Summary:
Camilla Cream may have loved lima beans, but what she loved even more was being a perfectly blended part of the group. She wanted to fit in so badly- her food, her clothes, her life. They all had to be just like everyone else. One day while changing clothes (again) she found her self covered in stripes. She couldn't seem to figure out what was wrong. Even the doctor wasn't sure what to do. The problem only became worse when she got to school. Say the pledge and she turns to stars. Say something about spots, and there they were. The kids said it, and her body did it. Medicine didn't seem to help, in fact, unless you consider becoming a giant pill helpful, it made it worse! The experts, the news anchors, the therapist- none of them could figure it out. Luckily for Camilla, a mysterious old woman seemed to know just what to do. She gave Camilla what she wanted most, lima beans, but was afraid to have for fear of not fitting in with the other children. Before she knew it, all the colors were gone, and she was back to being plain old Camilla. One bought of the stripes was all it took. From then on, she did what made her happy- including eating lima beans.
My Thoughts:
I am a HUGE David Shannon fan. Pretty much everything he has been the author and/or illustrator for is in my personal library. This book is no exception. While over the heads of my current students (Kindergarten), I enjoy sharing this story with older children. I remember all to well struggling to be a part of the group. I had to have the right shoes, the right hair cut, and play the right sports. Turns out- none of that made me happy. Just like Camilla I became consumed with fitting in, but was happiest when I was out being me. I love the colorful illustrations and easy pacing in this story. The illustrations depict so vividly the plight of Camilla, one can't help but stare. Wonderful story, beautiful illustrations, and a timeless lesson.
Their Thoughts:
Excerpt from the School Library Journal-
"A highly original moral tale acquires mythic proportions when Camilla Cream worries too much about what others think of her and tries desperately to please everyone. First stripes, then stars and stripes, and finally anything anyone suggests (including tree limbs, feathers, and a tail) appear vividly all over her body. The solution: lima beans, loved by Camilla, but disdained for fear they'll promote unpopularity with her classmates. Shannon's exaggerated, surreal, full-color illustrations take advantage of shadow, light, and shifting perspective to show the girl's plight."
My Ideas:
I would use this story in combination with other works by David Shannon in a discussion on the depth of his talent. Shannon shows great range- from The Rough Faced Girl to No David, he accurately depicts the mood of the character through carefully chosen colors, shading, and lines. Comparing and contrasting the different styles from Shannon's many works would make for an interesting disucssion of taste, choice, and editing.
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