Story number 1

by Eugène Ionesco

Early one morning, after a big night on the town, a not-too-coherent papa must improvise a story for his little daughter which she appears to take seriously.

Genres: Childrens

Paperback

First published June 1, 1968

About the author

Eugène Ionesco, born Eugen Ionescu, was a Romanian playwright and dramatist; one of the foremost playwrights of the Theatre of the Absurd. Beyond ridiculing the most banal situations, Ionesco's plays depict in a tangible way the solitude and insignificance of human existence.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[JenniferAustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Eugène Ionesco's story is strange but wonderful. It features Jacqueline, the child of well-off but neglectful parents. That sounds conventional, but there are some unexpected and delightful absurdities, told in such a way as to not talk down o the reader.

The illustrations are by Etienne Delessert, who was also featured in several animated shorts on Sesame Street. Delessert's art is fabulous. If I had to pick one word for his style, it might be "capricious." The illustrations are worth a careful look, as you can find some fun details. One, for example, features a small rendering of one of the monsters from the still-newish Where the Wild Things Are.

I now want to look up Stories 2, 3 and 4, and I want to look up Delessert's Yok Yok series.

What fun!

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just as bizarre and delightful as an adult could hope.
I am just as unsure a child would enjoy it as I expected.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very strange children's picture book about a hungover father who tells his young daughter a fable about a little girl named Jacqueline whose parents and siblings and dog and boy and girl cousins are also named Jacqueline. As the young daughter goes about her day under the care of the family maid, the book becomes a touching little story of family neglect and public humiliation. Extremely vivid details-- like a great short film-- flip through it if you ever get the chance!

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow - did this book ever confuse me when I was little. Scared me a bit, too