I wasn't sure why I created a family without a mother when I wrote Wild Thing. I've nothing against mothers. I've a very nice one of my own. Many of my best friends are mothers. Not to put too fine a point on it, I AM a mother. It wasn't something I thought about at the time. Kate and Wild Thing just didn't happen to have a mum. They had a dad looking after them instead.
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| interior from Wild Thing Gets A Dog - copyright Jamie Littler |
I think a lot of the
reasons writers choose something are unconscious. Afterwards,
bringing a more deliberate analysis to bear, the reasons become
clearer. So now I've no doubt that the reason I got rid of
Kate and Wild Thing's mother was because I wanted as much mayhem as
possible. I planned these to be funny, chaotic books. Although I
hate to admit it, I suspect that's easier without Mum.
Single Parent
Families featuring Dad have a lot of advantages to a writer.
Somehow, it seems entirely natural for dad to be fun and quirky, to
be a lousy cook, and to forget about things like the start of term,
or a child's need for new socks. Of course, mothers are quite
capable of forgetting these things too. (Well, I am.) But it
strains the credulity of a reader more. (Or it's just harder as a writer to break that “responsible, boring Mum,” stereotype.) So
maybe writing about a Single Dad is the best way of writing about the
chaos and mishaps which are, if truth be told, absolutely normal in
all families everywhere.
Here are some
children's books featuring single dads.
Danny the Champion
of the World by Roald Dahl
Danny adores his
dad, and together they have crazy adventures – would a fictional
mother have been allowed to be so irresponsible, and yet so loveable?
The Summer House
Loon by Anne Fine
Ione's dad Professor Muffett is an
absent-minded academic, preoccupied with his research into “Early
Sardinian trade routes”. He is also blind. An entirely
sympathetic character, it is not surprising that a certain amount of
chaos flourishes in their household in this witty, sophisticated book. A really fun
read for a certain kind of teenager – the kind that doesn't want
angst, but some comedy instead.
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Another
absent-minded professor, Mr Penderwick is left to bring up his four
daughters when his wife dies, in a book which is a bit like a more
modern version of Little Women, but with a dad replacing “Marmee”.
Rooftoppers by Katharine Randell
This prize-winning
book features...another academic single dad. (Hmm, beginning to
detect a bit of a trend.) Charles is the foster father to Sophie,
who is an orphan from a shipwreck. He is absent-minded and eccentric
and he and Sophie eat off books rather than plates, their bizarre
house-keeping getting them into trouble with social services. It's
rather whimsical but also very appealing.
The Longest Whale Song by Jacqueline Wilson
And finally...you can rely on
Jacqueline Wilson to be a bit more down-to-earth, and although she's
written several books with single dads, I don't think any of them are
absent-minded academics. What is especially nice about this one, is
that it features the relationship between a girl and her stepfather,
forced to work as a team when the mother enters a dangerous coma
after her baby's birth. Ella's stepfather is far kinder and more
responsible than her biological father, and once again Wilson shows
that a successful family can come in all shapes and sizes.
Please tell me your favourite single dad stories...with or without absent-minded professors.
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Emma's Wild Thing series for 8+ about the naughtiest little sister ever. (Illustrated by Jamie Littler)
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