Let’s be truthful, shall we? I mean, let’s try that around here for a change.
I’ve scoured the depths of my heart to discern my true motivation for reading Donkeyskin to my beloved niece. Well, first, I got waylaid because there are mocha chip cupcakes around here right now, and how can you scour the depths of your heart when there are mocha chip cupcakes around? You must eat the cupcakes and then scour. Which is what I did. When the sugar crash and loathing subsided, though, I was forced to see what was really there, my real motivation for the unfortunate, deranged reading of Donkeyskin.
And it’s this:
The story has a really pretty picture.
Yep. That’s it.
Actually, the whole book has wonderful illustrations. But when I was Piper’s age, around 7, I embarked on a course of subtle enhancements to these illustrations using my trusty Sharpie. Always an unobtrusive black or blue Sharpie because no one ever notices stuff done in black or blue Sharpie. It was all very subtle. I was Photoshop before Photoshop existed and proud of it, Peaches. I gave princesses eyeliner. Filled in eyebrows. Colored lips a pretty blue. Darkened eyelids. I basically defaced this beautiful book. All for the better, of course.
Now the illustration for the story of Donkeyskin was my favorite and, honestly, when I reached for the book to read the story to Piper, I thought it most likely had been spared any strokes of my imperious pen. I generally saved my ministrations for the less beautiful princesses who really needed them.
So when I finished reading the story, as we sat in the post-traumatic glow, I was eager to show Piper the picture to, you know, smooth things over. Offer the kid some visual opium. Make her forget. Sleeeep. “Poppies …. poppies ….”
Hm.
Here’s a close-up.
Okay. So, fine. Gorgeous Donkeyskin has electric blue eyeliner, applied by little Tracey’s manic pen. I feel you can appreciate the electric blue even more against the soft black-and-white background, don’t you? And it’s nice to see how Sharpie color maintains its integrity after 7 decades in the shadows of neglect and whatnot. Please notify Consumer Reports immediately.
Still — color integrity notwithstanding — I was a little dismayed to see my Sharpie makeover when I held the picture up for Piper. I mean, I really thought Donkeyskin had been spared. Ah, well. I braced myself for her response. Piper studied the picture quietly and then said, “Tee Tee, what’s that blue on her eyes?”
“Well, that’s eyeliner, I suppose.”
“How did it get there?”
“Well, when I was about your age, I started to draw makeup on these princesses with a pen. I guess I thought it looked pretty.”
She sat up, reached out, and brushed her fingers across my long-ago markings. She regarded me for a moment with those clear blue eyes, then she said, “It’s really smooth. You did a good job, Tee Tee.”
“Thanks, sweetie.”
“Sure.”
She’s a very cool kid.
I think illustrations were a big influence on my story preferences as a child. I had this favorite poem in one of my Childcraft books that was accompanied by a beautiful drawing of a fairy princess and ghoulish green goblin who covets her pearl necklace. I read the poem again and again and again when I was little – in part because I think my seven year old self hoped that this would somehow conjure up more pretty drawings.
The art from Donkeyskin is, indeed, gorgeous. As is the eyeliner. 😉
I loved this book. In spite of the felonious stories. I ate it all up.
The drawing of the princess with the goblins sounds lovely — and scary too, what with the coveting and all. He’s Gollum!