiction. You weren’t just reading it, you were aware that you were the reader and that I, the author, was aware of you reading it. While the meta fiction genre can take various forms, the key characteristic is this awareness of itself that is different from a more straightforward story.
I’m sure you’ve seen a movie or a play where the actor talks directly to you, the viewer. That’s known as “breaking the 4th wall,” which simply means that the barrier between the audience and the viewer is broken so that everyone is aware it’s a performance, not real life. Same concept for meta fiction picture books, and just like with movies, some people like this shared awareness, and, frankly, others do not. On one hand, it can be unexpected and fun to engage with books this way; on the other hand, it can feel disruptive, contrived, or confusing if you are taken out of a story when you just want to be immersed in the, well, fictional story of it all.
The first time I read the book Press Here by Hervé Tullet with my kids, I was blown away by how fun it was. This book is a classic example of meta fiction, where readers respond to directions in the book (for example, “Press the yellow dot on the cover and embark on a magical journey!”) that make them feel they are controlling how the story is progressing.
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson is another classic. This book is meta fiction in a different way than Press Here because the main character, instead of the reader, influences how the story progresses by drawing his adventures with— yep, you guessed it—a purple crayon.
Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett is another of my all-time favorite meta fiction books. It had me and my kids laughing out loud as we turned the pages. The author, Mac Barnett, and the book’s illustrator, Adam Rex, get into a funny disagreement about how the book should be written and illustrated, which plays out on each page as the story moves along. Bonus lessons for readers: learning the value of good collaboration and learning about the actual process of creating a picture book.
Are you still with me, reader? Are you intrigued by this meta fiction genre? (If your answer is no, then just skip this next sentence.) Here’s a comprehensive list of many more meta fiction books to explore.
While the popularity of meta fiction books may come and go, if you find yourself inspired by writing projects that are more “off the beaten path” or creative in a different way than most books, then perhaps give meta fiction a try. As always, I recommend reading tons of books in the genre to get a feel for it and to see what’s already been done. Then sit down, get out your purple crayon (or your laptop, if you’re more traditional) and start creating!